PETALING JAYA: From rock bottom to champion in just two weeks.
It was wildly contrasting emotions for Danish shuttler Anders Antonsen after he went from losing in the first round of the Arctic Open in what was his first tournament with his brother, Kasper as coach to winning his home Open just two weeks later.
Antonsen narrowly went down to Frenchman Alex Lanier in Vantaa, Finland but turned around his form superbly to beat Japan’s world No. 13 Koki Watanabe 21-15, 21-16 in the final at the Jyske Bank Arena in Odense on Sunday.
It was the 27-year-old’s first World Tour title since he won the Malaysian Open and Indonesian Masters in January.
“I’m having a crazy year. So far, it has been very good but it has been super tough lately,” said a delighted Antonsen.
“I’m so happy. It’s unreal. I told him (Kasper) when I played my first tournament with him where I lost in the first round that I kind of liked it that we start from rock bottom.
“I have to climb my way up from here. I didn’t know where we go from now. I think it’s way too soon for us to experience this achievement but it’s amazing to experience this with my brother.
“Earlier, I said let’s make mum and dad proud and I’m sure we did it,” added Antonsen.
The world No. 4 added to his first Denmark Open crown which he won in 2020.
Antonsen deserves credit for recapturing his form after inconsistent showings following his double title joy in January.
The Dane also had to sack his previous coach Joachim Persson in August after the latter allegedly placed bets on a match.
Antonsen decided to hire Kasper as his new coach and based on his stunning turnaround in his home tourney, it looks like the right decision.
Meanwhile, in the women’s singles, China’s world No. 3 Wang Zhiyi captured the title after a sensational 21-10, 21-12 victory over South Korea’s Paris Olympics gold medallist and reigning world champion An Se-young.
In the men’s doubles, there was joy for China again when world No. 1 Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang beat home favourites and world No. 2 Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen 21-18, 21-17 to win their first title since claiming silver in the Paris Games in August.
FINAL RESULTS
Men’s singles: Anders Antonsen (Den) bt Koki Watanabe (Jpn) 21-15, 21-16
Men’s doubles: Liang Weikeng-Wang Chang (Chn) bt Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen (Den) 21-18, 21-17
Women’s singles: Wang Zhiyi (Chn) bt An Se-young (Kor) 21-10, 21-12.
Women’s doubles: Rin Iwanaga-Kie Nakanishi (Jpn) bt Liu Shengshu-Tan Ning (Chn) 21-18, 21-14.
Mixed doubles: Feng Yanzhe-Huang Dongping (Chn) bt Jiang Zhenbang-Wei Yaxin (Chn) 15-21, 21-18, 21-17
