CHINA MASTERS 2010 finals – Win no. 5 makes Xin no. 1

The Chinese team showed their dominance again where they swept all 5 disciplines today during the finals of the Li-Ning China Masters 2010. Tine Baun along with Korean men’s doubles Ko Sung Hyun and Yoo Yeon Seong were not able to forbid the locals’ hegemony.

By Adrian Kok, Badzine Correspondent. Photos (live) : Yves Lacroix/Badmintonphoto

Tine Baun’s gallant run towards a second win of the year was put to a halt by Wang Xin in front of the biggest audience of the week in Changzhou. Wang played a superb game to tame the tall Dane in a straight-game 21-13, 12-9 success. The Chinese, who was a silver medalist in the recent World Badminton Championships gave Baun a hard to time with her pinpoint smashes and tight net plays. In the first game, Wang was on full force to open up a 6-point lead during the interval with a score of 11-5. She continued to pressure Baun into many mistakes and blazed to win the first game 21-13.

Baun’s game was also littered with a lot of errors in the second game caused by the constant power play from Wang, which surprised her opponent. The Dane showed some frustration with the shuttlecocks’ speed, but Wang made an incredible run with from 15-9 to 21-9 to win the second game with much ease. The match lasted for only 26 minutes. This is Wang’s fifth win against Baun and, come Thursday, this win will take her to the number one spot in the world ranking the very first time. It is also the first time that Wang has won over Baun in straight games.

“I certainly didn’t play my best today, but overall, I’m satisfied with my week here, as I can be happy to have reached the final of a Super Series after a long time injury,” said the Dane, who was clearly disappointed.

Cai and Fu kill two Korean pairs with one stone

The Korean pair of Ko Sung Hyun and Yoo Yeon Seong had an outstanding week, where they outclassed three pairs from Malaysia and one young pair from China. However, Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng showed the Koreans that they are still hungry for victory in Sunday’s final, which was, once again the most exciting match to watch. From 7-7 in the first game onwards, Ko and Yoo trailed behind the Chinese pair.  Cai and Fu managed to score then 7 points in a row to lead with a score line of 21-14. Ko and Yoo pushed themselves to fight for a rubber set in the second game. Unfortunately, Fu Haifeng’s powerful smash ended the Koreans’ hopes for a decider. The Chinese pair won the second game with a close score line of 21-19, making it two over Korea in two days after their epic victory over Lee Yong Dae and Jung Jae Sung.

First win for Lin Dan

Oddly enough, Lin Dan secured in Changzhou his first success in a Super Series in 2010. The Olympic Champion took 3 games, however, to beat the shuttler who is expected to take over when Lin Dan stops his career – possibly after 2012. Chen Long battled hard and got the second game from his elder opponent but the left-hander from Fujian made sure he would remain unbeaten in China – he had won in Shanghai and here in Changzhou last year. Lin beat Chen Long 21-15, 13-21, 21-14 in the longest match of the day – 1h10 minutes.  It was a clear sign that the mighty Chinese is ready to tackle anyone in next week’s Yonex Japan Open, where he is set to meet up with Taufik Hidayat in the quarters.

The mixed and women’s doubles finals were not up to the expectations with clear victories in under 30 minutes of play for both winners. Yu Yang grabbed gold only once as she and Wang Xiaoli destroyed the inexperienced Lu and Bao 21-8, 21-8 but she and Xu Chen were not good enough to beat Tao and Tian, who claimed their first success as a pair in Changzhou.

5 weeks after China swept all 5 titles, they once again pulled the same trick on the world of badminton, helped by Wang Xin’s 5^th victory over Tine Baun.

The badminton caravan is now heading to Tokyo where awaits the 8^th leg of the Super Series, which specific rankings are still led by Saina Nehwal and Lee Chong Wei.

Final results

MS:  Lin Dan (CHN) beat Chen Long (CHN): 21-15, 13-21, 21-14
WS:  Wang Xin (CHN) beat Tine Baun (DEN) : 21-13, 21-9
MD:  Cai/Fu (CHN) beat Ko/Yoo (KOR) : 21-14, 21-19
WD:  Wang/Yu (CHN) beat Lu/Bao (CHN) : 21-8, 21-8
XD:  Tao/Tian (CHN) beat Xu/Yu (CHN) : 21-11, 21-14

All results HERE