DANISH LEAGUE – Gade stunned, TSS loses

Peter Gade and his team-mates of Team Skaelsgor Slagelse lost for the first time this season on Monday against Greve. This means three teams are now in the lead.

Raphael Sachetat. Photo: Badmintonphoto (archives)

It may have been only a game, but it was a Golden Set. And a game for his team to win, or lose. Peter Gade from Team Skaelsgor Slagelse (TSS), title holder of the Danish league, lost against Greve’s  Jens-Kristian Leth (photo) , the giant who used to be part of Denmark’s national team but who has now retired and only plays in Interclubs.

Greve and TSS were 4-4 before the golden set was to be played, and the odds were clearly in favour of the European Champion, who has not lost a match to a compatriot in the league for a few years. And when Leth took the game 21-16, it must have been a shock for the title holders, especially after Leth had lost tamely to Vittinghus and Gade easily beaten Persson during the first half of the evening.

One reason why the Dane was surprised was probably that he wasn’t prepared to play the Golden Set – which is decided by both coaches, who one after the other drop a category until the final one remains and is played for a game only, making the tie exciting.

“I don’t think Peter was expecting to play at all. Everyone thought the mixed doubles would play the Golden Set, but Steen (Greve’s coach) dropped the ladies’ singles not to risk another injury, and he gave Leth a change to practice again after he had lost to HK,” said Joachim Persson after the match.

“I don’t think Peter was prepared. Just after the decision of who was playing, they were already on court. It looked as if Peter was too passive and at 11-6, Jens saw the goal not too far. This is good for his confidence, for the future, and he will now believe he can beat HK Vitthingus for instance,” added Persson (photo).

TSS were then losing their first match of the season to Greve, who is now back on track at the top of the league ranking, together with TSS and Vaerlose with 10 points each. The latter beat Vandsyssel 4-2 thanks to an extraordinary victory of Martin Lundgaard and Rasmus Bonde against Jonas Rasmussen and Simon Mollyhus 21-18, 30-29 after an epic battle.

Another thriller – and another Golden Set in this amazing league for Team Aarhus, who beat Lillerod 4-3, with the decisive game won by Mie Schjott and Line Kruse against former Kiwi Sara Runensen-Pedersen and Ann Nielsen 22-20

The league now takes a break and will resume after the Denmark and French Open, on November 9^th.

Here are the full results of the Interclub leg played this Monday Oct 11^th:

Greve beat Team Skaelskor Slagelse  4-3
Vaerlose beat Vandsyssel  4-2
Team Aarhus beat Lillerod  4-3
Odense beat Gentofte  4-2
Skovshoved beat Ikast  5-1

Full results HERE