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| August 22, 2005 | Monday | Rajab 16, 1426 |
Lin and Hidayat to clash in final
ANAHEIM (California), Aug 21: World No 1 Lin Dan continued his domination over Denmark’s Peter Gade with a 15-9, 13-15, 15-10 victory in the semifinals of the world badminton championships on Saturday.
The 21-year-old Lin, of China, is seeking his first World Championship title and attempting to become the third world champion from China in the past four years in men’s singles. The 2003 world champion Xia Xuanze is not in Anaheim to defend his crown.
Lin advanced to final to face reigning Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat, of Indonesia, who beat Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei 15-3, 15-12 in the other semifinal.
Lin has had a tough route to the final, playing three three-game matches in as many days.
Gade, who was the last European hope in the tournament, had more net winners (24-10) but made 33 unforced errors in the one hour, 45 minute match.
Gade, who has bounced back from a serious knee injury, said losing is tough to accept. After watching Lin go to the distance the last three days, Gade felt the top seed was ripe for an upset.
In the final game Gade, was down 12-9 before he battled back make it 12-11. At that point he was serving to level it at 12-12 when he was called for a service fault. He lost the next three points and the match.
Gade was not happy with the judge’s decision and felt he had the victory snatched from him.
Lin is the boyfriend of women’s second seed Xie Xingfang, who rallied to defeat unseeded teenager Cheng Shao-Chieh 2-11, 11-5, 11-6 on Saturday to reach the women’s singles final.
In the women’s final, Xie will face Chinese compatriot and world number one Zhang Ning, who beat sixth seeded Xu Huaiwen 11-7, 11-9 in the other semifinal.
Indonesia’s Hidayat is seeking to become the first man in history to hold the Olympic and World titles at the same time.
Hidayat defeated South Korea’s Shon Seung-Mo 15-8, 15-7 to win the gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics. He is also the reigning Asian Games champ.
Top seeded Zhang defeated her former Chinese team-mate Xu, who now plays for Germany, as the two 30-year-old veterans met in a competitive match for the first time in their 13-year careers.
Results
Men’s singles (Semifinals): Lin Dan (CHN) bt Peter Gade (DEN) 15-9, 13-15, 15-11; Taufik Hidayat (INA) bt Lee Chong Wei (MAS) 15-3, 15-12
Women’s singles (Semifinals): Zhang Ning (CHN) bt Xu Huaiwen (GER) 11-7, 11-9; Xie Xingfang (CHN) bt Cheng Shao-Chieh (TPE) 2-11, 11-5, 11-6
Men’s doubles (Semifinals): Candra Wijaya/Sigit Budiarto (INA ) bt Koo Kien Keat/Chan Chong Ming (MAS) 15-9, 15-11; Tony Gunawan/Howard Bach (USA) bt Luluk Hadiyanto/Yulianto Alven (INA x4) 15-9, 15-13
Women’s doubles (Final): Yang Wei/Zhang Jiewen (CHN) bt Gao Ling/Huang Sui (CHN) 17-16, 15-7
Mixed doubles (Semifinals): Nova Widianto/Lilyana Natsir (INA) bt Sudket Prapakamol/Saralee Thungthongkam (THA) 15-9, 3-15, 15-10; Xie Zhongbo/Zhang Yawen (CHN) bt Daniel Shirley/Sara Runesten-Petersen (NZL) 15-8, 15-8—AFP
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