GERMAN OPEN 2011 SF – Short, shorter, shortest

Some very one-sided contests were decided on Saturday in a packed RWE-Sporthalle in Mülheim an de Rurh for the Yonex German Open Badminton Championships’ semi-finals. The most dominating victory was booked by the Korean steamroller named Jung Jae Sung / Lee Yong Dae.

By Elm Vandevorst, Badzine Correspondent.  Photos: Sven Heise for Badmintonphoto (live from Mulheim)

In an (at least on paper) highly anticipated classic against Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong, they simply overshadowed their long-time rivals 21-9, 21-11. The top-seeded pair only required 27 minutes to beat their adversaries.

In the final, they had better be ready for recently arranged pairing Kim Ki Jung and Kim Sa Rang (photo). In the only three-game match of the day, that new twosome overcame another Korean pair Ko Sung Hyun and Yoo Yeon Seong 18-21, 21-15, 21-15. At the Korean Open, their upcoming adversaries were still too strong; the German Open final is a perfect occasion to take revenge.

In addition to the Korean supremacy in the men’s doubles, some other shuttlers produced similarly convincing performances.  For example, both Lin Dan and his fellow man Chen Jin. 2008 Olympic champion Lin Dan had no trouble prevailing against Boonsak Ponsana 21-11, 21-11, while Chen Jin secured victory opposed to Park Sung Hwan 21-14 21-7. In their dream final, Lin Dan can capture his fourth title. Reigning World Champion Chen can secure his second title in Germany after already winning the tournament in 2006.

After a certain Chinese victory in the men’s singles, China has another opportunity in the women’s singles with Liu Xin. At 19-19 in the first game versus Sung Ji Hyun, she took two points in a row, enough to claim the first set. The Chinese had an easier second game and finished it off at 21-16. Her very last challenger will become Ayane Kurihara (photo). The reigning Russia Open champion was too strong for Wong Mew Choo and took it 21-18, 21-15.

Only one team can prevent the three powerhouses, Korea, Japan and China, from taking all the trophies back to the Asian end of the continent. If mixed doubles duo Robert Blair and Gabrielle White (photo) are able to win, one title will remain on European soil. It would be the end of a perfect preparation for the All England, starting next week. In their semi-final, the duo beat fellow English-Scottish combination Imogen Bankier / Chris Adcock 21-17, 21-17. Meaning that Blair overcame his former partner Bankier, with whom he made it to the final at last year’s edition. This year, Blair’s final obstacle will be Japanese pair Shintaro Ikeada and Reiko Shiota. They beat Songphon Anugritayawon and Kunchala Voravichitchaikul from Thailand 21-19, 21-17.

The women’s doubles is the only match in which Japan and Korea will face each other, although both counties have multiple possibilities in the other four events. Mizuki Fujii and Reika Kakiiwa have to defend the honour of “the land of the rising sun”, whereas Ha Jung Eun and Kim Min Jung are ready to give it their best for Korea.  Both pairings have already some experience with eliminating opponents from their neighbouring country. Fujii and Kakiiwa got rid of Kim Ha Na / Kim Min Seo in the semis. Ha Jung Eun and Kim Min Jung were a bit better than seventh-seeded pair Shizuka Matsuo and Mami Naito in their semi-final.

All live results HERE