Resilient AUSTRUP and RASMUSSEN battle through to the semi-finals

Determined to climb back up the world rankings after losing their number 1 spot a few months ago, Kim AUSTRUP and Anders Skaarup RASMUSSEN (Denmark, no.5) entered this championship with great ambitions. Until now, the Danes had not conceded a single game. However, the task looked set to be much tougher against familiar opponents: Japan’s Takuro HOKI and Yuko KOBAYASHI (no.13), who held a slight edge in their head-to-head with eight wins to seven losses. Enough to give them a psychological advantage? 

In any case, the Japanese made a perfect start. Imposing a fierce pace right from the outset, HOKI and KOBAYASHI dictated the play at the interval (11/9). Although the Danes briefly closed the gap (14/13), they were powerless against the speed of execution of the world number 13 and conceded their first game of the tournament (16/21). 

The second game began on the same note for the Japanese duo, who maintained the tempo and quickly opened a gap (6/2). ASTRUP and RASMUSSEN, however, were far from giving in, capitalizing on several errors from their opponents to claw their way back before edging ahead at the interval (9/11). From then on, it was a real battle of titans between two of the world’s best pairs. Neck and neck until the end, it was finally the Danes who prevailed to force a decisive final game (21/19). 

Buoyed by a game won at the last gasp, ASTRUP and RASMUSSEN stepped up the pace in the decider. Guilty of numerous technical errors, HOKI and KOBAYASHI were under pressure at the interval (5/11). Despite several flashes of brilliance from the Japanese pair as they attempted to close the gap, the world number 5 duo were ruthless and claimed their ticket to the last four (21/17).