BIMANTARA CUP 2010: China. Malaysia assured of gold, Axelsen out to create history
News 9:37 AM
Malaysia and China were assured of gold medals while Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen stayed on track to become Europe’s first ever World Junior champion on the penultimate day of the BWF World Junior Championships in Guadalajara, Mexico on Saturday.
The Dane beat India’s Sai Praneet 19-21, 21-15, 21-15 to claim his place in the final where he will take on South Korea’s Kang Ji Wook. Kang beat India’s H.S. Prannoy 21-13, 21-9.
In the women’s singles, Thailand’s Ratchanok Inthanon also qualified for the final and is on track to defend her title. Ratchanok was convincing in her 21-9, 21-16 win over Japan’s Naoko Fukuman.
Naoko’s teammate, Misaki Matsutomo, ranked 9-16th, however, shocked China’s No 2 seed Suo Di in the semi-finals to book her place in the final.
The diminutive Japanese started slowly as Suo Di, having the height advantage moved her opponent all four corners of the court to seize control of the match with a 21-17 win.
Naoko, however, came back stronger in the second game and ran down all that the Chinese threw at her and eventually frustrated Suo Di to level the score with a 22-20 win. The script was the same in the final game with both players engaged in long rallies but the outcome, as it did in the second game, was the same – Naoko took the game and match 21-19.
China, however, are assured of the gold and silver in the women’s doubles with Tan Jinhua-Xia Huan, the top seeds, taking on Bao Yixin-Ou Dongni in the final. Tan-Xia beat South Korea’s Choi Hye In-Lee So Hee 20-22, 21-13, 21-15 while Bao-Ou beat Denmark’s Sandra Maria Jensen-Line Kjaersfeldt 21-15, 21-7.
Malaysia also assured themselves of the gold and silver in men’s doubles with Ow Yao Han-Yew Hong Kheng taking on Nelson Heg Wei Keat-Teo Ee Yi.
Both Malaysian pairs, however, were given a tough fight before securing their wins. Ow-Yew beat Denmark’s Kim Astrup-Rasmus Fladberg 21-16, 27-25 while Heg-Teo took three games to subdue Hong Kong’s Lee Chun Hei-Ng Ka Long 17-21, 21-15, 21-15.
In the mixed doubles, China’s top seeds Liu Cheng-Bao Yixin beat Germany’s Max Schwenger-Isabel Herttrich 21-18, 21-15 while South Korea’s Kang Ji Wook-Choy Hyen In beat Malaysia’s Ow Yao Han-Lai Pei Jin 21-19, 21-14.
TOMORROW’S FINAL LINE-UP
Men’s Singles: Viktor Axelsen (Denmark) vs. Ji Wook Kang (South Korea); Women’s Singles: Intanton Rachtanok (Thailand ,1) vs. Misaki Matsutomo (Japan, 9-16); Mixed Doubles: Liu Cheng/ Bao Yixin (China, 1) vs. Ji Wook Kang/ Hye In Choi (South Korea); Men’s Doubles: Wei Keat Heg/ Fe Yi Teo (Malaysia, 3-4) vs. Ow Yao Han / Yew Hong Kheng (Malaysia, 2); Women’s Doubles: Tang Jinhua/ Xia Huan (China,1) vs. Bao Yixin/ Ou Dongni (China ,2)
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 9:37 AM.
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