KOREA GP 2010 – Local singles chances dwindle

Three Korean favourites in the men’s singles competition – Lee Hyun Il, Park Sung Hwan, and Hong Ji Hoon – are already gone from the draw before the start of play on Day 2 of the Korea Grand Prix, leaving opportunities for Thailand and Hong Kong.

In what was supposed to be the match of the day on Tuesday in Gimcheon, the rematch between local favourite Lee Hyun Il and China’s young hopeful Wang Zhengming, turned into a disappointment when Lee threw in the towel when trailing 4-14 in the first game.  Lee had finished a match against Wang earlier this autumn when the 2008 World Junior Champion beat him in the quarter-finals of the China Masters.  Wang is now to play compatriot Chen Yuekun, with the winner almost certainly bound for at least the quarter-finals.

But further down in the same half of the draw, even more spaces are opening up, as both Park Sung Hwan and Hong Ji Hoon have withdrawn.  This gives a bye to the third round to Youth Olympic gold medallist Pisit Poodchalat where he, too, may face a compatriot in Pakkawat Vilailak, if the latter can get past lefthander Park Wan Ho.  Hong’s withdrawal gives a bye to Russia’s Denis Grachev, but it may well be Hong Kong’s Chan Yun Lung who benefits.  However, Chan plays today against former top junior Lee Dong Keun and the 21-year-old, who only recently returned to the national team after a quarter-final finish at the Canada Open, will be hoping to capitalize on the wide open bottom corner.

The highest-ranking Koreans remaining in the draw are Shon Wan Ho, Lee Cheol Ho, and Choi Ho Jin.  Shon has a tricky matchup today against last year’s World Junior Champion Tian Houwei while Lee and Choi are expected to play off for a quarter-final shot at now overwhelming favourite Bao Chunlai of China.

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More up-to-date withdrawal information is available from the Badminton Korea Assocation HERE