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Astrup/ Rasmussen: We will get another chance
Date: 12/18/2021 9:13 PM
Published by : Alan Raftery
Kim Astrup/ Anders Skaarup Rasmussen are distraught that they are not waking up tomorrow in the final. It went to three, but they could not find a way past He Ji Ting/ Tan Qiang. 

Kim Astrup/ Anders Skaarup Rasmussen have had a strong end to 2021. The 2018 European Champions in Huelva, at this very same venue, demonstrated the type of grit and determination needed to win big medals, coming from behind and dominating the business end of matches.

They faced China’s He Ji Ting/ Tan Qiang, who with hardly any badminton played this year, just two losses, were able to send home the Olympic bronze medallists Chia/ Soh and sent off Goh/ Tan in their final appearance as a pair. 

The Danes lead the head-to-head 2-1, with their last encounter being a narrow three-game victory to China at the French Open 2018. A year remembered by Astrup/ Rasmussen as the year they took the China Open title. 

Not physical enough
After losing the first game 21-16, nobody batted an eyelid. The Danes have been here before and began their comeback. Striking back 21-13 in the second, it went to a third once again. 

However, the Chinese pair grew into the final game and did not stop until the finishing line, despite the Danes best efforts to claw it back. The match ended 21-16 13-21 21-15. 

-Unlike the two previous matches, the first game wasn’t that physical. So, they did not struggle physically, and they kept on going and kept on pushing, Astrup explained. 

The two have made history in winning a medal for Denmark and Europe for the first time since 2014. Talking about the emotions going through their heads right now, Rasmussen gave a thoughtful response. 

-We have allowed ourselves in the last few months to dream big, it has been a fantastic time, but tomorrow is going to be one of those days that you just want to get rid of. It is going to haunt us for a while that we are not playing the final. Just saying it hurts… but we will get another chance. 

Home is where the heart is
Finally, after being on the road for a long time, they get some well-deserved rest and family time. 

-I don’t think you can imagine how much we are looking forward to going home and staying home for a long time. We both miss our families and friends a lot, Astrup said.

He/ Tan will content the final tomorrow against Japan’s Hoki/ Kobayashi. 

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