JAPAN OPEN 2010 – Denmark assured of spot in semis

Denmark’s two best pairs will meet up in the mixed doubles quarter-final of the Yonex Japan Open Badminton Championships on Friday while the doubles events provided with some surprises.

By Raphaël Sachetat. Photos (live) : Badmintonphoto

Tokyo, September 23rd 2010 – No luck for Denmark: only one of their two pairs will be out to shine for their country in the semi-final as Joachim Fischer Nielsen and Christinna Pedersen (photo) will meet up with their daily training partners, Thomas Laybourn and Kamilla Rytter-Juhl. They both clinched their tickets in different manners however, as the latter spent little time against USA’s Haryanto and Lee (Halim Haryanto mentioned after his match that he was to travel more often to play internationally from now on). For Fischer Nielsen and Pedersen, on the contrary, it was a relief to have nailed the last point as Korea’s Shin and Ha gave them a run for their money, pushing it to a decider for a final 21-15, 16-21, 21-11 success for the Danes.

The top seeds of the event are out, as Nova Widianto and Liliyana Natsir were edged out by China’s new jewels of Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei in a repeat of the All England final.  The Indonesians found no solutions to the Chinese deep play and clever attacks and were sent packing 11-21, 11-21.  It was a disappointing outing for their last competition before the Asian Games, which could be Widianto’s farewell to the game.  The closest match of the day, however, saw He Hanbin and Ma Jin (photo) beat Chinese Taipei’s Lee Cheng Mu and Chien Yu Chin in an extraordinary battle. The Chinese saved 2 match points at 18-20 in the decider and went on to score the 4 remaining points to make their 6^th seeded status prevail. But what a match and He Hanbin looked delighted to have finally won after match point. China has three pairs left, Indonesia, like Denmark, has two while Chinese Taipei will still have a chance in the draw with Chen and Cheng.

Tea for two and two for tea

The men’s double draw sees 4 nations represented in the quarter-finals, each with two pairs left. Disappointment for the old continent with no representatives as Korea, China, Indonesia and Malaysia mastering the event.

If Mak and Tan were just saying that they were “just lucky” on their way out of court, they proved way more than that by playing a very solid, efficient yet precise game. The Malaysian youngsters ended Japan’s last hopes to shine at home when they beat Hirobe and Kazuno 21-13, 21-19. Top seeds Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong seem to be on a good roll as well with a good performance over Chen and Lin, 22-20, 21-18. The duo will have to play at their usual standard to beat Shin Baek Cheol and Kim Ki Jung – whom they have beaten twice this year – in order to secure a semi-final spot, which will have an Indonesian flavour no matter what, as Candra Wijaya and Luluk Hadiyanto take on Bona Septano and Mohammad Ahsan in the other part of their draw.

In the lower part, China’s Fu Haifeng and Cai Yun look very sharp with power, stability and an incredible form lately. Winners last week after their success at the Worlds in August, they have yet to lose since the All England. And the only two pairs that beat them in 2010 – Boe/Mogensen and Lee/Jung are already out of this event, which makes them clear favourites for the title here in Tokyo. The Chinese will meet Korea’s Cho and Kwon – whom they beat in the Koreans’ first international outing as a pair, at the Korea Open in January – while China’s youngsters Zhang Nan and Chai Biao (photo), authors of a wonderful match to beat Alvent/Gunawan, will be taking on Mak and Tan.

Korea boleh!

In the ladies’ doubles, the only surprises came with the loss of Jauhari and Polii, stunned by Korea’s Ha Jung Eun and Jung Kyung Eun in the last match of the day. It looked as if it was going to go to three games, but the Koreans managed to keep it in two, winning 24-22, 24-22. They were joined by compatriots Lee Hyo Jung and Kim Min Jung and Jang Ye Na and Kim Min Seo, which gives Korea three chances for gold – more than China at this quarter-final stage. This is quite an achievement but mostly due to the fact that Pan Pan and Qing Tian had to concede a walk over in the first round. Miyuki Maeda and Satoko Suetsuna will be Japan’s only chance to bring a medal in the doubles event and only two other Japanese shuttlers are left in the draw with Hirose and Ucheida in the women’s singles.

All Results HERE

If you are to visit Tokyo for the Japan Open, you should stay in our partner hotel, the Chisun Grand Akasaka, a classy and modern hotel just a few minutes away from the venue, the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. Click HERE to find out more about our partner hotel.