CHINA MASTERS 2010 – World Champion Curse Continues

After Wang Lin, who had to stop in the middle of her match, it was Chen Jin (pictured) who had to retire halfway into his match, leaving the Li Ning China Masters Super Series orphaned of its two world champions. China will, however, get many chances to grab gold.

By Raphaël Sachetat.  Photos: Yves Lacroix/Badmintonphoto (live from Changzhou)

For an event on home soil, China is certainly having its share of rotten luck.  After Wang Lin, who collapsed on court yesterday against Indonesia’s Maria Febe Kusumastuti, it was Chen Jin’s turn to leave the tournament without finishing his match. The young world champion – known for his back problems – which have cost him a few walkovers in the past – didn’t seem at his best against Chinese Taipei’s Chen Chou Tien.

After losing the first game 18-21, the Chinese seemed to be in pain when reaching for low shuttles, especially towards the front of the court, and was seen holding his lower back after the points. Trailing 8-16 in the second game, he made a sign to the umpire and approached the net to shake his opponent’s hand.  He was not able to play and left the door open for Chou Tien to enter the quarter-finals against another Chen – Chen Long.

China will have one shuttler involved in each quarter-final on Friday. Bao Chunlai and Lin Dan had similar matches, winning with quite a big margin over Qiao Bin and Brice Leverdez respectively. The match of the day however was the fierce battle between Korea’s veteran Lee Hyun Il and Danish sensation Jan O Jorgensen (pictured together), who had earned his International status in China last year when he entered the final of the Li Ning China Open. This time, the Korean was mentally stronger towards the end even if he got a scare when Jorgensen pulled back from 14-14 to 18-19 in the decider. Lee was able to close it 21-6, 13-21, 21-19 and will play the new Chinese kid on the block – Asian Championship runner-up Wang Zhengming from Guangzhou.

Denmark will have a representative in the quarter-final, however, as Christian Lind Thomsen (pictured) took the opportunity of Lee Chong Wei’s withdrawal to book his ticket for the week end by beating Korea’s Lee Cheol Ho after 1hour and 7 minutes of play.  The Dane was so happy that he threw his shirt in the crowd after his victory.

Tine, Pi to face Chinese wall

Whoever wins between Pi Hongyan and Tine Rasmussen on Friday will have to play against two Chinese if she wants the title, as the rest of the quarter-final spots are all taken by local ladies. The Chinese-born French has not beaten her Danish friend in a long time, but during recent practice in Copenhagen, she had been able to take a few games from the newly married Baun, who will still be the favourite to trouble the Chinese at home. Top seed Wang Yihan beat Li Xuerui and will face her younger compatriot Xia Jingyun, while Lu Lan (pictured below) takes on Wang Shixian and Wang Xin – who once again took 3 games to beat Korea’s Sung Ji Hyun – faces Jiang Yanjiao, who has won two China Opens in a row but has yet to take the Masters title.

Malaysia Boleh…

In men’s doubles, the biggest upset came with the defeat of top seeds Fang and Lee of Chinese Taipei to Malaysia’s Goh Wei Shem and Teo Kok Siang, 21-9, 21-19. The young Malaysians will play their compatriots Chan Peng Soon and Lim Khim Wah who also upset one of the local pairs – 8^th-seeded Chai/Zhang. Malaysia will have another pair in the quarters as veterans Choong Tan Fook and Lee Wan Wah exacted some payback from 6^th seeds Kwon and Cho, who had beaten the Malaysians in both the last two Super Series events. Choong/Lee’s next match is an all-time classic against another pair of Koreans – Lee Yong Dae and Jung Jae Sung. Unfortunately for the Chinese, their two best pairs will meet up in the next stage as Cai and Fu take on Guo and Xu in the quarters.

No major upsets in the women’s doubles and mixed as all favourites or seeds came through and will meet each other on Friday.

All results HERE