Danes play mind games ahead of crucial tie against Malaysia

PETALING JAYA: Top Dane Peter-Gade Christensen is recovering from a migraine attack and may not play in a crucial Sudirman Cup world mixed team badminton championships tie against Malaysia in Guangzhou tonight.

And there are also swirling rumours that Denmark will call up their No. 1 women’s player Tine Rasmussen to boost their side.

Messing with the head: Peter Gade-Christensen is said to be a doubtful starter as he is recovering from migraine. - AFP

But Malaysian singles chief coach Rashid Sidek is not buying any of those. He believes that the Danes are just playing mind games as Malaysia bid to make a major breakthrough in the championships by reaching the semi-finals for the first time.

Malaysia will square off with top seeds Denmark tonight in a tie to decide the Group A runners-up to South Korea. The Koreans beat Hong Kong last night to complete their group fixtures with three wins.

Malaysia and Denmark have two wins each and whoever emerge victorious tonight will get a semi-final tie against defending champions China. The Chinese are assured of a place in the semi-finals after chalking 5-0 wins over Japan and England and they are expected to beat Indonesia tonight to emerge the Group B winners.

Malaysia lost 2-3 to South Korea but bounced back to beat Hong Kong 4-1. The Danes battled to a 3-2 win over Hong Kong but stumbled to a 1-4 defeat by South Korea.

Rashid said that he expected the tie against the Danes to go down to the wire and he hoped everyone would chip in well and play their part.

“We have never beaten Denmark in the Sudirman Cup and I think there is a good chance this time to do so,” he said in a telephone interview yesterday.

On the possibility of Denmark fielding Rasmussen, Rashid said that he did not think so.

“Until last night, we have not seen Rasmussen. I don’t think she will arrive here at the last minute just to play the match against us,” he said.

“Peter-Gade complained of headache in their tie against South Korea and we hear that he has come out of the hospital. I think this is all just talk.

“He will be there on court tomorrow as Denmark cannot afford to keep him out. They are the top seeds and they also have a reputation to protect.”

Rashid added that Malaysia would field their strongest line-up against the Danes.

“I am not expecting any easy match and we should send in our experienced players,” he said.

That mean Ng Hui Lin, who was supposed to play in the mixed doubles, should continue to warm the bench unless doubles chief coach Rexy Mainaky wants Koo Kien Keat and Wong Pei Tty to only concentrate on their doubles matches.

If Rexy takes this option, Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari will partner Hui Lin for the mixed doubles and Kien Keat and Pei Tty will be kept stronger for their partnerships with Tan Boon Heong and Chin Eei Hui respectively.

The Malaysian team took it easy yesterday, restricting themselves to a light training session in the morning.

Posted by Lucas Liau on 9:04 AM. Filed under News, Peter Gade . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0