Monday, March 13, 2006
BADMINTON: Young guns in charge at China Masters
BEIJING: China’s Chen Jin and Wang Lin struck blows for youth by claiming the men’s and women’s singles titles at the China Masters in Chengdu on Sunday. Teenager Wang provided the biggest surprise of the tournament by coming from a set down to beat second seed Xie Xingfang 15-21, 21-13, 21-15 in the women’s final.
The 17 year old also came from behind to beat another of China’s best players, world number one Zhang Nin, in the quarter-finals and Wang Chen of Hong Kong in the semis. “I am pleased to win, but I still have much to improve,” Wang told state news agency Xinhua. Denmark’s Peter Gade thought he had done the hard work by knocking out China’s world number one Lin Dan to reach the men’s singles final but found world junior champion Chen too strong on Sunday. The 20 year old triumphed 21-19, 21-14 to gain revenge for his quarter-final defeat at the hands of the Danish world number four at the All England championships in January. “We met once before and I lost, so I prepared well this time,” Chen told Xinhua.
Gade, 30, had been hoping for a title in Sichuan to give his country a boost ahead of the Thomas Cup, the international team competition being held in Japan next month where China will be defending champions. Only the 21-17, 21-17 victory of his compatriots Jens Eriksen and Martin Lundgaard Hansen over Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng in the men’s doubles final prevented a home sweep of the five titles up for grabs at the five-day tournament. Xie Zhongbo and Zhang Yawen won the mixed doubles title with a 21-16, 10-21, 22-20 victory over Olympic champions and top seeds Zhang Jun and Gao Ling. The women’s doubles final was also an all-Chinese affair, second seeds Gao Ling and Huang Sui beating Wei Yili and Zhang Yawen 21-12, 18-21, 21-14. Reuters