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Friday, December 04, 2009

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

Poland’s Robert Mateusiak-Nadiezda Kostiuczk’s rise to prominence continued when they topped the table to qualify for the semi-finals of the YONEX-SUNRISE BWF World Super Series Masters Finals 2009 in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

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. Ss-Finals-D3-porntip



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. Ss-Finals-D3-jorgensen



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.



A Boonsak win will mean all three players – Boonsak, Park and Gade – will have two wins each.



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.

YONEX-SUNRISE BWF WORLD SUPER SERIES 2009 - Chong Wei shuts out Taufik

Lee Chong Wei was in majestic form as he swept aside the challenge from Taufik Hidayat to set up a top-of-the-table showdown against Bao Chunlai in badminton’s richest tournament – the YONEX-SUNRISE BWF World Super Series masters Finals 2009.

Chong Wei, the world No 1, beat the former world champion 21-6, 21-13 to ensure his place in the semi-final and will slug it out with Bao to see who will top Group A. Ss-Finals-D2-lcw

In a morning Group B match, Korea’s Park Sung Hwan stunned Peter Gade, the No 2 seed, and looks certain to top the group.

But Chong Wei was unperturbed with the outcome in Group B.



“Today was a very important match as this means I have qualified for the semi-finals. There is no pressure on me tomorrow but I still want to finish as group champion,” said Chong Wei.



“It does not matter who I have to play in the semi-final, I am ready.”



Bao Chunlai, on the other hand, survived a first game scare but recovered sufficiently to end Chinese Taipei’s Hsieh Yu Hsin’s interest in the Masters Finals.



Despite dropping the first game 21-17, Bao came back strongly in the second game to draw level and eventually wore out Hsieh to win 17-21, 21-18, 21-16 and virtually assure his place in the semi-finals.



“Although we are used to competing in big numbers, it does not affect my focus in this tournament,” said Bao.



“There is no pressure and I take each match as it comes.” SS-Finals-D2-boe-mogensen



Top seeds Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong kept their semi-final hopes alive when they beat Indonesia’s Rian Sukmawan-Yonathan Dasuki in straight games.



With China’s Guo Zhendong-Xu Chen victorious over Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif-Mohd Fairuzizuan Tazari in the morning, the calculators were out as the pressure was on Koo-Tan to win in straight games.



And despite a shaky performance, the Malaysians won 21-15, 21-14 and will have to play much better on Friday when they take on the Chinese.

Guo-Xu are in the driving seat with two wins while both Malaysian pairs have a win each.



However, Zakry-Fairuzizuan have, on paper, the easier run in, as they take on Rian-Yonathan who have yet to win a single match.



“The pressure was tremendous as nothing less than a straight games win will ensure our survival,” said Koo.



“I could not play my normal game and there were too many errors. Tomorrow (Friday), we have to play better than we did today.”



Wong Mew Choo sealed her place in the last four with another convincing win against Thailand’s Porntip Buranaprasertsuk, taking just 27 minutes to win 21-9, 21-7.



Coming into the tournament as a late replacement for China’s Lu Lan, Mew Choo controlled the rallies to send the Thai scurrying to all four corners of the court.



While Mew Choo attributed her performance to her more relaxed approach, her coach Misbun Sidek said the former’s growing maturity and systematic approach was the key to her winning performance.



“In the past, she hardly settled down and never approached the game with a fixed game plan. But all that has changed,” said Misbun.



“She is more relaxed but more importantly, she is more focused and prepared for every game.”



Results:

Men’s singles: Group A: Lee Chong Wei (MAS) bt Taufik Hidayat (INA) 21-6, 21-13; Bao Chunlai (CHN) bt Hsieh Yu Hsin (TPE) 17-21, 21-8, 21-16; Lee Chong Wei (MAS) bt Taufik Hidayat (INA); Women’s singles: Group A: Wong Mew Choo (MAS) bt Porntip Buranaprasertsuk (THA) 21-9, 21-7; Men’s doubles: Group A: Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong (MAS) bt Rian Sukmawan-Yonathan Dasuki (INA) 21-15, 21-14; Group B: Carsten Mogensen-Mathias Boe (DEN) bt Nathan Robertson-Anthony Clark (ENG) 21-15, 18-21, 21-13; Women’s doubles: Group A: Charmaine Reid-Nicole Grether (CAN-GER) bt Jenny Wallwork-Gabrielle White (ENG) 21-17, 21-13; Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty (MAS) bt Kamilla Rytter Juhl-Lena Frier Kristiansen (DEN) 21-19, 21-15; Group B: Duang Anong Aroonkesorn-Kunchala Voravichitchaikul (THA) bt Chou Chia Chi-Chang Hsin Yun (TPE) 18-21, 21-16, 22-20; Mixed doubles: Group B: V Diju-Jwala Gutta (IND) bt Hendra Gunawan-Vita Marissa (INA) 21-18, 21-17; Joachim Fischer Nielsen-Christinna Pedersen (ENG) bt Sudket Prapakamol-Saralee Thuongthongkam (THA) 19-21, 21-18, 21-17.

