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| January 20, 2008 | Sunday | Muharram 10, 1429 |
Chong, Hyun-Ii reach final: Malaysian Open badminton
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 19: World number two Lee Chong Wei came back from behind to beat China’s Yu Chen in the Malaysian Open men’s singles semi-final on Saturday.
Chong Wei downed his opponent 25-23, 21-11, using drop shots and net play. He now faces in the final Korean Lee Hyun-Ii, who earlier beat Denmark’s Kenneth Jonassen in straight sets, 21-15, 21-18.
In men’s doubles, former world champions Denmark’s Lars Paaske-Jonas Rasmussen defied the odds to book a spot in the final after besting the third seeded pair, China’s Fu Haifeng-Cai Yun, 21-16, 19-21, 21-17.
On the women’s side, China’s Zhu Lin topped Malaysia’s Wong Mew Choo 21-19, 21-12 in the singles semi final – sweet revenge for the Chinese player who lost to Mew Choo in last November’s China Open.
Zhu Lin faces Dane Tine Rasmussen, who heads to the final after trouncing fifth seed Pi Hongyan of France 21-12, 21-10.
Korean mixed doubles team Lee Yong Dae-Lee Hyo Jung trailed the English pair of Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms in the first set, but they clawed back to win the match 23-21, 16-21, 21-16 and a spot in the finals.
The Koreans will compete for the top prize against China’s He Hanbin and Yu Yang, who upstaged Thai eighth seeded pair Sudket Prapakamol-Saralee Thoungthongkam 21-23, 21-17, 23-21 in a hard fought match.
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s national doubles coach Rexy Mainaky has threatened to quit again, this time after the early exit of world number one pair Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong in the Open.
“I love Malaysia,” said Mainaky, an Indonesian. “However, people think I’m not doing enough. I will announce my decision when the time is right.”
In the 2006 Doha Asian Games, Mainaky threatened to step down after Malaysia lost to South Korea in the semi-finals.
Results:
Semi-finals:
Men’s singles: Lee Chong Wei (MAS x1) bt Chen Yu (CHN x8) 25-23, 21-11; Lee Hyun-Ii (KOR) bt Kenneth Jonassen (DEN x7) 21-15, 21-18.
Men’s doubles: Lars Paaske/Jonas Rasmussen (DEN) bt Fu Haifeng/Cai Yun (CHN x3) 21-16, 19-21, 21-17; Markis Kido/Hendra Setiawan (INA x2) bt Candra Wijaya/Tony Gunawan (INA/US x4) 21-11, 21-17.
Women’s singles: Zhu Lin (CHN x3) bt Wong Mew Choo (MAS x8) 21-19, 21-12; Tine Rasmussen (DEN) bt Pi Hongyan (FRA x5) 21-12, 21-10.
Women’s doubles: Gao Ling/Zhao Tingting (CHN) bt Du Jing/Yu Yang (CHN x2) 21-19, 19-21, 21-17; Yang Wei/Zhang Jiewen (CHN x2) bt Lee Kyung-Won/Lee Hyo-Jung (KOR) 19-21, 21-12, 21-12.
Mixed doubles: Lee Yong-Dae/Lee Hyo-Jung (KOR) bt Nathan Robertson/Gail Emms (ENG x5) 23-21, 16-21, 21-16; He Hanbin/Yu Fang (CHN x6) bt Sudket Prapakamol/Saralee Thoungthongkam (THA x8) 21-23, 21-17, 23-21. —AFP
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