INDONESIA OPEN 2011 QF – Gade: “One of my best wins”

By Raphael Sachetat, live from Istora Bung Karno, Jakarta, Photos: Badmintonphoto (live)

Peter Gade (pictured) was all smiles when facing the local media, especially after he switched off his ringing phone, mentioning his wife would wait a little while.

“It’s one of my best wins ever. To beat Taufik, here, in his home court, 21-17, 21-15 it’s just amazing,” said the Dane.  “It takes a lot to achieve that and I think I was able to keep my strategy on court. I knew what I had to do, but here, you know, when you enter the stadium Istora, anything can happen so I was really glad I could keep it up and win this way.

“But I really have a lot of respect for Taufik, and this stadium, the public. It’s just amazing to play here,” he added, hinting that he had never played well in this stadium. “It’s great to show you guys what I’m able to do after all.”

Taufik was not his usual best and missed out on some crucial points, but it was the Dane who led most of the rallies, making the points, one way or the other. He was the one leading the rhythm of the game, always very focused, very sharp, while Taufik didn’t have luck on his side with the net cord. But Gade was just above tonight and the Indonesian looked like he had no solution with the game level he performed.

“Maybe it is because of the tiredness of being on the road constantly. But Peter played very well tonight,” said the Indonesian star. He had hoped to win the event for a 7^th time – beating the record of six titles he currently shares with Ardy Wiranata – but it wasn’t meant to be.

Peter Gade will take on Sho Sasaki (pictured above) – a surprise for him as well as he didn’t even think Sho could beat the Chinese and only mentioned Chen Jin as his future opponent before the match was played. But the Japanese fighter once again created the surprise of the evening by edging Chen Jin for the third straight time this year. Very patient, very steady and hitting hard smashes down the line, Sho was just the best and deserved his victory in three games against Chen Jin.

Lee Chong Wei will take on Chen Long, after the latter beat Du Pengyu in straight games, while the world number one took little time to dispatch Nguyen Tien Minh of Vietnam.

Local doubles are hot

Indonesia may not have anyone in the singles events as Taufik and Adrianti Firdasari were both sent packing, but the local hopes will rely on the doubles, with no fewer than 4 semi-finalists. Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan (pictured left) were impressive in their run against Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen. The world number ones from Denmark could not keep up with the constant attacks from the reigning Olympic champions.

Down a game and trailing 6-12 in the second, Boe even tried a trick to break the Indonesian’s rhythm, deliberately throwing sweat on the court to ask for a clean up break, but Kido and Setiawan kept their focus.

“These players are good at mind games but we were playing well tonight and I think we’re back to our top level – or close,” said Setiawan.

They will have to be for another rematch of the 2008 Olympic final against China’s mighty Cai and Fu, who made quick work of Ko Sung Hyun / Yoo Yeon Seong.  For the second Premier Super Series in a row, no Koreans will be playing on the weekend as not only Ko/Yoo, but also Kim/Ha, fell to the top Chinese pair in their discipline, just as they had in the All England quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, the best Malaysian shuttlers were also put to shame, in their cases by Indonesia’s own Vita Marissa and Nadya Melati and Ahsan/Septano. Chin/Wong and Koo/Tan did not succeed in beating their respective opponents of the day, with the usual booing when Malaysian shuttlers enter the court.

Last but not least, Tontowi Ahmad and Lilyana Natsir put on a super show – even if they had trouble finishing the match – against Beijing bronze medallists He Hanbin and Yu Yang.  After taking the first game 21-19, they were on what looked like a cakewalk in the second, only to see the dangerous Chinese pair whittle away their huge 19-10 lead and finally take the game to extra points.

Tantowi Ahmad finally left both Chinese players flatfooted with a deceptive drive to snatch the second game 24-22 and struck a vintage Michael Jackson pose upon seeing the shuttle touch the mat.

Ahmad/Natsir will take on Rytter Juhl and Laybourn in the semi-finals. The tall Danish lady will have a strike at two gold as she’s still on course for the title in the women’s doubles as well with Christinna Pedersen after they did away with Indonesia’s top pairing of Greysia Polii / Meiliana Jauhari.

No “all-China” affair

In the women’s singles, Cheng Shao Chieh was once again convincing in her win over Liu Xin from China, which will mean the final on Sunday will not see an all-China affair. Saina Nehwal (pictured right) will be her semi-final opponent as the title holder beat Tine Baun in straight games 21-19, 21-19. The other semi-final will feature Wang Yihan and Jiang Yanjiao.

For complete quarter-final results, CLICK HERE