Source : www.internationalbadminton.org

YONEX-SUNRISE BWF WORLD SUPER SERIES 2009 - Park, Guo-Xu throw semis race wide open

In a day of surprises, the semi-final race for the Group B men’s singles and doubles were thrown wide open after Peter Gade and Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif-Mohd Fairuzizuan Tazari fell to shock defeats against Park Sung Hwan and Guo Zhendong-Xu Chen.

After winning his opener against fellow Dane Jan Jorgensen on Wednesday, the coast was supposed to be clear for Gade to qualify for the last four. But Park, obviously, was intent on rewriting the script. SS-Finals-D2-park

The Korean adapted better to the draft in the stadium to score an emphatic three game win over Gade, taking one hour to dispose the Dane 21-12, 7-21, 21-15.



The win also means that the Korean now leads Group B, having beaten Thailand’s Boonsak Ponsana on Wednesday.



Ponsana, however, remained in the running for a semi-final berth after he beat Jorgensen 21-9, 21-18.



On Friday, Gade will play Boonsak while Park will take on Jorgensen. The top two winners in each group progress to the semi-finals.



“This is the best I’ve seen him (Park) play and all credit to him on his win,” said Gade.



“There was some draft in the stadium and it was difficult to adapt. And then in the third game, the gap was too wide for me to chase.

“But to qualify for the semi-finals, you need to win at least two matches, and that has not changed.”



In the men’s doubles, top seeds Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong were left facing a must-win situation against Indonesia’s Rian Sukmawan-Yonathan Dasuki later tonight following their compatriot’s loss against Guo Zhendong-Xu Chen.



Koo-Tan, who lost to Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif-Mohd Fairuzizuan Tazari on Wednesday, play Indonesia’s Rian Sukmawan-Yonathan Dasuki in the evening session.



Zakry-Fairuzizuan, however, were left rueing their misfortune after the loss.



“We now have to start all over again,” said Zakry after their 21-18, 21-17 loss to the Chinese.



“We were too eager to go for the kill and made several unforced errors. And when they caught up, we did not keep our composure and ultimately paid the price.”



Zakry-Fairuzizuan wrap up their preliminary campaign against Rian-Yonathan on Friday while Koo-Tan play Guo-Xu.



Results:

Men’s singles: Group B: Park Sung Hwan (KOR) bt Peter Gade (DEN) 21-12, 7-21, 21-15; Boonsak Ponsana (THA) bt Jan Jorgensen (DEN) 21-9, 21-18; Women’s singles: Group A: Saina Nehwal (IND) bt Charmaine Reid (CAN) 21-14, 21-9; Group B: Juliane Schenk (GER) bt Yao Jie (NED) 21-13, 21-10; Salakjit Ponsana (THA) bt Nicole Grether (GER) 21-17, 21-7; Men’s doubles: Group A: Gua Zhendong-Xu Chen (CHN) bt Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif-Mohd Fairuzizuan Tazari (MAS) 21-18, 21-17; Group B: Jung Jae Sung-Lee Yong Dae (KOR) bt Alvent Yulianto-Hendra Gunawan (INA) 21-19, 21-19; Women’s doubles: Group B: Cheng Wen Hsing-Chien Yu Chin (TPE) bt Laura Choinet-Weny Rahmawati (FRA) 21-9, 21-17; Mixed doubles: Group A: Robert Mateusiak-Nadiezda Kostiuczk (POL) bt Ko Sung Hyun-Ha Jung Eun (KOR) 22-20, 21-13; Group B: Anthony Clark-Donna Kellogg (ENG) bt Songphon Anugritayawon-Kunchala Voravichitchaikul (THA) 18-21, 21-16, 21-12.

