BWF SUPER SERIES - CHINA OPEN 2007

Revenge on Gade's mind

23 November 2007

By Raphael Sachetat. Pix by BadmintonPhoto

Lin Dan was stunned in the opening round of his home China Open by Korea’s Park Sung Hwan in a three-game thriller. Later on, China lost former world champions Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng. Park Sung Hwan is the only man on the badminton planet to have a good record against Lin Dan. It is enough to be called a Nemesis. Because, after his wins in the Malaysia Open in 2004, then again this year in the same Malaysia Open, Park Sung Hwan stroked a hat-trick over Lin Dan on Wednesday in Guangzhou, avenging his loss to the world champion a fortnight ago in France

The Korean played with patience, while Lin Dan, on his side, played well, but not well enough. Park had his game plan to trouble the world champion. A patient game, matching his speed, trying to make the rallies last longer thanks to an amazing defense, and most of all, a fighting spirit which was the key to this beautiful battle.

Before this match, Lin and Park were even at 2 victories each. In front of a strong crowd, the Chinese had at heart to prove he deserved the No 1 spot in the draw and show his fans that he was ready to take on the home pressure, few months away from the big event, the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

&ldquoHe almost succeeded. After a close first game, Lin was in the lead 21/19. The second game was just as close, but the Chinese would come on top in crucial rallies and managed to get first to 20, leading then by two points. Two chances to win.

But on both occasions, Park played beautiful defenses and caught back to finally win the second game 22/20. A turning point as Lin was obviously affected by the loss of this game. “It did affect my spirit for the third game as I should have closed it before that,” said Lin Dan.

The third game went faster as Park was very confident and had more stamina. It was all over after his 21/12 success. “He played really well today, and on my side, I was a bit tired from all these tournaments that we play. Also, I felt like I really wasn’t playing at home today as many close line calls didn’t go my way ! “ explained Lin Dan.

Park will take on Hafiz Hashim who might see this opportunity to shine again after a long title drought. It was Lin Dan’s first 1st round Super Series exit since that Malaysian Open in January, and the fact that it happened at home, and less than a year from the Olympics, could be a sign that the Chinese shuttler is beginning to feel the pressure.

With Lin Dan out, Lee Chong Wei is the favourite for the men’s single event, and with Taufik Hidayat also withdrawing the day before the event – the Indonesian had simply sent a mail to the Referee saying he wouldn’t come without explaining further, the Malaysian is the No 1 contender.

Bao Chunlai and Chen Jin will be the local favourites, with Chen Hong still in the draw after the former World No 1 beat his compatriot and 6th seed Chen Yu. Peter Gade on his side, trounced the lanky Simon Santoso in straight games in spite of a terrible start in the second game. Sony Dwi Kuncoro will be Indonesia’s sole hope in the next round after he beat Malaysia’s Wong Choong Hann in three games.

Lin Dan’s defeat wasn’t the only bad news for China on Wednesday. Their men’s doubles heroes, Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng were also defeated, by one of the pairs they struggle against, youngsters Abdul Latif and Mohd Fairuzizuan Tazari from Malaysia

The Chinese had won their last meeting in the final of the Indonesia Open, but in a close two games. This time, the Malaysians were very much on top of their game, advised by their mentor, Rexy Mainaky, whose record against the world champions is getting better and better as four of his pairs have already beaten Cai and Fu. The Malaysians won 21/15, 18/21, 21/17 in 49 minutes

Other pairs to make it through the next round were Danes Jens Eriksen and Martin Lundgaard , Lars Paaske-Jonas Rasmussen and Mangor and Steffensen who beat Malaysia’s Ong and Tan in three games

Last but not least, Mollyhus and Kristiansen assured the clean sweep against Poland’s Mateusiak and Logosz very late at night, after the courts had been used for 15 hours. The Danes won after a thrilling ending 28/26 in the last game. The upset of the day in the men’s double event was the loss of Candra Wijaya and Tony Gunawan against their younger compatriots Gunawan and Riyadi.

