Playing to Win:
The Denmark Team at YONEX Open Japan 2016
In September, Danish badminton players Mads
Conrad Petersen and Hans-Kristian Vittinghus,
as well as their coach Thomas Stavngaard,
visited Tokyo for the YONEX Open Japan 2016
tournament. The team, which is sponsored
by Grundfos, opened up to us about their
background, motivations, impressions of Japan,
future goals, and more.
Q: Could you introduce yourself and the Denmark
team? Tell us about when and how you started
playing, your experience, passion for badminton,
and so on.
MADS: I am from a town in southern Denmark
called Vejen. In Denmark, most towns have
public sports clubs that are easy to join. I started to play badminton and football when I was
8. I had the most success in badminton, so I fo-
when I was 5 years old. I liked the individual as-
THOMAS: I get a kick out of helping my players.
cused on it. Until I was 15, badminton was just
pect of badminton. Later, deciding to become a
It’s all about teamwork. When they win, we all
a recreational game for me, but then I decided
professional athlete, I thought that there was
win, and when they lose, we all lose. I help my
to be a professional player.
less competition in badminton than in football
players develop a tactical plan for each game.
to reach the top league.
Sometimes they might already have the right
to play double. Initially, I liked badminton be-
THOMAS: I started to play badminton at the
ideas, in which case I can confirm and back
cause it was an individual sport. However,
relatively late age of 12. Previously, I had already
them up. Then I must make sure that they stick
when you have a badminton partner, exercise
played football. When I was 14 years old, I had
to our plan during the game. However, if our
becomes more interesting, and you can enjoy
to choose between the two, and the badmin-
initial plan turns out not to work, I must also
games together. In this case, cooperation is
ton club was closer to home, so I chose bad-
intervene and develop a new plan.
of extreme importance, and you need a good
minton. I played professionally from the age
coach to help you.
of 18 to 25. Then I entered an apprenticeship
Q: What is the role of a coach?
HANS: I was born in a town outside Copenha-
and later worked as a carpenter. I studied to
HANS: During a game, you are stressed and
gen. I started to play badminton and football
become a teacher and worked as one until last
your pulse beats at 180. You might not be able
year, when I became a badminton coach for
to make the right decision alone. That’s why it’s
Hans and Mads.
important to have your trainer.
I played single until I was 19; then I started
MADS: On our level, the mental aspect of the
Q: Why are you passionate about badminton?
sport is crucial. It’s the small things that count.
HANS: I like the competition aspect of it. You
Do you dare take a chance at the right mo-
are constantly challenged in new situations.
ment? How do you stay calm? The trainer can
You learn to tackle downturns as well as suc-
help you to work out these emotions in your
cesses. It develops you as a human being, and
head.
it has partly formed me to become the person
I am today. Now, at the age of 30, I have played
Q: What are your thoughts on Japan?
a lot of games, but I still learn something new
THOMAS: The first time I visited was in 1999.
from every game.
MADS: Hans and I have been to Japan sev-
MADS: When you work professionally in the
eral times over the last eight years. Although
world of elite sports, you learn to overcome a
we’ve visited the main tourist spots in Tokyo,
loss. You might lose one week, but then you fo-
we haven’t done much sightseeing. We would
Thomas Cup gold medalist 2016
cus on the next game. There is always a new
mainly stick to our hotel, the bus and the train-
India and French Super Series 2015 runner-up
chance to win. In this case, backup and support
ing hall.
4-time national champion in Denmark
from the coach are also important.
HANS: However, we’ve had good experiences
Mads Conrad Petersen – badminton player
European Champion 2016
from nearby restaurants and our comfortable
hotels. Japanese food is delicious and healthy,
and Japan is safe. In some countries, it is not
advisable to venture outside the hotel, and we
have to also eat in the hotel. In Tokyo, around
our hotel, we have some favorite restaurants
that offer delicious food like sushi, teppanyaki,
and curry. Eating and sleeping well is crucial for
performing at our utmost during a game.
Q. Are there any other impressions of Japan
that you’d like to share?
