Kim Astrup/Anders Skaarup Rasmussen claim epic win at HSBC BWF World Tour Finals, while Anders Antonsen secures a hard-fought silver medal.
Kim Astrup/Anders Skaarup Rasmussen concluded their campaign at the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals with a huge win. Facing Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei/Nur Izzuddin, whom they had previously defeated in the group stages, the Danes were confident in their chances to triumph again.
The match saw Astrup/Rasmussen taking the first game 21-17, though the Malaysians rallied to win the second game 21-17. The third game saw the Danes pull ahead with a solid win of the decider, 21-11. Reflecting on the title win, Astrup shared with TV 2 SPORT, “It was something I never thought we would achieve in our careers, but something we have always dreamed of.” This victory not only secured their title but also pushed them to number one in the world rankings, which will be updated tomorrow. “It hadn't even occurred to me when we won that we were number one. It was the title itself that mattered.”
This win marks a significant milestone for their career and for European badminton, making Astrup/Rasmussen the first European men’s doubles pair to win the HSBC BWF World Tour Finals title since its start in 2018. The last Danish duo to top the world rankings and win at a season-ender were Mathias Boe/Carsten Mogensen back in September 2017.
Also to TV 2 SPORT, Rasmussen reflected on their achievement at ages 35 and Astrup’s 32: “Now we are at the top both on the podium and on the ranking list. It's absolutely crazy to be able to cross it off. It's not something we thought we would succeed in, and it's almost Christmas, so how good can it be?”
Well-fought silver for Antonsen
Anders Antonsen won silver at his second World Tour Finals, his first being in 2020 where he defeated Viktor Axelsen for the title. Facing the current world number one, Shi Yu Qi, Antonsen faced an opponent who was in peak form, leaving little room for the Dane to strike back at the Chinese player’s strong performance. Shi Yu Qi won in straight games to take the title, 21-18 21-14.
Nonetheless, Antonsen has delivered impressive matches throughout the week, securing a well-deserved podium finish to conclude the year.