HORSENS: Taiwan arrived at the Thomas Cup Finals in Forum Horsens carrying something they had never quite had before, a momentum built from history.
After reaching a maiden semi-final in Chengdu 2024 in China, veteran leader Chou Tien-chen believes the team are no longer just participants, but genuine competitors who can take another step forward as they set their sights to clinch their first Thomas Cup.
"That’s our goal (winning Thomas Cup). If you have one result, you want to pass that but we need to go step by step. So that’s what we are working for," said Tien-chen.
As Taiwan are tipped as the dark horse of the tournament, the current world No. 6 shuttler believes his team are strong enough to take the challenge, particularly with the rise of the world No. 8 Lin Chun-Yi, lately.
The 36-year-old Tien-chen also said the blend of youth and experience has given Taiwan a fresh balance, with flexibility across doubles and growing confidence in the singles line-up.
Last March, Chun-Yi made history as he became the first ever men’s singles player from Taiwan to win the All-England title, the world’s oldest badminton tournament, in Birmingham.
Apart from Tien-chen and Chun-Yi, Taiwan can rely on the two-time Olympic Games men’s doubles gold medallist, Wang Chi-Lin with his current partner, Chiu Hsiang-chieh, to deliver important points for their country.
Other players include world No. 21 Chi Yu-jen and world No. 36 Lee Chia-hao from the men’s singles camp and two more doubles pairs namely world No. 16 pair Lee Jhe-huei-Yang Po-hsuan and Liu Kuang-heng-Yang Po-huan (23rd).
Despite growing expectations, Tien-chen said Taiwan cannot take lightly the challenge from the hosts Denmark, who are drawn together in Group C, as well as other contenders such as 14-time champions, Indonesia, defending champions China and five-time champions Malaysia.
Taiwan will open their Group C campaign against Sweden on Saturday (April 25), followed by South Korea (April 27) and Denmark (April 29).
The Thomas Cup Finals will start on Friday (April 24) and run until May 3. - Bernama
TAG: Thomas Cup, Taiwan, Chou Tien Chen, Denmark, Horsens
