KUALA LUMPUR – For Denmark’s rising men’s doubles pair William Kryger Boe and Christian Faust Kjaer, badminton isn’t just a sport – it’s a family legacy.
Both players, who earned their spot in the main draw of the Malaysia Masters today, grew up with shuttlecocks and racquets in hand, watching their uncles compete on the international stage.
Now, they’re determined to write their own story.
After surprising everyone by finishing runners-up at the Thailand Open last week, their latest performance – a commanding 21-9, 21-16 win over homesters Chia Weijie and Lwi Sheng Hao in the qualifying round – sets up a first-round clash with another young Malaysian pair, Aaron Tai and Kang Khai Xing, at the Axiata Arena tomorrow.
Aaron and Khai Xing had downed national teammates Bryan Jeremy Goonting and Fazriq Razif 21-17, 21-17 in a qualifying match earlier.
But beyond the results, it’s the backstory of Boe and Kjaer that is beginning to capture attention.
Boe is the nephew of Mathias Boe, the Danish doubles legend who won Olympic and World Championship medals and is now based in India, married to Bollywood star Taapsee Pannu.
Kjaer, meanwhile, is the nephew of Casper Henriksen, a former international who featured in the Denmark Open and other majors as well.
“We’ve known each other since we were five or six. We grew up playing youth badminton together and always dreamed of playing on the big stage,” said Boe.
"William had Mathias, who was one of the best doubles players in the world,” said Christian.
“I had Casper – not as good as Mathias – but he played big tournaments too. Both of us were basically raised in badminton halls. We picked up the racquet as soon as we could hit a shuttle.”
That shared upbringing has turned into a solid partnership on court and a close friendship off it.
“We enjoy spending time together, going out for dinner – it helps with our communication during matches. We can be blunt with each other and not take it personally," said Boe.
Their bond is matched by a shared ambition to emulate their uncles and make their mark on the world stage.
“I’ve talked a lot with Mathias, even last week (at the Thailand Open),” added Boe.
“He texts us after every match with advice. He’s always supported me. I want to be like him – to one day play on the biggest stages. I’ve been to the All England almost every year to watch him, except for the two times (2011 and 2015) he won it! I even saw him lose two finals.”
The Danish pair are part of the national training set-up and previously worked under renowned coach Kenneth Jonassen, who is now the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) singles coaching director.
Commenting further, the young pair acknowledged the fact that there’s still a long road ahead, especially in a sport dominated by Asian powerhouses.
“Players from Asia are quicker on the racquet and stronger technically. We play a different game – more tactical, more defensive – but it’s still a big challenge," said Kjaer.
“Denmark is strong and France is coming up,” added Boe.
“But it will take a lot of years before Europe can really compete at the same level.”
Still, the two remain optimistic – grounded by their roots and fueled by family inspiration.
“I’ll be seeing Mathias soon – there’s a christening for his son back in Denmark,” William shared with a smile. – May 20, 2025
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