DENMARK INTERCLUBS - Favourites start fast

The new season of Interclubs has begun in Denmark with its usual ties involving stars from all over the world. The favourites have started in the best manner, with a clean sweep from title holder TSS and good victories for Greve and Team Aarhus.

Raphael Sachetat. Photos: Badmintonphoto (archives)
Just like "Grey’s Anatomy", or "CSI" or “Friends”, the beginning of a new season is always full of suspense, hopes, and surprises. This is also the case in the Danish badminton league – probably the best one in the world. Shuttlers come from all continents to play in the Elite Division amongst Denmark’s top stars. The summer was a good occasion for clubs to hire shuttlers and for some of the top stars to try their luck somewhere else – sometimes in clubs that are main rivals of their former teammates. If Tony Gunawan is staying home in the US and Gail Emms retired, some other stars made their appearance in the league, such as Anand Pawar of India.

Last year, Team Skaeslkor Slagelse won the championships, led by Peter Gade, Nathan Robertson, Joachim Persson and others. Persson left for Greve, but there was new names added to this already impressive team: Judith Meulendijks, Joachim Fischer Nielsen and Hans Kristian Vinttinghus.

“I think we are even stronger than last year and our goal, of course, is the same: be the champions. And I believe that us and Greve are the two teams who have the greatest chances to win,” said Nathan Robertson, the English star. He and his teammates had a smooth evening against Gentofte, once home of famous Camilla Martin. Since then, the club from Copenhagen suburbs has become one of the weakest teams in the league and suffered a 0-6 loss to the Champions. Only Robertson and Boe lost a game in the men’s doubles against Skoovgaard/Larsen.

denmark interclubs-pawar

Greve and Team Aarhus on the move

Former champions Greve, led by playing coach Kenneth Jonassen, also enjoyed a victory for their first tie of the season against Vendsyssel. It started out quite badly with the loss of the newcomer, Joachim Persson, who got beaten by in-form Eric Pang in straight games, but after that, the stars made sure the first match would end up as a victorious one. Rytter Juhl/Pedersen, then Mogensen/Paaske and Mateusiak/Kostiuczyk made it 3-1 before Jonassen sealed Vendsyssel’s fate. Their Chinese star Li Wenyan was injured and her replacement Tinne Helgadotir lost her match against Camilla Sorensen for a final 4-2 success for Greve.

Team Aarhus also was facing a traditional powerhouse of the Danish Elite division, Kastrup Magleby, in the most even tie of the evening. Thanks to their new line up – including top shuttler Cai Jiani from Horsens and their new second men’s singles – Anand Pawar of India, who was playing in a lower division last year - Aarhus played above par and beat their opponents of the night 4-2.

“It’s a lot more exciting to play in the Elite Division. More spectators, more sponsors, and I was on the TV court,” said Pawar for his big debuts in the top league. “Our goal this year is to be in the top 3. I think we can be number 3 and we’ll try to trouble the best two teams when we play against them,” added the Indian, who now lives most of the time in Denmark.

The last result of the 8 strong Danish Elite league saw Vaerlose beat Nordsjaelland 5-1.

Full results :
TSS beat Gentofte : 6-0
Greve beat Vendsyssel : 4-2
Team Aarhus beat Kastrup : 4-2
Vaerlose beat Nordsjaelland 5-1.

Full results HERE

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