RUSSIAN OPEN 2011 Finals – Lu Lan is back

Lu Lan came back from 16-19 down in the last game of the final of the Grand Prix Gold Russian Open Badminton Championships in Vladivostok to clinch the title while for the third time, local hope Valeri Sorokina scooped two gold medals, in mixed and women’s doubles.

By Raphaël Sachetat. Photos: Badmintonphoto (archives)

One must not forget Lu Lan. She’s not part of the “Wang” wave, but she is still able to deliver. Sent on her own – together with youngster Chen Xiaojia – to the far east of Russia, Lu Lan (photo) managed to get important points towards the Olympic qualification. The former World Champion maybe a bit far off, but she may be taking points in tournaments where other big guns don’t go. She will be going to the U.S. Open next, and could take those as well. In the final of the Russian Open, she almost lost to her younger compatriot, but her experience prevailed to get back from 16-19 down, then save a match point before finally taking gold with a final 20-22, 21-15, 23-21 victory over Chen.

Third double for Sorokina

Valeri Sorokina was the other big winner of the day, with two titles in the far east of her homeland of Russia, just like she did last year here and in 2008 in Moscow. Together with Nikolai Nikolaenko, they beat Japan’s top seeds of Ikeda and Shiota in an oustanding 21-18, 21-14 success while she and Nina Vislova (photo)  beat another Japanese pair of Matsutomo/Takahashi in straight but tight games in the women’s doubles.  Japan did get a gold medal to take back across the Sea of Japan – Vladivostok faces the Nippon island chain – in the name of Kawamae and Sato, who beat their compatriots Endo and Hayaka in the men’s doubles. China claimed the other gold medal with Zhou Wenlong’s win over compatriot Tian Houwei in men’s singles.

Results

MS: Zhou Wenlong (CHN) beat Tian Houwei (CHN) 22-20, 21-18
WS: Lu Lan (CHN) beat Chen Xiaojia (CHN) 20-22, 21-15, 23-21
MD: Sato/Kawamae (JPN) beat Endo/Hayakawa (JPN) 21-18, 21-17
WD: Sorokina/Vislova (RUS) beat Takahashi/Matsutomo (JPN) 22-20, 21-18
XD: Nikolaenko/Sorokina (RUS) beat Ikeda/Shiota (JPN) 21-18, 21-14

Complete results HERE