MADS: I’ve visited some Japanese badminton
clubs for children. I’m amazed about the attention I get from the children. They are genuinely
Hans-Kristian Vittinghus – badminton player
Thomas Stavngaard – coach
Australian Open Superseries 2016 (Singles) winner
Former pro badminton player from Denmark
Thomas Cup 2016 (Men’s World Team Champion-
Danish champion in mixed doubles, 1997 and 1998
interested to hear what I have to say. In many
ships) semi-finalist
2-time member, Danish Thomas Cup team, 1996
other countries, the children would just run
All England 2016 (Singles) finalist
and 1998
around or talk to each other – or they would be
Dubai Superseries Finals 2014 (Singles) finalist
quiet because of strictly enforced discipline. It’s
different in Japan.
THOMAS: Asian players outside Japan gener-
the local handball club in the Danish town of
HANS: Japanese people are friendly and cour-
ally play in a high tempo with lot of explosive
Bjerringbro [where Grundfos headquarters are
teous, and yet you feel that their friendliness
power. They meet the ball very quickly and
located].
comes from the heart. It does not seem en-
hit very hard. Usually Asian players also train
MADS: As athletes, we appreciate Grundfos’s
forced. For instance, the service at restaurants
much more than Danish players, so they reach
positive support for sports in general.
is very good. I am always impressed when the
a professional level at an earlier age.
waiter bows and thanks us for coming.
Danish children normally have a life with
Q: Could you tell us about your future goals/
THOMAS: Japanese people respect time. The
other hobbies besides playing badminton, and
resolutions?
bus from the hotel to the hall departs on time,
their parents want them to attend to their
HANS: Right now, I’m focusing on badminton.
and we get our courts at the agreed time, so
studies. Thus, Danish players generally reach
When I eventually quit professional badmin-
we can practice. Practice before a game is of
their maximum later in life than Asian players.
ton, I want to continue working in the sports
utmost importance to us, so the Japanese
To counter this handicap, Danish players
field, so I have also taken a degree in sports
punctuality and adherence to agreements is
normally have to play more “with their heads”
event management. I might become a coach or
wonderful. It is not like that in other countries.
– that is, through strategies and tactics, they
do something else related to sports.
MADS: We notice that Japanese people do not
try to find loopholes in the opponents’ defense.
MADS: When playing professionally, there are
cross the street on a red light, and they walk on
Just ten years ago, Japanese badminton
some adjustments to be made. I have less time
the left side of the sidewalk. This makes Japan
players were known for their wild playing
for my wife and daughter, and our family life
easy to navigate. Japanese people also queue
style. They focused on speed and power. How-
generally revolves around my career. At some
properly, just like Danish people.
ever, this has changed after they got a Korean
point, I would like to live a more balanced life.
THOMAS: I think Japanese culture is probably
trainer and possibly some other inspiration
So far, I have no specific job in mind. Perhaps it
the closest to Danish culture among the Asian
from outside coaches. Now, I think Japanese
could be something completely different from
countries.
badminton players play more like Danish bad-
sports, but it must have an element of compe-
minton players.
tition.
Q: What is your goal for YONEX Open Japan
THOMAS: In general, professional athletes
2016?
Q: Grundfos is a sponsor for the Denmark
do not have difficulty finding jobs after their
HANS, MADS, THOMAS: We want to win.
team. What do you know about Grundfos?
sports career ends. Employers often look for
What are your impressions of it?
the important qualities that professional ath-
Q: Are there any specific players whom you
HANS: Grundfos is one of the few big global
letes must possess – discipline, hard work,
know or are interested in?
companies in Denmark along enterprises like
and the capacity to set goals and reach them.
HANS: In ladies’ singles, I like to follow Okuhara.
Lego, Maersk Line, and Danfoss. It is a brand
Although badminton is an individual sport, you
MADS: In men’s doubles, I think Endo and
within the industrial sector.
still function as a team when you train togeth-
Hyakuhara play very entertainingly. They nor-
THOMAS: Most Danish athletes and sports
er. You learn a lot about people. My own imme-
mally play long and interesting matches. We
enthusiasts know that Grundfos sponsors
diate goal is to coach my badminton players to
have played against them a few times.
sports teams, whether it’s badminton or even
win as many games as possible.