Players
Featured Players 3
Takamatsu pair's biggest rival!
Sportsmanship in the air on RYTTER JUHL & PEDERSEN pair
"If only 1 wish could be granted, we would have played over again 3rd game from 19-6 point." This was the comment from Kamilla RYTTER JUHL and Christinna PEDERSEN after losing to Japanese Takahashi/Matsutomo (Nihon Unisys) pair during the Rio Olympic women's doubles finals. Although they seemed to regret game changing turnover, their expression after the fierce battle was calm and fresh and many of the spectators were fascinated by those two players.
During JAPAN OPEN 2016, RYTTER JUHL&PEDERSEN pair advanced to the finals and the battle for the title made many of us feel as if taken back to Olympics finals. It was a true revenge form Danish pair who closed the game early in 3rd round wining this fierce battle. Here is the comment they left.
"First of all, let us apologize. We feel a little sorry that we won over the Japanese hero Takahashi /Matsutomo pair in Japan. But it was great experience to have a challenging match against the Japanese pair we truly respect."(RYTTER JUHL)
――Enjoy the game with respect to the rival opponent.
Such curtesy is what making this Danish pair even more attractive, they are not merely after the title.
Top players in mixed double as well
Influence of family is the trigger to start playing
Those two started playing badminton with the influence of their families.
33 years old RYTTER JUHL started badminton with the influence of her mother who was a coach of a junior club.
"That's why I do not know when exactly I started playing badminton. It seems that I took the racket for the first time at the age of 4 or so. But seems like I was on the court since I was a baby, listening to the sounds of passing by shuttles. - remembers RYTTER JUHL.
During her Junior times, she was also participating in swimming. She joined Denmark national team at age of 20 years old, while studying sports management at the university.
In case of 31 years old PEDERSEN, her parents were badminton lovers. Born into Aalborg where badminton was thriving, she started playing at the age of six. She also joined Denmark national team at age of 20 years old. At that time PEDERSEN was a student studying pedagogy.
This is how both of them became part of Danish national team. However, they have not started playing as a pair right away. At first both had a different partner and played as a mixed doubles. In the 2009 world championship, RYTTER JUHL won gold medal, PEDERSEN won a bronze medal. RYTTER JUHL&PEDERSEN are unusual type pair that made use of the experience developed during mixed doubles to succeed as women's doubles pair later.
After two played in the top rankers with mixed doubles, in 2010 they finally formed a pair. Then in the world championship in 2013 Danish pair won a bronze medal and grew to bring women's doubles medal for the first time in ten years to their home country.
Because of their experience paying mixed pair, they are used to the strength and speed of men's smash, so they have the strength to push back any incoming attacks with just a move of the wrist. Moreover, RYTTER JUHL is 183 cm, PEDERSEN is 178 cm tall, giving them advantage over their opponents to attack better from higher angles. This is what makes the strength of RYTTER JUHL&PEDERSEN pair leading two of them to a silver medal at the Rio Olympics last year.
Peace and Dynamic――
Opposite personalities make this pair work the best
RYTTER JUHL&PEDERSEN seem to be quite different. Being asked what would they like to change in their partner, here is what they replied.
"Christinna gets upset if she makes mistakes continuously"- said RYTTER JUHL.
"Kamilla easily gets angry. (Lol)" – said PEDERSEN.
Maybe this difference is what makes their pair so successful.
Even in the scene where opponent catches the game and RYTTER JUHL becomes too excited, PEDERSEN stays calm and regains the game. On the other hand, when PEDERSEN makes simple mistake and is discouraged, RYTTER JUHL bangs her back to cheer her up. They are well-balanced.
And although two of them are at the age we can call them senior players, they have not lost sight of the high goal yet. Especially PEDERSEN who continues playing mixed doubles post Rio Olympics says as follows. "My goal is to become a perfect world class payer as women's doubles and mixed doubles as well."
As of August, their world ranking of women's doubles is second. PEDERSEN is world sixth in mixed doubles. As time goes by there is no indication of declining from two of them. During DAIHATSU YONEX JAPAN OPEN let's find out how the mixed doubles playing experience is to be transformed in their women's doubles play.
Check profiles and rackets used by players here.
http://www.yonex.co.jp/badminton/players/post-13.html(RYTTER JUHL)
http://www.yonex.co.jp/badminton/players/post-14.html(PEDERSEN)
FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/rytterjuhlandpedersen/
