YONEX-SUNRISE BWF World Super Series Masters Finals 2009 - Chong Wei leads Malaysia's charge

World No 1 Lee Chong Wei will lead Malaysia’s charge for the richest prize money event in badminton when the YONEX-SUNRISE BWF World Super Series Masters Finals 2009 on gets underway on 2 December in Johor, Malaysia.

But out to stop him will be a strong cast comprising Indonesia’s Taufik Hidayat, China’s Bao Chunlai and Europe’s flag bearers Peter Gade and Jan Jorgensen of Denmark. ss-finals-gade

The Masters Finals is the climax of the 12-leg Super Series circuit and offers total prize money of US$500,000 with the winner of the men’s singles and women’s singles pocketing USD40,000 each while the winning pairs in the doubles will be richer by US$42,000 each.



The top eight ranked players/pairs in the Super Series ranking qualify for the Finals. This, however, is limited to a maximum of two entries per event per Member Association.



“We are delighted that a strong field of top players have confirmed their participation in the Masters Finals and I’m confident badminton fans will be in for a treat in Johor Bahru,” said Badminton World Federation Chief Operating Officer Thomas Lund.



“While it’s disappointing that a few players and pairs are unable to compete, the Masters Finals has attracted a very strong field.”



Rounding up the men’s singles line up are Thailand’s Boonsak Ponsana, former Asian champion Park Sung Hwan and Chinese Taipei’s Hsieh Yu Hsin.



Due to their national commitments in the East Asian Games and South East Asian Games, China’s Lin Dan and Indonesia’s Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan will skip the Johor event.



The Indonesian’s absence, however, will be hardly felt as the two in-form pairs in the world – Malaysia’s Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong and Korea’s Lee Yong Dae-Jung Jae Sung have confirmed their participation.



Malaysia have another reason to cheer as Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif-Mohd Fairuzizuan Tazari have also qualified for the Masters Finals and will be looking to end the year on a winning note.



Denmark’s Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen and England’s Anthony Clark-Nathan Robertson will be out to spoil an Asian party and given their form, pose a real threat to the favourites. ss-finals-leelee



Olympic champions Lee Yong Dae-Lee Hyo Jung have also confirmed their place in the mixed doubles and will be eager to continue their winning momentum after bagging the Hong Kong Open last week.



LIST OF QUALIFIERS:



Men’s singles: Lee Chong Wei (MAS), Peter Gade (DEN), Park Sung Hwan (KOR), Bao Chunlai (CHN), Taufik Hidayat (INA), Jan Jorgensen (DEN), Boonsak Ponsana (THA), Hsieh Yu Hsin (TPE).



Men’s doubles: Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong (MAS), Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen (DEN), Lee Yong Dae-Jung Jae Sung (KOR), Anthony Clark-Nathan Robertson (ENG), Guo Zhendong-Xu Chen (CHN), Alvent Yulianto-Hendra Gunawan (INA),Rian Sukmawan-Yonathan Dasuki (INA), Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif-Mohd Fairuzizuan Tazari (MAS).



Women’s singles: Pi Hongyan (FRA), Saina Nehwal (IND), Lu Lan (CHN), Salakjit Ponsana (THA), Yao Jie (NED), Nicole Grether (GER), Juliane Schenk (GER), Kim Moon Hi (KOR).



Women’s doubles: Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui (MAS), Ha Jung Eun-Kim Min Jung (KOR), Lee Hyo Jung-Lee Kyung Won (KOR), Cheng Wen Hsing-Chien Yu Chin (TPE), Gabrielle White-Jenny Wallwork (ENG), Duang Anong Aroonkesorn-Kunchala Voravichitchaikul (THA), Lena Frier Kristiansen-Christina Pedersen (DEN), Nicole Grether-Charmaine Reid (GER-CAN).



Mixed doubles: Lee Yong Dae-Lee Hyo Jung (KOR), Joachin Fisher Nielsen-Christina Pedersen (DEN), Songphon Anugritayawon-Kunchala Voravichitchaikul (THA), Ko Sung Hyun-ha Jung Eun (KOR), V. Diju-Jwala Gutta (IND), Anthony Clark-Donna Kellogg (ENG), Sudket Prapakamol-Saralee Thoungthongkam (THA), Robert Mateusiak-Nadiezda Kostiuczk (POL).

Source : www.internationalbadminton.org

BWF Super Series Ranking - last updated November 22, 2009

Mens Singles >>
1. Chong Wei LEE [MAS]
2. Peter Hoeg GADE [DEN]
3. Simon SANTOSO [INA]
4. Dan LIN [CHN]
5. Jin CHEN [CHN]
6. Sung Hwan PARK [KOR]
7. Sony Dwi KUNCORO [INA]
8. Chunlai BAO [CHN]
9. Taufik HIDAYAT [INA]
10.Jan O JORGENSEN [DEN]
11.Boonsak PONSANA [THA]
12.Yan Kit CHAN [HKG]
13.Yu Hsin HSIEH [TPE]
14.Andrew SMITH [ENG]
15.Joachim PERSSON [DEN]

Womens Singles >>
1. Yihan WANG [CHN]
2. Hongyan PI [FRA]
3. Lin WANG [CHN]
4. Tine RASMUSSEN [DEN]
5. Saina NEHWAL [IND]
6. Mi ZHOU [HKG]
7. Yanjiao JIANG [CHN]
8. Lan LU [CHN]
9. Adrianti FIRDASARI [INA]
10.Salakjit PONSANA [THA]
11.Petya NEDELCHEVA [BUL]
12.Pui Yin YIP [HKG]
13.Jie YAO [NED]
14.Xin WANG [CHN]
15.Ai GOTO [JPN]

Mens Doubles >>
1. Kien Keat KOO/Boon Heong TAN [MAS]
2. Markis KIDO/Hendra SETIAWAN [INA]
3. Mathias BOE/Carsten MORGENSEN [DEN]
4. Jae Sung JUNG/Yong Dae LEE [KOR]
5. Lars PAASKE/Jonas RASMUSSEN [DEN]
6. Anthony CLARK/Nathan ROBERTSON [ENG]
7. Zhendong GUO/Xu CHEN [CHN]
8. Alvent Yulianto CHANDRA/Hendra Aprida GUNAWAN [INA]
9. Muhammad AHSAN/Bona SEPTANO [INA]
10.Yun CAI/Haifeng FU [CHN]
11.Kenichi HAYAKAWA/Kenta KAZUNO [JPN]
12.Mohd Zakry ABDUL LATIF/Mohd Fairuzizuan MOHD TAZARI [MAS]
13.Chieh Min FANG/Sheng Mu LEE [TPE]
14.Tan Fook CHOONG/Wan Wah LEE [MAS]
15.Michal LOGOSZ/Robert MATEUSIAK [POL]

Womens Doubles >>
1. Eei Hui CHIN/Pei Tty WONG [MAS]
2. Shu CHENG/Yunlei ZHAO [CHN]
3. Jung Eun HA/Min Jung KIM [KOR]
4. Jing DU/Yang (F) YU [CHN]
5. Jin MA/Xiaoli WANG [CHN]
6. Hyo Jung LEE/Kyung Won LEE [KOR]
7. Wen Hsing CHENG/Yu Chin CHIEN [TPE]
8. Shendy Puspa IRAWATi/Meiliana JAUHARI [INA]
9. Nitya Krishinda MAHESWARI/Greysia POLII [INA]
10.Jenny WALLWORK/Gabrielle WHITE [ENG]
11.Yawen ZHANG/Tingting ZHAO [CHN]
12.Duanganong AROONKESORN/Kunchala VORAVICHITCHAIKUL [THA]
13.Lena FRIER KRISTIANSEN/Kamilla RYTTER JUHL [DEN]
14.Nicole GRETHER [GER]/Charmaine REID [CAN]
15.Pan PAN/Qing TIAN [CHN]

Mixed Doubles >>
1. Nova WIDIANTO/Liliyana NATSIR [INA]
2. Yong Dae LEE/Hyo Jung LEE [KOR]
3. Joachim FISHER NIELSEN/Christina PEDERSEN [DEN]
4. Bo ZHENG/Jin MA [CHN]
5. Songphon ANUGRITAYAWON/Kunchala VORAVICHITCHAIKUL [THA]
6. Sung Hyun KO/Jung Eun HA [KOR]
7. Diju V/Jwala GUTTA [IND]
8. Hanbin HE/Yang (F) YU [CHN]
9. Devin Lahardi FITRIAWAN/Lita NURLITA [INA]
10.Anthony CLARK/Donna KELOGG [ENG]
11.Sudket PRAPAKAMOL/Saralee THOUNGTHONGKAM [THA]
12.Robert MATEUSIAK/Nadiezda KOSTIUCZYK [POL]
13.Zhongbo XIE/Yawen ZHANG [CHN]
14.Hendra Aprida GUNAWAN/Vita MARISSA [INA]
15.Chris ADCOCK/Gabrielle WHITE [ENG]
5.

CHINA SUPER SERIES 2009 - FINAL RESULT

Mixed Doubles >>
Yong Dae LEE/Hyo Jung LEE [KOR][1] vs Bo ZHENG/Jin MA [CHN][2] :
21-18 15-21 21-15 in 1 hours 16 minutes

Mens Singles >>
Jorgensen JAN [DEN] vs Dan LIN [CHN][2] :
12-21 12-21 in 37 minutes

Womens Doubles >>
Qing TIAN/Yawen ZHANG [CHN][6] vs Jing DU/Yang YU [CHN][2] :
21-14 21-14 in 53 minutes

Womens Singles >>
Yanjiao JIANG [CHN][6] vs Xin WANG [CHN] :
21-19 22-20 in 40 minutes

Mens Doubles >>
Kien Keat KOO/Boon Heong TAN [MAS][1] vs Jae Sung JUNG/Yong Dae LEE [KOR][2] :
13-21 21-19 18-21 in 1 hours 16 minutes

BWF World Ranking [MS]- last updated November 19, 2009

Top 25 of Mens Singles >>
1. Chong Wei LEE [MAS] : 82971.06
2. Dan LIN [CHN] : 71344.58
3. Taufik HIDAYAT [INA] : 65060
4. Peter Hoeg GADE [DEN] : 63455.18
5. Jin CHEN [CHN] : 60880
6. Simon SANTOSO [INA] : 55040.04
7. Sung Hwan PARK [KOR] : 53926.67
8. Chunlai BAO [CHN] : 52480
9. Sony DWI KUNCORO [INA] : 52392.04
10.Tien Minh NGUYEN [VIE] : 50310
11.Long CHEN [CHN] : 48240
12.Jan O JORGENSEN [DEN] : 47307.81
13.Choong Hann WONG [MAS] : 46340
14.Boonsak PONSANA [THA] : 44571.75
15.Yan Kit CHAN [HKG] : 42262.6
16.Joachim PERSSON [DEN] : 39430.4873
17.Yu Hsin HSIEH [TPE] : 39230
18.Yun Hu [HKG] : 37910
19.Dicky PALYAMA [NED] : 37806.64
20.Kenichi TAGO [JPN] : 37461.6
21.Chetan ANAND [IND] : 37009
22.Muhammad Hafiz HASHIM [MAS] : 36900
23.Rajiv OUSEPH [ENG] : 36063.33
24.Marc ZWIELBER [GER] : 35428.45
25.Przemyslaw WACHA [POL] : 33460.5971

CHINA SUPER SERIES 2009 - SEMIFINAL RESULT

Mens Singles >>
Jorgensen JAN [DEN] vs Jin CHEN [CHN][4] : 11-21 21-18 22-20
Sung Hwan PARK [KOR][6] vs Dan LIN [CHN][2] : 10-21 11-21

Womens Singles >>
Shixian WANG [CHN] vs Yanjiao JIANG [CHN][6] : 17-21 14-21
Xuerui LI [CHN] vs Xin WANG [CHN] : 19-21 19-21

Mens Doubles >>
Kien Keat KOO/Boon Heong TAN [MAS][1] vs Hong Ling CHEN/Yu Lang LIN [TPE] : 21-15 21-13
Mathias BOE/Carsten MORGENSEN [DEN][4] vs Jae Sung JUNG/Yong Dae LEE [KOR][2] : 16-21 21-19 21-23

Womens Doubles >>
Qing TIAN/Yawen ZHANG [CHN][6] vs Eei Hui CHIN/Pei Tty WONG [MAS][3] : 21-17 21-8
Jin MA/Xiaoli WANG [CHN][4] vs Jing DU/Yang YU [CHN][2] : 20-22 18-21

Mixed Doubles >>
Yong Dae LEE/Hyo Jung LEE [KOR][1] vs Songphon ANUGRITAYAWON/Kunchala VORAVICHITCHAIKUL [THA][7] : 21-13 20-22 21-15
Nan ZHANG/Yunlei ZHAO [CHN] vs Bo ZHENG/Jin MA [CHN][2] : Walkover - Bo ZHENG/Jin MA win

SCHEDULE FOR FINAL [11/22]
Starting at 1:00 PM
Mixed Doubles >> Yong Dae LEE/Hyo Jung LEE [KOR][1] vs Bo ZHENG/Jin MA [CHN][2]
Mens Singles >> Jorgensen JAN [DEN] vs Dan LIN [CHN][2]
Womens Doubles >> Qing TIAN/Yawen ZHANG [CHN][6] vs Jing DU/Yang YU [CHN][2]
Womens Singles >> Yanjiao JIANG [CHN][6] vs Xin WANG [CHN]
Mens Doubles >> Kien Keat KOO/Boon Heong TAN [MAS][1] vs Jae Sung JUNG/Yong Dae LEE [KOR][2]

Prediction :
Mixed Doubles >> Yong Dae LEE/Hyo Jung LEE [KOR][1] vs Bo ZHENG/Jin MA [CHN][2] : 45-55
Mens Singles >> Jorgensen JAN [DEN] vs Dan LIN [CHN][2] : 45-55
Womens Doubles >> Qing TIAN/Yawen ZHANG [CHN][6] vs Jing DU/Yang YU [CHN][2] : 50-50
Womens Singles >> Yanjiao JIANG [CHN][6] vs Xin WANG [CHN] : 60-40
Mens Doubles >> Kien Keat KOO/Boon Heong TAN [MAS][1] vs Jae Sung JUNG/Yong Dae LEE [KOR][2] : 50-50

LI-NING CHINA OPEN 2009 - Jorgensen gets his 'Wei'

No easy day for the top seeds – Wang Yihan was very close to losing while Lee Chong Wei was upset by Jan Jorgensen of Denmark in the first round of the Li-Ning China Open in Shanghai.

“I knew it was in me. But today’s victory is just unbelievable. I used to look up at these amazing players when I was a kid, but now, I have to realise I have become one of them,” said Jorgensen.

And the Dane was as happy as one can be after his first round of the Li-Ning China Open held in Shanghai. ChinaOpen-D1-wang

“It wasn’t a good draw at all for me, but on the other hand, I knew that he could be tired after his victory in Hong Kong Last week, so I took all my chances,” added Jorgensen.

The Dane got off to a flying start with an impressive 21/6 first game pocketed in no time. Chong Wei didn’t seem so frustrated but put on the higher gear in the second game that he won 21/13. All seemed back onto the normal track but the third game once again showed Jorgensen’s talent.

Early on the shuttle, relying on a good defense while the Malaysian wasn’t as accurate with his attacks, Jorgensen took an important lead in the decider – he was quickly leading 12/5.The public was cheering for Lee Chong Wei when he caught back to 16/18 but this wasn’t to be enough – the world’s best was sent packing in three games 6/21 – 21/13 – 17/21.

“I think that I had proven in the past that I could take games or win against players like him. Now, if I beat the world number one, it does show that I can win many more matches against the top players. I’m playing great at the moment and this win is definitely going to boost my confidence,” he added.

The Young Dane may have been expecting to play Dutchman Eric Pang, but instead of that it will be France’s Brice Leverdez, who created an upset over his neighbour, winning in an easy 21/6 – 21/13 success, giving France its first success in the men’s singles of a Super Series event since Lo Ying Ping had entered the second round in the French Open last year. ChinaOpen-D1-yihan

If Park Sung Hwan had a sweet and easy revenge over Chan Yan Kit of Hong Kong – the latter had ousted the Korean in Hong Kong last week – other seeds had much more difficult times: Chen Jin struggled with three long games to beat Thailand’s Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk while Sony Dwi Kuncoro had to go the full distance to beat an inspired Andrew Smith of England, 23/21– 14/21 – 21/16.

Lin Dan and Bao Chunlai delighted the home crowd with the big match for China, past 11 PM, but as expected the Olympic Champion beat his taller opponent in straight games 21/12 – 21/19 with obviously some fun rallies played by the two friends where Lin Dan practiced his dives and retrieves to the fans’ delight.

Leverdez’s success was good news for France as his compatriot Pi Hongyan, who usually gets France’s flag flying in International competition was sent home early by youngster Wang Shixian in one of the upsets of the day.

Pi could only manage to get a close second game, but apart from that, the Sichuan born Pi could not match Wang’s pace and went down 12/21 – 21/19 – 12/21 after one hour of fight. Wang Yihan could have been upset as well as the top seed, originally from Shanghai, was all but serene against Korea’s Bae Seung Hee.

After losing easily the first game, she was back at one game all but trailed most of the third game, where the tiny Korean made her work for her points. At 19/19, the Korea wasted her chance to score, putting her smash wide and giving her opponents a first – and decisive match point as Wang converted it right away.

“I was lucky on the last two points because I didn’t play well then. My shots were not accurate nor precise, but fortunately, she didn’t take advantage of it. Maybe she was too eager to win. As for me, I think I was both a bit tired and stressed to play here in China” said Wang. She will take on Wong Mew Choo of Malaysia in the next round.

Wang Chen, from Hong Kong but born in Shanghai will have plenty of time to visit friends and family : the 8th seed was also edged out by qualifier Li Xuerui in straight games – the latter spent so little time and energy on court that she actually ran to shake hands with both the umpire and the service judge. Yao Jie – thought out of the tournament after her walkover last week in Hong Kong but still in Shanghai – was also beaten in the first round, by another young Chinese – Xia Jingyuan.
Source : www.internationalbadminton.org

