Korea lose 2-0 to Denmark in tough men's doubles badminton quarterfinal

Korea’s Kang Min-hyuk and Seo Seung-jae lost 2-0 to Denmark’s Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen in the badminton men’s doubles quarterfinals Thursday, ending the nation’s run in the event at the Paris Olympics.

Korea's Kang Min-hyuk and Seo Seung-jae play against Denmark's Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen during their men's doubles badminton quarterfinal match at the 2024 Paris Olympics, on Thursday in Paris. [AP/YONHAP]

Korea’s Kang Min-hyuk and Seo Seung-jae lost 2-0 to Denmark’s Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen in the badminton men’s doubles quarterfinals Thursday, ending the nation’s run in the event at the Paris Olympics.

The Korean duo fought hard against their Danish opponents, the No. 2-ranked men’s doubles team in the world. They narrowly lost the first game 21-19 and kept things competitive in the second game, taking the lead at multiple points to delay a 2-0 victory.

But Denmark triumphed, winning the advantage and the game 22-20 for a spot in the semifinals.

Korea's loss means the nation will not medal in men's doubles — where they failed to make the elimination rounds in 2021. Kang and Seo, the fourth-best-ranked men’s doubles team in the world, were the only Korean team entered in the men’s doubles tournament.

Korea has yet to medal in badminton at the Paris Olympics as of press time Thursday. But Korea already had at least one medal guaranteed.

Seo is set to play in an all-Korean mixed doubles semifinal later Thursday at La Chapelle Arena in Paris. The pairing guarantees a Korean team would reach the gold-medal round.

Seo and Chae Yu-jung were set to face Kim Won-ho and Jeong Na-eun.

Korea had two doubles teams in the quarterfinals of the women’s contest earlier Thursday, but both were knocked out in the quarterfinals, losing 2-0 to teams from China and Malaysia.

BY MARY YANG [mary.yang@joongang.co.kr]