If all didn’t go smoothly for the Chinese men, it was a different story for the women. Zhu Lin was the closest from losing to Judith Meulendijks, only taking the edge towards the end of the third game. The world champion was clearly troubled by the Dutch who had once again found the right recipe to trouble the top Chinese. “It was very close, but right now, I’m feeling frustrated to have lost as it was very close. I know however that later I will probably be pleased with my performance. It shows I can be out there with the very best, “said the pretty Dutch lass after her 21/18, 20/22, 17/21 defeat to Zhu in almost one hour.

With Xie Xingfang and Zhang Ning looking strong, new talents Wang Lin and Liu Jie scalping some big names, the local ladies have a strong hold on the event with 6 representatives in the last 16. The draw however shows 5 of them in the same half of the draw.

Two surprises in the even on Wednesday, Bulgaria’s Petya Nedelcheva was ousted by Japan’s Kaori Mori, while Canada’s Anna Rice showed once again her improvement as she beat no less than Asian Games’s silver medalist Yip Pui Yin. As often in the Super Series, the other event so some exciting matches, and some surprises. Denmark’s Rytter-Juhl and Laybourn were beaten by China’s new pairing of Xu and Zhao in spite of getting three match points. Donna Kellogg and Anthony Clark, also seeded, were ousted by Thailand’s Prapakamol and Thungthongkam.

BWF SUPER SERIES - YONEX SUNRISE HONG KONG OPEN

Taufik-Lin Dan spectacle on the cards

30 November 2007

By Raphael Sachetat. Pix by BadmintonPhoto

Taufik Hidayat vs Lin Dan and Peter Gade vs Lee Chong Wei. These are two of the four appealing quarter-finals to be played on Friday in Hong Kong. In the women’s singles, China’s Zhang Ning was stunned by Korea’s Jun Jae Youn.

Some of the fans who had come last year for the Hong Kong Open quarter-finals will be hoping for one thing, get a little more of a show that the 5 minutes of play they had gotten then. Then, Taufik, playing Lin Dan, had walked out after 5 points had been played because of he was infuriated with a line call.

This rematch is on everyone’s lips ever since the draw from this Hong Kong Open had been published. Lin Dan against Taufik Hidayat is always a mouth watering match between two of the best shuttlers of the decade.

More than a match between a reigning Olympic champion and a two-time world title holder, it is a clash of styles, of personalities, which the medias from China and Indonesia love to emphasise. Asked once again about his rivalry with Lin Dan, Taufik answered as usual : “He doesn’t speak Indonesian or English, I don’t speak Chinese, so, we just greet each other when we cross path, that’s all.”

Both players rarely meet each other, only two times in the Super Series this year, with, on both occasion, wins for Lin Dan. In Malaysia, first, Lin had beaten the Indonesian 21/19, 23/21. Last month, in France, in a similar manner, Lin had come on top 21/14, 22/20.

For Friday’s quarter-final, however, the Indonesian vowed to play his best, even if he admits Lin is the favourite. “I will play my best and I will prepare my match with my coach Mulyo tonight, to see how I can beat him, so I am confident. However, Lin Dan is in top form and he is very tough to beat when he plays like this,” said the Indonesian.

In order to play the top seed, Taufik had to go through a tricky second round against Park Sung Hwan of Korea, who had stunned Lin Dan last week on his home soil. Precise at the net and keeping the shuttles down, the Olympic champion had no difficulties in the first game 21/12, but found himself under threat in the second one, winning 21/19.

Lin Dan, after his 21/15, 21/11 win over Koji Sato of Japan was waiting for the outcome of the match between Taufik and Park, buying T-shirts for his friends, but hoping for another result : “I wanted to play Park to avenge my defeat in Guangzhou last week,” said the Chinese. “But it’s ok, I will prepare to play against Taufik. We met in Malaysia and France and I beat him each time, so I am confident but the most important for me is to beat him in important occasions,” said Lin.

