World Champions beaten in Korea

World Champions Ko Sung Hyun and Shin Baek Cheol ran up against one of their opponents from the Copenhagen men’s doubles final, this time in the first round of the badminton event at Korea’s National Sports Festival, held this week in Jeju, where two natives of the island province took titles.

Photos: Don Hearn (archives)

2012 NSF champions Yoo Yeon Seong and Jung Jung Young (pictured above right) came back from the brink against World and defending champions Ko Sung Hyun / Shin Baek Cheol (pictured above left) to win that one 13-21, 24-22, 21-17.  Yoo then won his final against present world #1 partner Lee Yong Dae, who was playing with former All England runner-up Han Sang Hoon.

That was not the only time on the day that two partners or former partners faced off for gold.  Jeju native Kim Ha Na, one half of the world #9 women’s doubles pair, beat partner Jung Kyung Eun to take gold for Busan.  In the men’s university division, another Jeju native, Kang Ji Wook, teamed up with fellow former Asian Junior Champion Choi Sol Kyu and beat Kang’s high school partner Kil Hyun Cheol and won gold for their university in Seoul.

Even in the boys’ high school division, World Junior Championship semi-finalists Kim Jae Hwan and Kim Jung Ho played each other for the gold medal, which eventually went to Kim Jae Hwan and Im Su Bin of North Jeolla Province.

The team event for the high school, university and pro divisions get underway today and many of these athletes, including the high school players, are also entered in next week’s Korea Grand Prix event in Jeonju.