YONEX-SUNRISE BWF World Championships '09 - Chong Wei, Zhou Mi go home empty handed

Lee Chong Wei and Zhou Mi, both top seeds in the singles, will even get a medal in these championships. Both top seeds were beaten on Friday night. For Chong Wei, who had been chasing the brightest metal in a top competition ever since he lost in the Olympic final, it is clearly a disillusion as he had to go down to the same player who had shattered his dreams in his home World Championships two years ago in Kuala Lumpur, Sony Dwi Kuncoro.

The Indonesian seems to always peak at the right time. He had in the world Junior Championships in 2000, The Asian Championships 3 times, then later on in the Athens Olympics, bringing Bronze in the shadow of Taufik’s gold, then again in 2007’s World Championships when he had scooped silver.

He will go back to Jakarta with a bronze medal at least as he stunned the World No 1 again, thanks to some inspired play, switching from a great defense mode to a more attacking game.

“I think the key to this match was to be relaxed and try my best. I didn’t make too many mistakes and kept my focus through out the match” said Dwi Kuncoro.

“There isn’t any specific reason why I tend to peak in the right moments, it’s just how it is.”

Lee Chong Wei, who, of course, was disappointed with his performance had this to say:

"I just couldn't play well today. I had pulled things back in the second game but I don't know what happened in the third game," Lee said. "Sony is no ordinary player, he has beaten me before and he raised the bar today. I wasn't under any pressure nor I had any problem with the conditions," he added.”

“I guess the world title isn’t for me this time. I think Lin Dan has a good chance to win,” added the Malaysian.

Peter Gade may have named himself the “old man” of these World Championships, but the 32 year old Dane certainly did not go down without a fight and showed he hadn’t lost anything of his touch, his will and his talent.

And he certainly gave Lin Dan a run for his money in the highlight of the day. In spite of a shaky start – making some unforced errors coupled with some bad luck, Gade saw Lin secure a big lead, but keeping his focus and – most importantly – his patience, he was able to catch up and match Lin Dan towards the end of the first game. 18/18, then 20/20, but the Dane never had a game point under his racket as the Chinese made sure he stayed ahead at all times, claming the first game on his second attempt, 22/20, after he attacked first on Gade’s body, and then saw a smash go wide on his right inside.

Lin started the second game much quicker, attacking the shuttle very early in the rally, leaving little time for Gade to construct his net game which had almost seen him clinch the first game. Gade then also turned on the engine but it was then too late to catch up with the Olympic Champion who, in the lead, is very tough to beat. Lin took it home 21/16 but the Dane can go home with his head high as he was a fierce opponent to Lin.

“Peter’s been playing very well ever since the Olympics and he played very well today as well. The game was of high pace and I had to wait sometimes to counter attack as he was putting me under pressure, but overall I think I was leading most of the time,” said Lin Dan.

“I have prepared for these World Championships ever since the Olympic Games. I do cherish all big titles still,” he added, before mentioning that he was quite surprised to have to play Sony Dwi Kuncoro in the semis.

The other semi final was more expected as Chen Jin and Taufik Hidayat will meet up to clinch a spot for Sunday’s rendezvous. The young Chinese did not waste much time nor energy in his 21/10 – 21/13 victory over Simon Santoso of Indonesia.

He will face Taufik, who once again proved he was to be counted on when it matters. The former world and Olympic Champion ended Jan Jorgensen’s fairy tale in 42 minutes and the even score of 21/19 – 21/19, relying on his experience to play the crucial points at the right pace.

There was a lot of joy in Pi Hongyan’s eyes when the tiny French finally scored on her first match point on a serve. Juliane Schenk had anticipated a short serve, but the French flicked it and the shuttle went over the German and landed in. A gutsy shot from the French who had done the exact same serve three points earlier, this time landing out and allowing Schenk to catch back 19/19 after she had been leading 18/13 in the third.

After a shaky start where Pi was not in top gear and losing 15/21, the Chinese born French then took things in control – the French was favourite before the match and clinched the second game before leading in the third.

“In my mind I knew that if I could come back and win the second game, I would probably win. And I kept fighting. What worked well was the fact that I could hear my coach tell me what to do and not worry about the tactics towards the end.

“I just had in mind to follow his advices and stay calm and relaxed in my head. My legs did get a little shaky at the end because of the pressure but I could tell she was also under pressure,” said Hongyan, who hands to France their first ever medal in a World Championships.

Pi is now facing the Chinese wall as neither Tine Rasmussen nor home favourite Saina Newhal or even Zhou Mi, the world’s number one, were able to rock the Chinese boat.

In the last match of the day, Saina Nehwal was close from taking a game from Wang Lin, but the latter was in revenge mode after her loss in the final of the Djarum Indonesia Open Super Series two months ago.

And she didn’t commit the same mistakes again, keeping the shuttles moving and at a high pace to forbid Saina to control the rallies. Wang won 21/16 – 21/19. Zhou Mi, earlier, had fallen to Xie Xingfang in straight games, 21/15 – 21/18.

Posted by Lucas Liau on 1:31 PM. Filed under News . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0