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| August 31, 2002 | Saturday | Karachi, Jamadi-us-Saani 21, 1423 |
Chinese dominate as top seed crashes out
SURABAYA (Indonesia), Aug 30: All England champion and top seed Camilla Martin of Denmark crashed out of the quarterfinals of the 170,000-dollar Indonesian Open Friday.
Martin bowed out to old archrival Dai Yun of China, leaving the last four spots to Dai and her compatriots and losing in a three tight and tiring games.
The fierce battle of over 65 minutes was a physical encounter between two shuttlers who have been in the top of the women’s singles for many years.
In the heat of the central court in front of a full house, Martin did everything she could to match a player she beat to win the world title back in 1999.
She mastered the net to clinch the first game 11-7, yet the Chinese understood quickly she could not keep up with the precise Dane in this field of play, and cleverly pushed her opponent backwards to keep the rallies going.
The tactic worked in the second game when the Chinese put the score on one game each with 11-7.
The five-minute interval before the third game was obviously not long enough for the Dane who took more and more time to catch her breath.
Yet her strong temper and good physical condition provided her with another series of long and impressive rallies, while the Chinese proved she was at the peak of her preparation for the Asian Games in two months’ time.
Leading 8-5 in the deciding game, Dai proved to be the fittest in the contest and won the last the points for a final 7-11, 11-7, 11-5.
Dia is set to next meet her compatriot Zhang Ning, who struggled in the first game before booking 1-11, 11-8, 11-1 against Thai wonder Sujitra Ekmongkolpaisarn.
In the other part of the draw, second seed and recent Singapore open winner Zhou Mi beat her younger compatriot Xie Xingfang, former Asian champion 11-9, 6-11, 13-12 in 70 minutes.
Zhou will take on compatriot Gong Ruina who beat Korea’s Kim Kyeung Ran in three games.
The Danes had a little more luck in the mixed double event, where top seed Jens Eriksen and Mette Schjoldager advanced to the semi-final round, beating Indonesia’s Anggun Nughoro and Eny Widiowati.
This was the only victory for the Europeans in the three Denmark/Indonesia ties of the event.
The fourth pair in Saturday’s semifinal will be Olympic champion Gao Ling and Zhang Jun of China, who easily beat Lotte Jonathans and Chris Bruil of the Netherlands.
Women’s singles quarterfinals:
Dai Yun (Chn x6) bt Camilla Martin (Den x1) 7-11, 11-7, 11-5;
Zhang Ning (Chn x4) bt Sujitra Ekmongkolpaisarn (Tha) 1-11, 11-8, 11-1;
Gong Ruina (Chn) bt Kim Kyeung Ran (Kor x7) 6-11, 11-2, 11-4;
Zhou Mi (Chn x2) bt Xie Xingfang (Chn) 11-9, 6-11, 13-12
Mixed doubles quarterfinals:
Jens Eriksen and Mette Schjoldager (Den x1) bt Anggun Nughoro and Eny Widiowati (Ina) 9-11, 11-2, 11-4; Nova Widianto and Vita Marisa (Ina x6) bt Jonas Rasmussen and Jane Bramsen (Den x4) 11-7, 11-1; Zhang Jun and Gao Ling (Chn) bt Chris Bruil and Lotte Jonathans (Ned) 11-2,11-3; Bambang Suprianto and Minarti Timur (Ina) bt Michael Sogaard and Rikke Olsen (Den x2) 11-5, 4-11, 11-2.—AFP
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