FRENCH OPEN 2012 QF – Peter Gade says his farewell

After an epic battle against compatriot Jan O Jorgensen, the legendary Peter Gade was eventually left to say his farewell to the badminton competition circuit after almost eighteen years playing around the globe and marking badminton history.

By Tarek Hafi, Badzine Correspondent live in Paris.  Photos: Yohan Nonotte for Badmintonphoto (live)

A very symbolic match it was, as Peter Gade did not only play his last match but also just happened to be beaten by Jan O Jorgensen, who is now asked to take the heavy role of the top Danish player.  The twenty-five year-old Jorgensen, however, had to fight to see the winning light against his experienced and legendary opponent, Peter Hoeg Gade.

Playing very patiently and tactically, the two players, who already know each other’s game so well after playing every day together at the Danish national centre, played the perfect match.

Jan Jorgensen, despite leading the march in the first game, saw his opponent, taking the edge after the younger challenger committed two easy mistakes.

The two successful Danes kept their same tactics to begin with the second game, not afraid of playing longer rallies.  As expected, they played another very tight end of game in the second; however, this time the edge was given to Jan Jorgensen, who played his strategy to perfection, waiting patiently to cover the gap and finishing it off with lethal attacks.

The legendary veteran Gade then could not overcome the in-form Jan O Jorgensen, who played a perfect deciding game to shut down the curtain on one of badminton best players in history.

“Coming into the match this morning, I thought I should play this match like any other match, but around 10 am, I started to get lots of feelings, thinking a lot,” said Gade after losing his quarter-final.

“When I came onto the court I felt really well.  I could have finished off this match in the second game, I didn’t, I still fought the best I could and I’m proud I played at this level for my last match.

“Sometimes you do things you don’t normally do.  There was a lot of feelings involved in here, and of course I’m delighted to have finished my career here in Paris.  It’s a fantastic place.”

Peter Gade will now be taking some time with his family until December, where he will play a final match against Lin Dan, during the Copenhagen Masters invitational tournament and prepare serenely his future in or out of the badminton world.

“My future is still unsure at the moment.  I might be becoming a coach for the Danish association. I was also proposed to be an ambassador for some Danish companies in China, so I’m still uncertain at the moment but now I just wish I can spend more with my family.”

However, the French crowd will get a final chance to say goodbye during the final, where an official ceremony is set to happen to congratulate Peter Gade for his illustrious career.

Click here for complete quarter-final results