WORLDS 2011 SF – Gade: “These are the last, definitely”

The legendary Peter Gade was knocked out in the semi-final by a splendid Lin Dan, ending the Dane’s last World Championship run. Lin Dan will meet none other than long-time rival Lee Chong Wei, who easily disposed earlier China’s Chen Jin. Fu Haifeng and Cai Yun, too, earned a shot at a fourth world crown at the 2011 Yonex BWF World Badminton Championships after they beat their recent nemeses Jung Jae Sung and Lee Yong Dae.

By Tarek Hafi, Badzine Correspondent.  Photos: Badmintonphoto (live)

Super Dan is still on track to reclaim his World Championship title, after he was prevented a fourth crown last year. The Chinese talent had to dispose of Peter Gade, the Danish star who admitted he was playing here his last ever match in a World Championship – confirming he would stop his career after the Olympics next year – good reason for the tall Dane to give it his best shot and threaten the Chinese jewel.

It is a given that Peter Gade probably has among the widest repertoire of shots in the circuit and he made good use of his gifts in the first game. Despite the number of hours he’d spent on court and his exhausting match on Friday, Peter remained very near Lin Dan, keeping his high speed to pressure his opponent, a tactic which helped him clinch the first game 24-22.

“I just need to be playing like in the first game all the time. It was very tough today as I can’t recover as fast as these guys. But I gave all I had tonight. He played with a lot of discipline,” admitted Peter Gade at the end of his match.

However, we do not call the 2^nd seed Super Dan for nothing, and he showed how smooth had been his path to the semis with his ability to maintain the pace and keep constant pressure on his opponent. The second game was, therefore, an easy road to the rubber, 21-7 for the Olympic champion, who seemed anxious, not his usual self.

“It was a shame about the first game. I had to start again in the second game,” said Lin. “Peter was very good today and really wanted it as he has never won World Championship before”.

The deciding game was absolute delight, when both players reached 15-15.  “Peter played very well – it didn’t look like he was tired from his match yesterday,” analysed Lin Dan. “I got a bit worried towards the end of the match when he caught up at 15-15.

“You don’t think about it when you are ahead but when you are level, you start to get concerned. I then thought about it and played well, remained patient enough to take the match.”

On his game tomorrow against Lee Chong Wei, Lin Dan said, “I didn’t see his match today but I know he is in very good form so I’ll do my best to win.”

Peter Gade, for his part, knew he did his best but found a tougher opponent today “I fought a very good match. I’m proud but I could not do any more,” said Gade. “He played very well, I gave my all. He had more energy than me. That was the difference.

“In the first game I did my best and am very proud of that. I just needed to do that for one more game. I just needed to keep on going. I am disappointed but that’s the way it is.”

Then, asked to confirm whether these were to be his last Worlds, he replied “This is my last one, definitely.”

Not one, but three, on track for fourth

Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng were ever so keen on winning the last match of the evening, after their match record against Korea’s Jung Jae Sung and Lee Yong Dae dropped in the past year with a string of five losses to the 3^rd seeds from Korea. But the Chinese pair, the most successful ever at the Worlds, were particularly eager to redeem themselves and focus on the title, they have won thrice already.

The world number ones, best at the attack, assailed their opponents throughout the match, slowly gaining all department of the game, from the front to the rear. The Korean pair could find no solution, getting frustrated with the wall they encountered today.

Even though they has a slow start to this competition, the Chinese pair have shown great commitment since the quarter-final, raising their game to earn a fourth finals appearance in the last five tries, with a 21-18, 21-14 straight-game win over two-time runners-up Jung/Lee.

However Fu Haifeng disagreed with the score-line: “It was a hard game. There were no easy games to get to the final.”

Fu and Cai are now set to meet Korea’s second pair, Ko Sung Hyun and Yoo Yeon Seong. “We are not overly concerned about our opponents in the final. We won’t let that overshadow our thoughts. To be in the final is very important.”

The Indian pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa didn’t succeed in sending the Asian Games champs out, despite a very good start. Chinese number two Zhao Yunlei and Tian Qing’s defence and deep attacks were sufficient to not get threaten and join their team-mates Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang in the final tomorrow.

Like at the Asian Games, Zhao Yunlei finds herself attempting to be the first since Gao Ling to turn in a double gold medal performance.

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