Source : www.internationalbadminton.org

YONEX-SUNRISE BWF WORLD SUPER SERIES 2009 - Chong Wei, Mew Choo off to great start

Lee Chong Wei was in imperious form, and so too, was Wong Mew Choo as both Malaysians got off to winning starts in the US$500,000 YONEX-SUNRISE BWF World Super Series Masters Finals 2009 in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

Chinese Taipei’s Hsieh Yu Hsin and India’s Saina Nehwal found out the hard way as they slumped to straight games defeat at the Johor Municipal Stadium. SS-Finals-D1-saina

Chong Wei, the top seed and World No 1, hardly put a foot wrong as he kept a tight rein at the net and backed with powerful smashes down the straight, made the talented Hsieh look ordinary.



“He (Hsieh) is a very good player but the first match is always difficult to play and anything can happen,” said Chong Wei after his 21-12, 21-12 win in the Group A match.



“As for me, I am happy to have started strongly but there are more difficult matches to come and I have to maintain my focus.

“Today’s game is history and I look forward to playing Taufik tomorrow (Thursday).”



The Masters Finals is for the top eight available players and pairs in the Super Series ranking and they are divided to two groups of four.

The top two players and pairs qualify for the crossover semi-finals.



Earlier in the morning, Bao Chunlai beat Taufik 21-18, 26-24 and the latter will be playing for his survival when he takes on Chong Wei on Thursday.



In Group B, Korea’s former Asian champion Park Sung Hwan scored a valuable win over Thailand’s Boonsak Ponsana but was stretched to the maximum in his 28-26, 21-18 win. Ss-Finals-D2-laura-weny



Mew Choo also pulled of an upset win over Saina, the top seed, with her usual brand of rally game.



A last minute replacement after China’s Lu Lan withdrew from the tournament, Mew Choo showed that she was ready to step into the Chinese’s shoes with the 21-13, 13-21, 21-14 win.



Saina, however, was neither surprised with the way Mew Choo played, nor the outcome.



“She is a very good player and capable of defeating any of the top players. In fact, thought she had already qualified for the Masters Finals based on her ranking.



“On my part, I committed too many unforced errors and I paid the price for it. But the tournament is still open and in today’s badminton, the competition is very close amongst the top players.”



Mew Choo takes on Thailand’s Porntip Buranaprasertsuk while Saina can atone her defeat when she takes on Charmaine Reid of Canada.



Results:

Men’s Singles: Group A: Lee Chong Wei (MAS) bt Hsieh Yu Hsin (TPE) 21-11, 21-12; Group B: Park Sung Hwan (KOR) bt Boonsak Ponsana (THA) 28-26, 21-18; Women’s singles: Group A: Wong Mew Choo (MAS) bt Saina Nehwal (IND) 21-13, 13-21, 21-14; Group B: Yao Jie (NED) bt Salakjit Ponsana (THA) 21-14, 21-11; Men’s Doubles: Group A: Xu Chen-Guo Zhendong (CHN) bt Rian Sukmawan-Yonathan Dasuki 26-24, 22-20; Women’s Doubles: Group A: Kamilla Rytter Juhl-Lena Frier Kriatiansen (DEN) bt Gabrielle White-Jenny Wallwork (ENG) 16-21, 21-116, 21-9; Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty (MAS) bt Charmaine Reid-Nicole Grether (GER) 21-11, 21-11; Mixed Doubles: Group A: Robert Mateusiak-Nadiezda Kostiuczk (POL) bt Joachim Fisher Nielsen-Christinna Pedersen (DEN) 21-19, 21-18; Group B: Hendra Gunawan-Vita Marissa (INA) bt Songphon Anugritayawon-Kunchala Voravichitchaikul (THA) 21-14, 21-13; Anthony Clark-Donna Kellogg (ENG) bt V Diju-Jwala Gutta (IND) 21-15, 21-16.

Source : www.internationalbadminton.org

YONEX-SUNRISE BWF WORLD SUPER SERIES 2009 - Bao in driving seat, Koo-Tan upset

Free from the burden of winning the title, Bao Chunlai took an important step towards winning the US$40,000 pay check when he beat Taufik Hidayat 21-18, 26-24 on the opening day of the YONEX-SUNRISE BWF World Super Series Masters Finals 2009 in Johor Baru, Malaysia.

With World No 1 Lee Chong Wei also in Group A, the win over the Indonesian was even more meaningful as the Chinese prepares to take on Chinese Taipei’s Hsieh Yu Hsin next.

