Line Kjaersfeldt helped Denmark defend their European Mixed Team Championships title when she picked up the third point against Russia in the final on Sunday.

The Women’s Singles spearhead lost her first match of the campaign to Bulgaria’s Mariya Mitsova, but bounced back to win her next three matches.

In this interview with Badminton Unlimited, recorded before the event, Kjaersfeldt – Denmark’s brightest Women’s Singles hope since Tine Baun – talks about her admiration for Baun, her goals for the year, and takeaways from her first Olympics.

On Tine Baun

I was a bit sad when she retired because we could have used her in training here in Denmark. It would be good to have someone like her who was better than us and could train us. I didn’t really think that it could be my time now after her. I knew I had some years before I could get to her level.

I looked up to her and in some ways I have some of the strengths she has. I think she was a really good player. She had some really good strengths.

Women’s Singles and Game Style

I’m very aggressive, I like to have the control in the game and to attack. I’m still taking some chances and I think that’s what I’m going to do if I want to go to the top of the world. But I’m working that it’s not as much as it has been.

It’s a very strong field and there are many really good players. Tournament winners are always changing. There are some new and upcoming young girls who are also very good.

Targets for the Superseries and GPG

It (Superseries) is more tough but I’m hoping that in the next few years I maybe can win a Grand Prix Gold and maybe make it to some more quarter-finals and maybe semi-finals in the (World) Superseries. Of course I want to win a title at the Superseries too but I think it’s not this year.

This year I want to reach the final in the European Championships and then I’m hoping to get to more quarter-finals in the Superseries and then we will see how it goes.

Experiences in Rio

It was a really good experience. It was my first Olympics and I was hoping to go there since I was a little girl. I had a tough draw against Carolina Marin in the group but it was a great experience and I’m hoping to make it for 2020.

I just need to work as hard as I do now here in Denmark during training. I’m training good and if I just keep going on and on with the right things someday I will go further and further. I really hope so and I’m trying to reach it.

Watch Line Kjaersfeldt’s interview on Badminton Unlimited: