WORLDS 2010 – Zheng Bo: “I don’t want to be afraid of losing”

One hour and twelve minutes were needed for China’s Zheng Bo and Ma Jin to beat the mighty Koreans Ko Sung Hyun and Ha Jung Eun, cruising for tomorrow’s final at the 2010 Yonex BWF World Badminton Championships.

Article : Tarek Hafi (live from Paris) / Pictures: Badmintonphoto

It meant relief for Zheng Bo, who was severely instructed to bring back nothing less than a gold medal, if he wanted to get back onto the Chinese National Team for good.  He was suspended from the team in the spring this year for discipline problems.

And it’s a given that Zheng Bo is happy to be back, at least for one tournament, enjoying his partner Ma Jin’s improvement and complimenting her when he is given the chance: “Her great net play made the difference today, even she also plays women’s doubles, she’s still very fit for mixed.”

Indeed, Ma Jin clearly was the key to this match, showing her energetic play on court plus brilliant net play which took time to establish as the Korean Ko/Ha took the first lead, allowing no chances to the Chinese to level up the first game, exhibiting their high motivations to reach their first World Championship final.

“The Koreans’ defense is really good so we can’t hesitate at all and have to rush to every shuttle,” commented Ma Jin, before revealing her tactics: “Before the match we knew we had to target the girl and it did work out well for us I guess.”

“Even though we lost the first game, I was still confident that we would win the match and this match was not as tiring as yesterday’s,” Zheng Bo added. “ I really want to win, but I don’t want to be afraid of losing.”

Later in the day, compatriots Yu Yang and He Hanbin, seeded number six, crushed Taiwan’s Canada Open champions Chien Yu Chin and Lee Sheng Mu, completely controlling the match and preventing either of them from setting up their fierce attacking play.

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