LI-NING CHINA OPEN 2009 - Final countdown begins for SS Finals

The Li-Ning China Open which kicked off in Shanghai this Tuesday with the qualification rounds will be the last chance for a player or pair to earn points to qualify for Super Series finals to be held in Johor Baru, Malaysia, from December 2-6.
One last chance to make the cut. That what was probably on the mind of players who flew from Hong Kong to Shanghai, this week end, during the short flight that took them from Hong Kong to China’s fashion capital – Shanghai.
Several players and pairs are already assured of their ticket for the US$500 000 Finals, but some will need to perform well in China this week to make it into the top 8 of the dedicated ranking – which takes in account only the points given in the 12-leg Super Series.
If Peter Gade, Lee Chong Wei, and Lin Dan are already assured of travelling to Johor Baru, other big names may not. Taufik Hidayat is only 500 points ahead of Park Sung Hwan and less than a thousand ahead of his compatriot Sony Dwi Kuncoro.
As the 2004 Olympic champion is not travelling to China this week, he could see his closest rivals overtake him and qualify. It’s especially true of Sony Dwi Kuncoro, who could be the second – and last – Indonesian to qualify should he reach a higher stage.
In order to do that, he will have to beat Andrew Smith of England, then, either Shon Wan Ho of Korea or Arvind Bhat of India before facing Chen Jin, who is the No 4 seed.
However, Indonesians have yet to confirm whether they will be participating in the Finals after their governing body enhanced the importance of the upcoming SEA Games.
For Park Sung Hwan, 6thseed, and currently 9th on the Super Series Ranking, his first round might be crucial – even if the fact that three Chinese are ahead of him, he might get him into the invitation list for the finals.
But the odds are such that the Korean will be facing his direct opponent Chan Yan Kit of Hong Kong, 10th on the Super Series Ranking, and who ended the Korean’s run in Hong Kong last week. It will be revenge time for the Korean.
Top seed Lee Chong Wei will also have a tough first round in the name of Jan Jorgensen, the new jewel of Denmark – the first player in over 10 years to have beaten Peter Gade on the International stage.
Jorgensen will have had a little more time to rest as he was ousted earlier in the Hong Kong Open last week while Chong Wei had to go the full distance – clinching the gold medal on Sunday.
Amongst the other mouth watering starters, the two friends Lin Dan and Bao Chunlai were drawn to play each other in the worst possible draw for China. Kenichi Tago, meant to play Simon Santoso, as well as Hafiz Hashim, Kuan Beng Hong all withdrew from the tournament as did Gade and Hidayat.
Tine Rasmussen, who is also assured of participating in the Finals, heads to Shanghai with some video footage to look at – she was present in the Hong Kong Final Open, in the stands, recording the match between Wang Yihan and Jiang Yanjiao.
She could be meeting again Wang in the final as they are both top seeds on either side of the draw. Rasmussen starts her tournament with Ai Goto, the ever running Japanese, while the worst draw for the seeded players is awarded to Pi Hongyan, 5th seeds and meant to play one of the two uprising “Wangs” – Shixian – in the first round.
If the 8 players are almost set to be picked, the only one hoping for a last minute chance would be Salakjit Ponsana, but the tiny Thai has to face Jiang Yanjiao in the first round. But new faces could be appearing as it is usually the case in China events.
This Tuesday, youngster Li Xueri could be one of them as she qualified for the main draw to face Wang Chen, representing Hong Kong but originally from Shanghai. Zhou Mi will not participate in the event.
The Chinese couldn’t hope for a worse draw in the men’s doubles as well – the first round will see Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng take on their partners Guo Zhengdong and Xu Chen. And, as if seeing the best two pairs of the same country play each other in the first round wasn’t bad enough, the two pairs are hand in hand in the race for the Super Series qualification, at 9th and 8th spots respectively.
This means that, no matter what, China will have only one men’s doubles pair in Johor Baru. Should Cai and Fu make it to the quarter final, they are likely to play against Jung Jae Sung and Lee Yong Dae of Korea, winner last week in Hong Kong.
Korea’s in luck as the new pairing of Cho Gun Who and Shin Baek Chol will not have to face Malaysia’s Zakry Abdul Latif and Faruzizuan Tazari as the latter withdrew as did some of their compatriots. Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan will have another chance at getting even with Alvent Yulianto and Chandra, who beat them last week – the two pairs are meant to meet in the quarter finals.
Top seeds Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong start of their Li-Ning China Open against the young Chinese duo of Liu Xiaolong and Xiu Zihan.
If the women’s doubles is usually a done deal for China, this should be even more true this week, as no less than 14 pairs from mainland China have entered the draw. Cheng Shu and Zhao Yunlei are top seeds and could face either compatriots Zhang/Tian in the quarter, or Korea’s Kim/Park.
Chin Eei Hui and Wong Pei Tty have been quite lucky with the draw, with only one out of the 14 pairs in their quarters. Their strongest opponents should be either India’s Ashwini Ponnappa/Jwala Gutta or England’s Jenny Wallwork/Gabrielle White.
For Lee Yong Dae and Lee Hyo Jung, this event will be the perfect way to get even with Indonesia’s Fran Kurniawan and Pia Zabedah Bernadet, who had stunned the Olympic champions last week : they will play each other in the first round.
The only seeded team to have withdrawn is Denmark’s Joachim Fischer Nielsen and Christinna Pedersen, but all eyes will be on Liliyana Natsir and her new partner Devin Lahardi who replaces the evergreen Nova Widianto.
Source : www.internationalbadminton.org