Later in the day, Peter Gade and Lee Chong Wei also got their tickets for an appealing quarter-final, after the Dane beat Sho Sasaki and the three times Super Series champion Lee beat his compatriot from KLRC Lee Tsuen Seng in straight games. The other quarter-finals will feature Kenneth Jonassen against Roslin Hashim – the Malaysian enjoyed a walk over from Bao Chunlai because of an ankle injury after the loss of the first game 19/21. Jonassen prevented a family quarter-final when he beat Roslin’s younger brother Hafiz in straight games 21/19, 21/5. The last quarter final will see Chen Jin take on Sony Dwi Kuncoro.

After Xu Huaiwen (Germany) and Wang Chen (Hong Kong) had withdrawn because of a foot and neck injury respectively, several China-born players but representing France, Netherlands and Hong Kong crashed out as well.

The biggest surprise came with the loss of Zhou Mi, the former world number one who had enjoyed a walkover from compatriot Wang Chen in the first round, who found Japan’s Eriko Hirose too hot to handle bowing out in straight games 21/19, 21/16.

Tine Rasmussen, before that, had showed glimpses of the reasons why she had been crowned in Japan last September. Playing Pi Hongyan for a spot in the quarter-final, the Dane played a very solid game, banking on her strength to cope with the draft and slow shuttles. Very motivated, very much on top of her game, Rasmussen took it home in straight games, 21/16 – 21/13.

“It’s a very good victory for me, as I had never beaten Pi in an international match. I had beaten her in Interclub matches and during the Copenhagen Masters, but never in a big tournament where she usually plays very well. Now, I hope to do well against Xie Xingfang tomorrow. I know I can do well as I have beaten her before,” said Tine.

Last but not least, Zhang Ning was upset by Korea’s Jun Jae Youn in one of the last matches of the day. Jun took on the Olympic Champion and pushed her to all four corners of the court, relying on her strong defense. The Chinese wasn’t patient enough and pushed her luck on attacks, making unforced errors.

After losing the first game 19/21, things look like they were back under control for Zhang when she saved 3 match points to get her first game point at 21/20, but Jun’s shuttle was called in and the Korean moved on to score the remaining two points for another important victory towards Olympic qualification. Three Chinese are still in the quarter-finals now, together with Thailand’s Salakjit Ponsana as the last qualifier after her win over Japan’s Kaori Mori.

Apart from the loss of their women’s doubles, Indonesians had a bright day in Hong Kong, winning all other matches today, both in men’s singles , mixed and men’s doubles. Alven and Luluk pulled the upset of the day, edging 7th seeds Eriksen and Lundgaard. Kido and Setiawan also made it to the next round , dropping one game along the way to Chinese Taipei’s new pair on the block, Fang and Lee. But the highlight of the day on Friday will be the match between Gunawan and Wijaya against Koo and Tan. Cai and Fu will take on Denmark’s Paaske and Ramsussen. In the mixed doubles, the only seeded pair to fall was 5th seeds from England, Robertson and Emms, who lost to Korea’s Lee Young Dae and Lee Hyo Jung 21/12, 21/16 while logic prevailed elsewhere. Japan had a 50 % win rate in the women’s double when their best pair of Ogura and Shiota fell to China’s Du and Yu, but earlier in the day, Maeda and Suetsuna had given their country one spot in the quarters by beating 8th seeds Wong and Chin of Malaysia.

BWF SUPER SERIES - YONEX SUNRISE HONG KONG OPEN

Cai-Fu gain sweet revenge

28 November 2007

By Raphael Sachetat. Pix by Badminton Photo

Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng avenged their first round lost of the China Open by defeating the pair which had beaten them in Guangzhou, Malaysia’s Fairuzizuan Tazari and Zakry Abdul Latif. There was further blow for Malaysia when veterans Lee Wan Wah and Choong Tan Fook had to withdraw due to Lee’s injury.

When the last match of the day, featuring Fu Haifeng-Cai Yun, was called at 10pm, there was a huge movement of crowd in the Elizabeth Stadium as they made their way to Court No 1. Obviously, the fame of the former world champions had crossed the borders of the former English colony and the Chinese stars were on for a well supported match.

And they needed it as once again, the young Malaysian pair gave them a run for their money. Abdul Latif and Fairuzizuan, in spite of their small height compared to their opponent, matched them in pace, and outplayed them in skills. It was just a matter of few points which got away from the Malaysians, or else, they would have done it again.

