TUC 2010 Day 3 – Korean Girls Emerge Victorious as Quarter Draws are Out

By Selina Ng, Badzine Correspondent, live from Putra Stadium, Kuala Lumpur.  Photos: BadmintonPhoto (live)

The draws for the quarter-finals were announced fresh from the drawing boxes as players and coaches crowded around to know their fate in the competition.  The four group winners were anticipating their opponents while the others were silently praying for an easier path in the next stage.

China, who are the top seeds, are drawn to meet Uber Cup debutants India who lost their battle to Korea in their group tie today.  Second seeds Japan have a tougher opponent in Denmark on the other side of the quarter.  Russia has a tough road ahead as they are drawn to meet mighty Korea.  But Russia’s top woman shuttler Ella Diehl has announced that they will give the Koreans a good fight and if they were to lose, they will lose with dignity.  The last quarter-final will be between Indonesia and Malaysia, a repeat of last December’s Laos SEA Games final which Malaysia won 3-1.

Earlier, Korea swept the Indian girls aside as they emerge as winners in Group D.  India were beaten 4-1 where the only point was contributed by their top singles player Saina Nehwal.  Saina battled it out with Bae Seung Hee (pictured below) and came back from a game down to win 20-22, 21-18, 21-17.

“I think I played well today and the only problem is that I didn’t move very well,” said Saina.  “The ferocious crowd did not affect me because this kind of conditions will happen everywhere.  So, it’s not a factor.  On a whole, I think India did very well to qualify for the quarter-finals and we hope for better results.”

Korea then dictated the tie by clinching all four remaining points.  However, they did receive some resistance from the two Indian singles players who stretched their matches to rubber games before losing out.

Second singles Sung Ji Hyun, who is playing in her first Uber Cup, revealed that the boisterous crowd who were cheering for the home team on the next court affected her game.  “I couldn’t focus on my game as the crowd was too noisy.  I became confused and nervous but fortunately I managed to win the game,” said the 19-year-old Ji Hyun, whose ambition is to win the Olympic gold medal.

Korean coach Kim Ji Hyun added that Korea’s target in the Uber Cup is to reach the final.  The wish she expressed at the press conference, that Korea be drawn against Russia in the quarter-finals, was later granted in the official drawing ceremony.

With Korea getting their ideal opponent, the other title contenders will have to be on alert, as these Korean girls will stop at nothing to achieve their target.

For complete results from Day 3 of the 2010 Thomas and Uber Cups, CLICK HERE

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