KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia are in for a tough time with Group D rivals Denmark ahead of the Thomas Cup Finals in Chengdu, China from April 28-May 5.
While Malaysia are still weighing their options for the second singles due to uncertainty over Ng Tze Yong's physical condition, Denmark can rely on Anders Antonsen for the role without hesitation.
The 26-year-old will head to Chengdu full of confidence after clinching his second European Championships title, defeating Toma Junior Popov of France 21-18, 21-13 in Saarbrucken, Germany.
This victory marks Antonsen's third title of the year following his successes at the Malaysia Open and Indonesia Masters in January.
While the victory proved to be significant for Antonsen individually, the world No. 4 also showed that he could bring stability to Denmark.
With defending champion and world No. 1 Viktor Axelsen falling to a surprise defeat to Popov in Saturday's semi-finals, Antonsen stepped up to help his country keep up the tradition of excelling in the event.
The Danes, who lifted the Thomas Cup for the first time in 2016, becoming the first European side to achieve the feat, have filled up the other two men's singles slots with world No. 28 Rasmus Gemke and No. 35 Magnus Johannesen.
Denmark's doubles department also peaked at the right time, with world No. 4 Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen leading three pairs into the semi-finals in Saarbrucken before emerging as champions for the third time in the championship.
Astrup-Rasmussen proved too hot to handle for their younger teammates Andreas Sondergaard-Jesper Toft, securing a convincing 21-11, 21-15 victory in the final.
Chengdu-bound second-ranked Rasmus Kjaer-Frederik Sogaard were the other pair in the last four before being eliminated by Sondergaard-Toft.
However, Toft will not get to play alongside Sondergaard at the Thomas Cup Finals as the latter did not receive a call-up.
The other doubles slot went to the experienced Mathias Christiansen, who forms the world No. 10 mixed doubles partnership with Alexandra Boje, in a move Denmark hope will bolster their options in creating a possible winning secret scratch pairing.
Denmark's head coach Kenneth Jonassen recently told TV2 Danmark: "On paper, things look good for us, and we see ourselves as one of the eight teams that could go all the way, but there's tough competition.
"That's why we've selected a team where we have the opportunity to make safe choices and the possibility to surprise."
Denmark's Thomas Cup squad — Singles: Viktor Axelsen, Anders Antonsen, Rasmus Gemke, Magnus Johannesen.
Doubles: Kim Astrup, Anders Skaarup Rasmussen, Rasmus Kjaer, Frederik Sogaard, Jesper Toft, Mathias Christiansen.