But Fu Haifeng played a magnificent game and played some incredible shots, at key moments, to ensure the Chinese got through to the next round with a 19-21, 22-20, 21-16 win over the Malaysians. “It’s really a shame that they lost in the second game. If they had kept on playing steady, without fearing their opponents, they would have won again tonight. This pair is very good and matched the Chinese in pace, but they have better skills. When they get their touch, they are a threat to the Chinese,” said Malaysia’s doubles coach Rexy Mainaky who also lost another pair in the first round, Lee-Choong. Lee could not continue due to a thigh injury and had to abandon the match after losing the first game to Denmark’s Lars Paaske and Jonas Rasmussen. On the other hand, youngsters Lim and Mak advanced to the second round.

As for Cai and Fu, If they could rejoice for their win, the Chinese duo however will face their compatriots Guo and Xie in the next round, which means that , no matter what, that China will have one – but only one – pair in the quarter-finals. A tricky situation for China as Cai and Fu will need the points to keep ahead in the top 4 and secure a seeding position in the Olympics, while Guo and Xie will need the points to stay in the top 16 and qualify for Beijing 2008. The main upset of the day in the men’s double was the one by Poland’s Mateusiak and Logosz, who beat 4th seeds from Korea, Lee Young Dae and Jung Jae Sung in straight games, 21/17, 30/28.

With five men’s singles left in the draw in the second round, Malaysia had a bright day in Hong Kong, losing only two of their shuttlers with one against a compatriot – Kuan Beng Hong lost to Lee Chong Wei.

The only casualty was Wong Choong Hann, who was beaten by Peter Gade of Denmark in one of the best matches of the day. Gade paid tribute to Choong Hann and described the first round win, together with last week’s China Open opener against Indonesia’s Simon Santoso, as among the toughest first round matches he has ever played.

Malaysia’s Hashim brothers are one step away from meeting each other in the quarter-finals after Hafiz beat Simon Santoso, while his elder brother stunned Korea’s Lee Hyun Il, who seems to have more and more trouble to get the points needed to enter the Olympics.

Lee and the Hashim brothers were joined by Yeoh Kay Bin and Lee Tsuen Seng. Yeoh beat China’s rising star Lu Yi in two difficult games, 22/20, 25/23 while Lee, who is representing the Kuala Lumpur Racket Club, also did well to overcome his opponent

As it often happens after an incredible tournament, the tension and tiredness gets back. This is obviously what happened to Wong Mew Choo, winner of the China Open last week in Guangzhou, who took on Salakjit Ponsana of Thailand, for her first match of the Yonex Sunrise Hong Kong Open.

The tiny Thai had beaten her in the past, and she was confident she could do it again. After the storm was out – Mew Choo won the first game 21/16 – but Salakjit kept her patience and slowly clawed her way back to an impressive victory, winning the next two games 21/7, 21/10.

Salakjit is able to beat players like Wong Mew Choo, as she’s not as offensive and tall as attacking players such as the Chinese. She has beaten Mew Choo many times before and she knows how to play against her,” said coach Udom Lueangpatcharaporn. Salakjit will take on Japan’s Kaori Mori for a place in the quarter-final, which, for both, would be a blessing towards Olympic qualification.

Zhou Mi, who is now representing Hong Kong, also, had a bit of luck after her compatriot Wang Chen withdrew, citing a neck injury sustained during practice. Zhou, in spite of not living for 7 years in Hong Kong – which is the local rule for representing the city - hopes she can still qualify for the Olympics.

But in order to do that, she’ll have to keep earning points and get into the top 16 and ahead of Yip Pui Yin, unless all three Hong Kong shuttlers can make it to the top 4, which is unlikely. Zhou will play Eriko Hirose, who is back from injury for a last eight spot. If most favourites had an easy round, Zhang Ning was the one who struggled the most against Bulgarian Nedelcheva, who bowed only 19/21 – 18/21 to the Olympic champion.

The mixed doubles saw no major upsets as all the best cruised through the second round after some had already done so on Tuesday as the draw was split in half. Denmark’s top two pairs will fight for a spot in the quarter-finals with revenge in the air from the National Championships.