Playing at an uncustomary morning match, the first match of the opening day, Taufik and Bao took some time to get into stride but it was Bao’s greater accuracy and fluid movement that proved to be the turning point. taufiks



“I will not be playing at the East Asian Games and there is no pressure on me to win the title here. All I want to do is my play best and prepare for the new season ahead,” said the 26-year-old Bao.



“And playing in this competition is an ideal preparation as many of the top players are here.”



The Masters Finals is for the top eight available players and pairs of the 12-leg Super Series rankings and offers total prize money of US$500,000.



However, several Chinese and Indonesian players have given the tournament a miss as they are committed to playing in the East Asian Games and Southeast Asian Games respectively.



“The early start was a little bit difficult as I could not find my usual rhythm but I am happy to have beaten Taufik,” added Bao.



“It was a close match and fortunately, I was able to capitalise on some of his mistakes to score this important win.”


Taufik conceded that he lost to a better player but firmly believed that the door was still open for any of the players in the group to qualify for the semi-finals.

“Anything is possible in badminton and I still have a chance to progress,” said Taufik.“I just lost to a better player.”



Meanwhile in Group B, Peter Gade beat compatriot Jan Jorgensen 21-12, 21-15.



In the men’s doubles, Malaysia’s Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong fell to a shock 21-15, 21-17 defeat to compatriots Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif-Mohd Fairuzizuan Tazari in a Group A match.



Koo-Tan, the raging favourites to take on Korea’s Jung Jae Sung-Lee Yong Dae, who beat England’s Nathan Robertson-Anthony Clark 21-18, 21-13, in the final, were outplayed in 24 minutes and face a must-win situation when they take on Indonesia’s Yonathan Dasuki-Rian Sukmawan on Thursday.



In Group A of the women’s singles, Porntip Buranaprasertsuk beat Charmaine Reid 21-13, 21-12 while Germany’s Juliane Schenk beat compatriot Nicole Grether 21-17, 21-14.



In the women’s doubles, Thailand’s Duang Anong Aroonkesorn-Kunchala Voravichitchaikul beat Laura Choinet-Weny Rahmawati (France) 21-19, 21-13 ina Group B match while in all-Chinese Taipei affair, Cheng Wen Hsing-Chien Yu Chin beat Chou Chia Chi-Chang Li Ying 21-12, 21-16.



In the mixed doubles, Thailand’s Sudket Prapakamol-Saralee Thuongthongkam beat Ko Sung Hyun-Ha Jung Eun.

Source : www.internationalbadminton.org

YONEX-SUNRISE BWF WORLD SUPER SERIES 2009 - Chong Wei gets Taufik, Bao

Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei will have former world and Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat for company while Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong would have been buoyed by the relatively easier path to the semi-finals after the draw was conducted for the YONEX-SUNRISE BWF World Super Series Masters Finals 2009.

To be played in Johor Baru, Malaysia, the US$500,000 total prize money tournament begins on Wednesday at the Johor Baru Indoor Stadium.

Chong Wei, the World No 1 and top seed for the tournament, will also have China’s Bao Chunlai and Chinese Taipei’s Hsieh Yu Hsin in Group A while Gade will have to be at his best as he will have compatriot Jan Jorgensen and former Asian champion Park Sung Hwan in Group B.



Rounding up Group B is Thailand’s Boonsak Ponsana.



Chong Wei, who is also the defending champion, opens his campaign against Hsieh while Taufik takes on Bao.



But it is Group B of the men’s doubles which made heads turn as Denmark’s No 2 seeds Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen will have a tough time living up to expectations as Korea’s Jung Jae Sung-Lee Yong Dae will be out to stop them.



Adding to their woes is the experienced pair from England - Nathan Robertson and Anthony Clark. Alvent Yulianto-Hendra Aprida Gunawan are the fourth pair in Group B.



Koo-Tan play teammates Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif-Mohd Fairuzizuan Tazari as their opener while Jung-Lee play Robertson-Clark on Thursday.

The Masters Finals is for the top 8 available players/pairs in the Super Series rankings.



In the women’s singles, Saina Nehwal, the top seed in the absence of several Chinese players who opted out to focus on the East Asian Games, will play local favourite Wong Mew Choo in the first match of Group A on Wednesday.



Besides Saina and Mew Choo, the other players in Group A are Canada’s Charmaine Reid and Thailand’s Porntip Buranaprasertusuk. In Group B, the players are Salakjit Ponsana (Thailand), Juliane Schenk, Nicole Grether (both Germany) and Yao Jie (Netherlands).