Hong Kong Open: Danes Dazzle
Of all the countries with more than one representative in the VICTOR Hong Kong Open 2023 second round, Denmark were the only one to end the day with 100 per cent record.
· PREM KUMAR
Young men’s singles shuttler Magnus Johannesen was the first to step out and set the tone for his compatriots, bouncing back from the brink against the seasoned Wang Tzu Wei. Johannesen meekly lost the first game 21-10 and was trailing the second 19-17 before snatching four consecutive points to force a rubber. He heroically repeated the trick in the decider, going from 20-18 down to 22-20 to set up a last eight battle with Malaysian Ng Tze Yong.
“My opponent was clever with long breaks, and I got frustrated. It was a tough match against myself too in that way. But really proud I could keep it all together and win,” said the 21-year-old.
Women’s pair Maiken Fruergaard/Sara Thygesen followed Johannesen’s lead, albeit more aggressively, on the same court in the very next match, stunning Japanese third seeds Nami Matsuyama/Chiharu Shida in straight games.
- Magnus Johannesen
- Wang Tzu Wei
- Ng Tze Yong
- Maiken Fruergaard
- Sara Thygesen
- Nami Matsuyama
- Chiharu Shida
- Lee So Hee
- Shin Seung Chan
- Rena Miyaura
- Ayako Sakuramoto
- Greysia Polii
- Apriyani Rahayu
- Kim Astrup
- Anders Skaarup Rasmussen
- Rasmus Gemke
- Alexander Dunn
- Adam Hall
- Jason Gunawan
- Lee Chia Hao
- Viktor Axelsen
- Lee Zii Jia
- Fang-Jen Lee
- Fang-Chih Lee
- Fajar Alfian
- Muhammad Rian Ardianto
- Kirsty Gilmour
- Akane Yamaguchi
- Lai Shevon Jemie
- Goh Soon Huat
- Rinov Rivaldy
- Pitha Haningtyas Mentari