WORLD JUNIORS Team SF – Will history repeat itself?

By Elm Vandevorst, Badzine Correspondent.  Photos: BadmintonPhoto.com (archives)

In Guadalajara, the Korean team took a 2-0 head start with victories in the mixed doubles and girls’ singles against Malaysia.  However, Malaysia’s boys, Zulfadli Zulkifli and Yew Hong Kheng / Ow Yao Han (pictured) erased their adversaries’ lead.  In the decider, Choi Hye In and Lee So Hee crushed Sonia Cheah / Yang Li Lian Yang 21-10 21-4, after just 20 minutes.

China, on the other hand, had fewer problems beating Indonesia 3-0.  Suo Di won in straight games against Novalia Augustianti.  Asian Junior Champions Huaug Yuxiang and mixed doubles pair Liu Cheng / Bao Yixin both needed 3 games, but still triumphed.

At press time, the battle for the bronze medal had  already  been determined.  Malaysia, who dropped a place after being the runner-up in last year’s edition, was just a bit stronger than Indonesia with 3-2, even with aces Zulfadli Zulkifli, Ow Yao Han, and Sonia Cheah all resting on the sidelines.

Furthermore the Danish squad finished as Europe’s best, in the sixth place, going down against Japan with 3-1.  Japanese youngster Misaki Matsutomo (pictured) was very confident before the match, as she already overpowered her previous European opponents in the matches against Austria and Germany.  And again she succeeded, beating her adversary Mette Poulsen 21-10, 21-17.  The clash between last year’s surprise semi-finalist Thailand and Chinese Taipei, ended in a clear, 3-0 victory for the latter as Thailand rested ace Ratchanok Intanon.

In the duels for the 9th and 11th spot Europe and Asia met twice, but failed to win either match. England lost against their former protectorate India and ended 10th.  The Indian team were again able to count on Sai Praneet B.,  who won his fourth match in a row, this time against Joshua Green.  Pushed by the superb results of their compatriot so far, the Indian team took the other obligatory points in the women’s singles and mixed doubles.  The battle for eleventh place began in familiar fashion, with Dutch Junior Open winner Ng Ka Long beating another European opponent in mixed doubles, as Hong Kong got the better of Germany.

In the only All-European fixture, France overwhelmed the Netherlands 3-0 and finished respectively 13th and 14th.  Singapore’s Suhandinata Cup came to an end with the 15th place, while Canada is Pan Am’s best at position sixteen, which is still better than their 18th place in 2009.

For complete results from the 2010 Suhandinata Cup World Junior Championship Mixed Team event, CLICK HERE