Few upsets in the women’s doubles, except for Yao Jie, who was upset by the umpire’s call and close to the end of the match – at match point exactly, the China-born Dutch got very angry for the litigious call and told the umpire in Chinese some things which saw him put back the yellow card he had just given, and showed her the red one, meaning the match was over after this penalty point. Japan’s Maeda and Suetsuna probably enjoyed there their easiest ever match point…

BWF SUPER SERIES - YONEX SUNRISE HONG KONG OPEN

Taufik returns with a bang

27 November 2007

By Raphael Sachetat. Pix by Badminton Photo

INDONESIA'S Taufik Hidayat got off to a strong start when he outplayed China's Chen Hong in two straight and easy games as the Super Series entered its final leg , of its 12-leg series, of the year

More than 200 players had left Guangzhou, most of them by the convenient railway system which took them to Hong Kong in less that 2 hours to do battle in the last leg of the Super Series. And as such, all the top players made it to Hong Kong this week, including Taufik, who had skipped the China Open last week.

And the Indonesian showed that he was still to be counted amongst the world's best. He was to take on Chen Hong, for a match which is a classic between two of the elder players in the men's singles event.

Their first meeting was 10 years ago, in Brunei. Taufik had won at the time. And since then, out of their 12 meetings, the Indonesian won 10 of them, bowing only to Chen Hong in Japan in 2005, and in the World Championships last year, when, on both occasions, Taufik was not very motivated nor enthusiastic.

This time, at the Elizabeth Stadium, it was Chen Hong who clearly lacked the will to win. The Chinese had been disappointed about the China Open turn out - as he hinted to local reporters - and his physical condition was the other reason Chen gave to explain his poor outing - in 23 minutes. Taufik won 21/11 - 21/13.

Chen did fight in the beginning of the second game, when both players were evenly balanced until 11/11, but that was the only moment the Chinese was able to match Taufik. The Indonesian didn't have to force his talent however as Chen committed many mistakes through out the match.

Taufik, the reigning Olympic Champion, was quite happy on his win even though he hasn't set any targets for himself in Hong Kong. "I'm here to keep my ranking in the top 8 in order to start the Super Series next year. I plan on going to three of the next 4 big tournaments, but I don't know which yet. For here, I have no specific target. I don't know why Chen Hong didn't play so well, you should ask him. Maybe he just wanted to enjoy a match between two old players," said the Indonesian.

With only three courts, the schedule has been slightly different than the other Super Series - the venue is great for badminton but very small and the main round has started early, with only some of the first matches played on Tuesday. Lin Dan had little trouble against Andrew Smith, who played a very good first game before exploding in the second one. Chen Jin had to battle hard for three games to get rid of talented Sapkulchananart of Thailand while last week's hero Park Sung Hwan took care of the local's best Ng Wei. Park will take on Taufik on Thursday.

In the ladies single event, Xie Xingfang had a smooth ride against Canada's veteran Charmain Reid while Tine Rasmussen, her future opponent, had to dig deep to beat India's best shuttler, Saina Newhal 21/15 - 12/21 - 21/16.

Yet the best matches of the day were featured in the mixed double, the event which saw the only big upset of the day, when England's Kellogg and Clark fell to Korea's Yoo and Kim in three games. And top seeds Gao Ling and Zheng Bo had a run for their money against Denmark's new pair of Fischer Nielsen and Andersen. The Danish duo played some bright badminton which saw the Chinese wonder about how to score points - Fischer was hot in defense. On few occasions, some incredible rallies ended up in Denmark's favour, with Gao Ling laughing after a great effort. It was however the best ranked pair which pulled it off 21/17 - 20/22 - 21/18 for the longest match of the day (69 minutes).

Wednesday's matches should provide with some interesting ties as well, such as the match between Peter Gade and Wong Choong Hann, Dwi Kuncoro Vs Ponsana, and some rematches of last week, which should see some revenge in the air. Cai and Fu of China have probably at heart to beat Malaysia's Abdul Latif and Tazari to avenge their loss on home soil last week.