YONEX-SUNRISE BWF WORLD SUPER SERIES 2009 - Polish power, Saina checks in

Winner of the Hong Kong Open and semi-finalist at the Denmark Open, the Poles were once again in commanding form to carve out a 21-12, 21-16 win over Thailand’s Sudket Prapakamol-Saralee Thuongthongkam to emerge as Group A winners.

The win also paved the way for Joachim Fischer Nielsen-Christinna Pedersen to qualify for the semi-finals but will still have to secure a win against Korea’s Ko Sung Hyun-Ha Jung Eun in an evening Group A match.

In the women’s singles, India’s Saina Nehwal, top seed, also made the cut for the last four stage after she beat Thailand’s Porntip Buranaprasertsuk 21-13, 21-19.

This means Saina will join Malaysia’s Wong Mew Choo in the semi-finals from Group A. Although Mew Choo still has to play Canada’s Charmaine Reid later this evening, the Malaysian has notched two wins.

“I always believed that it will go down to the final match of the preliminary rounds,” said Saina of qualifying for the semi-finals.

“There is some draft in the stadium and it is a distraction, hence I could not control some of my shots.

“But with the preliminary round over, it is time to focus on the semi-final and whoever I have to play, I will be prepared.”

However, there was no happy ending for Indonesia’s former world champion Taufik Hidayat after he ended his campaign without a win. The Indonesian was beaten by Chinese Taipei’s Hsieh Yu Hsin 21-17, 21-15.

“It’s over and I will just use this tournament as my preparations for next month’s Malaysia Open Super Series.”

Both players are already out of the competition with world No 1 Lee Chong Wei and Bao Chunlai, who have yet to meet, making the cut for the semi-finals.

There was cheer for India’s V. Diju-Jwala Gutta as well as the Indians qualified for the semi-finals as well at the expense of Thailand’s Songphon Anugritayawon-Kunchala Voravichitchaikul.

With Anthony Clark-Dinna Kellogg virtually certain of taking the top spot in Group B, the race was wide open for the second spot but Diju-Jwala made sure of that with a 21-12, 21-18 win over the Thais.

In the men’s singles, once again, the race for the two semi-finals spots were thrown wide open after Jan Jorgensen beat Korea’s Park Sung Hwan in straight games.

The Danes’ 21-19, 21-13 win means Peter Gade must beat Thailand’s Boonsak Ponsana later today to ensure his place in the last four.

Results:

Men’s singles: Group A: Hsieh Yu Hsin (TPE) bt Taufik Hidayat (INA) 21-17, 21-15; Group B: Jan Jorgensen (DEN) bt Park Sung Hwan (KOR) 21-19, 21-13; Women’s singles: Group A: Saina Nehwal (IND) bt Porntip Buranaprasertsuk (THA) 21-13, 21-19; Men’s doubles: Group B: Alvent Yulianto-Hendra Gunawan (INA) bt Nathan Robertson-Anthony Clark (ENG); Women’s doubles: Group A: Kamilla Rytter Juhl-Lena Frier Kristiansen (DEN) bt Charmaine Reid-Nicole Grether (CAN-GER) 21-10, 21-7; Group B: Laura Choinet-Weny Rahmawati (FRA) bt Chou Chia Chi-Chang Hsin Yun (TPE) 15-21, 23-21, 21-18; Mixed doubles: Group A: Robert Mateusiak-Nadiezda Kostiuczk (POL) bt Sudket Prapakamol-Saralee Thuongthongkam (THA) 21-12, 21-16; Group B: V. Diju-Jwala Gutta (IND) bt Songphon Anugritayawon-Kunchala Voravichitchaikul (THA) 21-12, 21-8.