JAPAN OPEN 2011 R32 – Chen Jin denies Sho a 4th, Taufik takes a bow

After 3 losses already this year, 6^th seeded Chen Jin re-affirmed his superiority over his recent nemesis Sho Sasaki in first round action at the 2011 Yonex Japan Open.

By Emzi Regala, Badzine Correspondent.  Photos: Badmintonphoto (live)

Enough is enough! 　It would have been a sweet fourth time around for Sho Sasaki, but Chen Jin (photo) had other things in mind when the Chinese star met the Japanese #1 on his home court today.  Chen Jin attacked more aggressively than in their earlier meetings and at the same time was more confident in the net, a lethal combination that found Sasaki struggling for control early on in the first game.

Chen Jin’s continued attacking game challenged Sho Sasaki’s defense in the second game.  The Chinese relentlessly pounded on his smashes putting a halt to Sho’s chances for a medal.  Their fourth meeting went in favour of the Chinese 21-15, 21-12 sending a gloomy atmosphere to the small crowd that came to watch amidst the strong advisory due to bad weather.

The major men’s singles upset of the day, though, came with the Indonesian star Taufik Hidayat (photo) losing to Chinese Taipei’s Chou Tien Chen in a punishing 53-minute 3-game match 21-17, 12-21, 21-18.

“I couldn’t play well at all. I couldn’t find the way to attack. I’ve lost my confidence,” said Hidayat in an interview with AFP.

Thailand’s Boonsak Ponsana saw the end of his 2011 Japan Yonex Open campaign when he lost to the 23-year-old Dane Jan O. Jorgensen in an easy 2-game match. Vietnam Open Champion Nguyen Tien Minh who is seeded 7^th also bowed out to India’s Ajay Jayaram.

In spite of the howling winds outside the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium brought about by Typhoon #15, order in the men’s singles discipline was restored as both Lin Dan and Lee Chong Wei won their first round matches.

“I feel good. This is my first match of the tournament so I tried to play in my rhythm and check the court conditions,” defending champion Lee (photo) was quoted by AFP as saying.  His rival Super Dan had to spend 3 games and more court time but nevertheless dispatched Korea’s Hyun Il Lee 21-16, 11-21, 21-12.

Denmark’s 3^rd-seeded Peter Gade also sailed through by defeating a fellow European, Germany’s Mark Zwiebler, in a straight-game match that ended 21-15, 21-18 after 36 minutes.  The veteran looked confident throughout the match even as the younger German came close in the second game.

Click here for complete results

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.