ALL ENGLAND 2011 QF – Eriko brings warmth to Japanese hearts

Eriko Hirose from Japan made it up for the defeat for her team-mate Yamada earlier as she sent packing one of the contenders for the throne in Birmingham, Saina Nehwal. It was a win that will hopefully bring smiles to the Japanese people after the earthquake struck Sendai this Friday.

By Tarek Hafi, Photos: Badmintonphoto (live from Birmingham)

Eriko Hirose probably provided a bit of happiness to her compatriots in these terrible circumstances.  The smiling girl cruised to the semi-final of the Yonex All England with a brilliant win over the 5^th seed, India’s prodigy Saina Nehwal. The explosive Japanese upgraded her level to defeat her opponent, one of the favourites to win the trophy and compete with the Chinese armada.

Her fast pace and lethal attacks made the difference in her game, while Nehwal was maybe expecting less aggressive play from this usually more defensive player.

The tactic led the cheerful Eriko to dominate the opening game, playing mostly drives in order to force Saina to lift  shuttles, ensuring her a high winning rate over the rallies. And it worked perfectly, creating a large gap, at 15-5, and then concluding the game afterwards 21-11 as Saina was making mistakes to make it worse.

The gap wasn’t that big in the second game, after the Indian managed to get the hold of her opponent’s tactic, but  Hirose was not to let go with such a great opportunity, launching her accurate attacks and bringing back every shuttle on court.  It proved efficient as the Japanese was able to take it away 21-11, 22-20.

“After my injury in 2007, I started to train really intensively and I can see now it’s paying back,” said Eriko afterward.  “I’m feeling very good at the moment and I’m really pleased with my game tonight. Moreover, after what happened in my country today, I really felt it was my duty to win my match today.  I was so happy that my relatives weren’t hurt.”

The Japanese  will now meet Petya Nedelcheva from Bulgaria – who dispatched Gu Juan from Singapore – for a semi-final which might be the best opportunity for her to reach her first ever final at the Yonex All England Championship, exactly one year after Tago’ s final.

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