Denmark's Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen struck a thunderous blow for the West when they overhauled South Korea's second seeds Chung Jae-sung and Lee Yong-dae to reach the final of the men's badminton doubles at the London Games on Saturday.

The last Western pair left in gold medal contention, Boe and Mogensen prevailed 17-21, 21-18, 22-20 in an 83-minute marathon of unrelenting tension to set up a mouthwatering gold medal decider with China's world champion pair of Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng.

The dramatic victory, sealed when Lee agonizingly misjudged a line call on match point, drew a standing ovation from the packed crowd at the 4,800-capacity Wembley Arena, which included Denmark's thrilled Crown Prince Frederik.

It also gave third seeds Boe and Mogensen hope of becoming only the second European Olympic champions since badminton became an Olympic sport at the 1992 Barcelona Games.

The only other gold medal not won by China, South Korea or Indonesia was clinched by Danish men's singles champion Poul-Erik Hoyer Larsen at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

"It is one of the best matches we have played under as much pressure as an Olympics," 32-year-old Boe, a four-time European champion, said.

"We could actually play (the final) now if the Chinese wanted. We will play on pure adrenalin. (Fatigue) won't be a problem at all ... They can just bring it on. We'll be ready. Looking forward to it."

China's Cai and Fu will also head into the match with huge motivation, having lost the gold medal on their home court at the Beijing Games to Indonesia's Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan.

In contrast to Boe and Mogensen's gruelling battle, the Chinese pair simply outclassed Malaysian pair Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong 21-9, 21-19.

"We performed normally," said Fu.

"Four yearss ago, we won silver, so we're so excited about the forthcoming match. We regret that we couldn't get gold (at Beijing). Four years on, we want to make up for that regret."

(China Daily 08/05/2012 page7)