CHINA MASTERS 2011 SF – Perfectly Chinaful

Chinese names – big and small – all registered themselves at the finals entrance of the Li Ning China Masters 2011, as they steamrolled past all their visiting opponents in the first session of the semi-finals today.

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

Japan’s Mizuki Fujii / Reika Kakiiwa may have been the only Japanese left free from the violent charge of the Chinese youngsters, but time finally arrived for them today. They lifted the white flag as they found no way to stop Xia Huan / Tang Jinhua (headline picture), who continued to break in in full fury. Xia/Tang, removing the Japanese in 21-10, 21-18, had finally managed to overcome all the obstacles along their way and secured their ground on the big stage in the finals.

With the many Wangs topping the women’s singles event in China, every game is a stage for them to prove themselves capable of becoming the best Wang. Wang Xin and Wang Shixian had a replay of last year’s semi-final today, just with the light shining upon a different side this time. Wang Xin was the defending champion – she became Queen of China Masters after defeating Wang Shixian (photo) and Tine Baun in the semi-finals and finals last year.

This time, it was Wang Shixian’s turn to take the lead, as she brushed off Wang Xin in straight games and made it into the finals, as well as refreshing their head-to-head stats, in record, to 5-4 to her delight.

Psychological games come in when one plays an opponent one has never beaten before. Ko Sung Hyun / Yoo Yeon Seong had built up a defense wall stronger than the defending champions Cai Yun / Fu Haifeng in their first game today, returning almost every offensive shot by the Chinese. As the game progressed slightly over the 20-20 line, Yoo saw his net return called fault by the umpire, thus, presenting one of the most crucial points to the Chinese.

Ko/Yoo tried to hang on to the game as they continued to fight for every point needed, but they finally fell 24-26 in the midst of the quick Chinese bullets. Cai/Fu returned on court for the second game with a more attacking play which eventually broke the Korean’s defense line, and nailed the victory with a 21-18 end to their game. This is also the Chinese’s sixth straight victory over the Koreans.

Chen Long’s straight game victory over Peter Gade (photo), for the third time in five meetings ,then declared all Chinese players safely through in the afternoon session of the semi-finals day at Changzhou – following Xu Chen / Ma Jin’s win over Joachim Fischer Nielsen / Christinna Pedersen in the mixed, awhile before the men’s doubles match.

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