CHINA MASTERS 2011 Finals – Jung & Lee destroy China’s clean sweep

Chinese dominance has always been distinct in the China Masters event but their hope of a fourth clean sweep shattered as Jung Jae Sung / Lee Yong Dae of Korea broke through their defense in the men’s doubles and snagged one gold out of the hands of the Chinese.

By Ooi Ee Lyn, Badzine Correspondent. Photo: Yves Lacroix for Badmintonphoto (live)

Jung Jae Sung / Lee Yong Dae (photo) were semi-finalists at the event last year, where they had lost to Cai Yun / Fu Haifeng on September the 18^th, 2010. Today is exactly a year later, and it was the Koreans who had the spotlights shining upon them, such that even the Xincheng Gymnasium had Korean girl group Girls Generation’s famous song, ‘Oh’ ringing through the speakers in celebration of their achievement.

The men’s doubles finals was the last match of the day, and China had, by the time, already four golds in their pockets. Cai/Fu stepped up with the aim to wrap up the clean sweep, but the defending champions were forced to give in to Jung/Lee’s aggressive play. The Koreans bagged their victory in straight games of 21-17, 21-10, leaving the Chinese in a fury of disappointment at missing out on a third consecutive sweep.

With their first gold at the China Masters, Jung/Lee have now pitched the Korean national flag in the event’s hall of fame, becoming only the fifth nation to ever title at the event. Their 10^th win against the Chinese now gives the Koreans a slight edge in their head-to-head stats against Cai/Fu, including their three meetings at the Asian Games.

Earlier in the day, Chen Jin’s run towards a second China Masters title was put to a halt by Chen Long (photo)  in straight games. It was also Chen Long’s second win against his fellow Chen with whom he had five meetings in international competition. One of the meetings between the Chens was in the 2009 edition of the China Masters, where, also, on September 18, Chen Jin had won the match and blocked Chen Long’s entrance into the semi-finals. Today, exactly two years later, it was the other Chen who took control. Chen Long denied Chen Jin’s second title as he took it 21-16, 22-20.

In the mixed doubles final, Yoo Yeong Seong / Jang Ye Na – who were the only other visitors in the finals – ended their run as runners-up as they bowed to Xu Chen / Ma Jin, (photo) whose 21-13, 21-16 victory presented China with its second gold.

Two golds lost to injuries

Finals day also saw two unlucky ladies, both hopeful of clinching golds, retiring from their unfinished matches due to injuries that decided to drop by for a visit and the most inappropriate time ever.

Defending champions Wang Xiaoli (photo) / Yu Yang were a mere step away from keeping the crown, but just as the first game slipped away 21-19 to their younger compatriots Xia Huan / Tang Jinhua, Wang reluctantly called an end to the match, citing an ankle injury, as she sat by the court in tears.

Wang’s unfortunate event brought Xia/Tang their first major title on the senior circuit, giving a perfect ending to the 2009 World Junior Champion’s dark horse run in the Li-Ning China Masters 2011.

On the other hand, in the women’s singles final, Jiang Yanjiao was in hopeful of clinching the title as she boasted a 4-2 won-loss record against her final opponent Wang Shixian. However, after missing the first game 16-21 and trailing 5-8 down in the second, Jiang, the Changzhou native – in the midst of the crowd cheering for her in her hometown – placed her palm on her heavily bandaged knee, and announced she was retiring from the match.

It was, however, a slightly different story in comparison to the women’s doubles match, as the beneficiary of this discipline was the lady in defense of her title. In half an hour, Wang Shixian (photo) joyfully received the crown for the second time, following her victory in 2009.

They who live their lives in the sport loved by many, are now getting ready to head to Tokyo, where the Japan Open Super Series 2011 awaits them (see Badzine’s Japan Open preview here).

Final results
MS: Chen Long (CHN) [3] bt Chen Jin (CHN) [4]  21-16, 22-20
XD: Xu Chen / Ma Jin (CHN) [5] bt Yoo Yeon Seong / Jang Ye Na (KOR) 21-13, 21-16
WD: Xia Huan / Tang Jinhua (CHN) bt Wang Xiaoli / Yu Yang (CHN) [1] 21-19, (Retired)
WS: Wang Shixian (CHN) [2] bt Jiang Yanjiao (CHN) [4] 21-16, 8-5 (Retired)
MD: Jung Jae Sung / Lee Yong Dae (KOR) [3] bt Cai Yun / Fu Haifeng (CHN) [1] 21-17, 21-10

Click here for complete results

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