Jorgensen, 28, has more than made up for flopping at the Rio 2016 Olympics by helping Denmark to an opening triumph in the prestigious Thomas Cup and becoming the first non-Asian to lift the China Open. These triumphs saw him top the Destination Dubai rankings for the elite season-ending competition, where he opens this morning at Hamdan Sports Complex versus Hong Kong’s Hu Yun in the men’s singles.
He said: “These Finals have been going on for quite awhile and [iconic retired countrymen] Peter Gade has won it when it was called the World Badminton Grand Prix Finals, so to be honest the Thomas Cup was a bigger achievement from a Danish point of view as we’d never won it.
“China as well, because it is like a legendary tournament to win from a non-Asian. I am really proud to have won these tournaments.
“But of course this is the best of the best. You really want to do well here as well, so it will be a big achievement to win this one.”
Danish sport is traditionally associated with football, where the likes of the Laudrup brothers – Michael and Brian – became global stars.
Although a fan of the national pastime, Jorgensen, unsurprisingly, admits his idol found success with a shuttlecock.
He said: “I played soccer as a young kid and of course, these [Laudrups] were the guys. But with badminton, it was Peter Gade.
“I am so proud to have played against him and practiced with him. He was the role model.”
Former World No1 Gade is just one in a long list of standout Danish players, making the country Europe’s hotbed.
“Culture,” he replied when asked what caused this production line. “I think we have a club system which is working and we need to keep polishing it.
“I came in as a young kid at 16 into the National Centre. Peter [Gade] was there and Kenneth Jonassen, top five players in the world.
“We have three players now in and around the top 10, so you can see how it is done.”
