YONEX-SUNRISE BWF World Championships '09 - Three in the bag for China
Chen Jin, Lin Dan, News 3:46 PM
Three of the five events will feature an all-China affair – the men’s singles, women’s singles and women’s doubles. In fact,
In the mixed doubles,
“Chen Jin was just a better player today. He had more speed, more power, and a better defense than me. I lost to a better player”. These words, coming from an Olympic Champion, are definitely what Chen Jin deserved after his outstanding performance against Taufik Hidayat.
The young Chinese raised his game to a new level that left the Indonesian speechless, especially in the second game. The first game was a much better fight, more balanced, where Taufik’s touch matched Chen’s speed and power.
Until 14/14, the gap between the two players was very narrow. It was the time for Chen Jin to shift to high gear and within minutes, the young Chinese was up one game, 21/16, thanks to some amazing attacks, cross court, or down the lines.
The second game was a whole different game, as Chen Jin sped up again, and was on the fast side of the court, the wind behind him. Chen played much closer to the net and could anticipate every move from the Indonesian. There was not much to do for Taufik who realized half way into the second game that it looked like a mission impossible.
“It’s his time, together with Chong Wei and Lin Dan. It’s their turn to shine. I am getting too old. Of course, I will still compete and if I have good draws and good days, I will still be able to perform, but today, he was just the best,” Taufik admitted after his final 16/21 – 6/21 loss.
Chen Jin, still fresh after his semi final, took some time to answer the local reporters who had followed the match. “I felt Taufik was a bit slower today. His game wasn’t as smooth as usual. I took the right options not to let him play at the net. I was then in control of the rallies and my attacking game was performing today. And in the second game, I took a big lead and I was then confident that I would win,” said the 23 year old.
And he was right about Lin Dan as his compatriot was to join him soon after. The Olympic champion put up his one Dan show against Sony Dwi Kuncoro.
The Indonesian, however, showed what it took to take a game from the shuttler every body agrees to be one of the greatest ever - patience. The first two games were played at high pace, but one could feel that both shuttlers were keeping some fuel for a potential third. And Lin, for the first time in the tournament, was forced to a decider when he lost the second game 14/21.
The third and deciding game was more of a mind game and Lin Dan looked stronger mentally and took the lead very early on, putting a little more pressure on his opponent, yet playing safely enough not to give Sony opportunities to finish points. Little by little, Lin was imposing his game, putting more depth into his attacks, more precisions into his net play, until he finally won 21/15.
Pi Hongyan did not succeed in breaking the spell against Xie Xingfang, the player against whom she struggles the most. And once again, even if the tall Chinese seemed to feel her legs and was taking time to catch her breath from time to time, she was still able to sting when it hurt most – at the end of the first game, when Pi was slowly getting back to her level.
But winning 21/18 made it very difficult for the Chinese born French to get back on her feet again.
“I knew it would be very difficult in the second game because with the wind behind me, I couldn’t control the shuttles as much and I felt like Xie’s shuttles were actually going backwards once they had reached my side of the net – it was really weird,” said the 30 year old.
Pi goes home with a 18/21 – 8/21 defeat but also a Bronze medal around her neck – a first ever for her adopted country.
Xie will be playing for a third World title, just like Lin Dan, against her younger compatriot Lu Lan, who played a very offensive game against Wang Lin, winning in straight games 21/18 – 21/19.
It will be the second of three Chinese finals as the women’s double was already a set deal as all four semi finalists were Li Yongbo’s girls. Olympic Champions Du Jing and Yu Yang were sent packing by the experienced Zhang Yawen and Zhao Tingting while Zhao Yunlei and Cheng Shu beat Ma Jin and Wang Xiaoli.
Lee Yong Dae and Lee Hyo Jung will not enjoy a gold medal at the worlds one year after their title in the
Using their regular advantage of being able to switch position on court, the trick worked better than before as the Danes had never edged out the Olympic Champions 18/21 - 21-9 – 21/18.
“This is our biggest victory ever. It feels just amazing. I just feel like crying, just like yesterday,” said Kamilla Juhl as her first impression.
“We certainly didn’t expect to beat these two pairs back to back. The Chinese and the Koreans were probably the biggest favourites to win this tournament. When we saw the draw, we realized how difficult it would be, but we believed in ourselves. And to achieve this beats the Super Series title or the All England final. It’s just amazing” added Thomas.
The Danes could have met their compatriots Joachim Fischer Nielsen and Christina Pedersen in the final, who put on a great performance against title holders Widianto and Natsir. The Indonesians won in three hard games, coming back from 6/11 in the third game to finally scoop their tickets for their third world final 21/18 – 14/21 – 21/18.
“I think we had more experience than them. We’ve been in the final of the World Championships before – they haven’t – that maybe explains why they were a bit nervous. And I think that Lilyana also was better than the Danish girl at the net. That helped us win tonight,” said Widianto.
For Zakry Abdul Latif and Fairuzizuan Tazari, the key was the end of the second game where they were 20/20 after scooping the first one against Cai and Fu. But the Chinese held their emotions finally won 24/22 before leading to win in the third 21/15.
Posted by Lucas Liau
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