Hi all,
Just come back from Birmingham and my word, what can i say?! Some cracking games that left all of us on the edge of our seats, truely breathtaking badminton! So, here is my round up of what happened.
1st Game - Mixed Doubles
This turned out to be rather dissapointing and not as good as i hope. At the start, Kim was very nervous playing many smashes into the net, but when he found his ground, did he make sure those shuttles went away. A truely dominating performance, with him smashing and folloing everything through to the net. There was a series of long rallies that were good, but the Chinese pair and raining champions never seemed to really get started, and they lost to the mighty Kim in straight games. What amazed me about Kim is his ability to read the game so quickly, amazing!
2nd Game - Ladies Singles
Not my favourite, but it turned out to be a good game. Gong got away quickly with some nice net shots, but Zhang's drops and slices were out of this world, leaving Gong nowehere to be seen. These tight net shots in reply meant a strong shams to finish the point, and Zhang's hold and flick across to the backhand side left a weak reply which could be killed off. Both played well and moved the shuttle about, both moving well and some extremely long rallies which left the crowd applauding, supurb badminton.
3rd Game - Men's Singles
The one i had been looking foward to, Xia against Wong, and in my eyes, two very evenly matched players. Xia got off to a great start in the first game and it seemed Wong was a little edgy, maybe Xia's experience is what helped. However, in the second game Wong took control and with some extremely long rallies, lots of diving on the court to save the point. Wong took the second game, and then we knew we was in for a battle.
The third game was neck a neck, and towards the end Wong looked a little tired. Some long rallies went in Xia's way and he say gold, he just then stepped up the pace and then won the match. An emotional display as he kneeled on the floor with his head in has hands banging against the floor, then standing up and throwing his shirt into the crowd. A great match that went the full distance. What gave Xia the advantage was his deception, Wong didnt know which way to go and was second guessing most of the time.
4th Game - Ladies Doubles
Pretty much knew who the winners would be here as the past record went in Gao / Huang's favour. Some long rallies again, but the number 1 seeds had incredible power and defence that moved the shuttleabout and created all sorts of problems, however, the 4th seeds over come it and with the longest rally around 81 shots, overcome their opponents and duely won the game.
5th Game - Mens Doubles
The one i had been looking foward to as, not only is it my game, but as it had Candra / Sigit playing in it, and to be honest, my money was on them with their performance during the previous rounds.
However, can someone tell me what Sigit was playing at in the first game?? He was more than showboating, with a shot froma round his side and around the back of his head happening in the first few points! The Danes rushed to a 13-1 lead and it looked bad. They took it fairly comfortably but Sigit was making many mistakes, i felt sorry for Chandra.
The second game they come alive, and it turned out to be nail biting. The danes had great movement and defence and caught the Indo's off guard. Anything short, Jonas was driving back and taking TOTAL control of the net. The got to a 13-9 lead and it looked all over. But nerves got to them as they lost the second 15-13.
Both sides were now on fire, and the Danes were playing brilliant. Sheer power made sure the Indo's defence had to be spot on. Some brilliant flat rallies left the audience with their head in their hands, and i couldnt watch!!
The Danes got to a 14-9 lead, and all of a sudden the Indo's come back 14-13 with a second serve. A powerful smash see that the defence from Wijaya went out, and the went on to win the game 15-13. A truely emotional celebration as Jonas kneeled with his hands in the air, and Lars laid on the floor banging his hands. Jonasran around the court and then embraced Lars, and then the coach.
But, i have no idea what Sigit was doing, and they were getting in eachothers way all the time, maybe he tried to be something a little too special, but anyway, congrats to Jonas and Lars!
So, there is my mini round up of todays events, if you caught it on TV, the mens doubles and singles is one to look out for....breathtaking, fingerbiting play from all players.
Matt
Just come back from Birmingham and my word, what can i say?! Some cracking games that left all of us on the edge of our seats, truely breathtaking badminton! So, here is my round up of what happened.
1st Game - Mixed Doubles
This turned out to be rather dissapointing and not as good as i hope. At the start, Kim was very nervous playing many smashes into the net, but when he found his ground, did he make sure those shuttles went away. A truely dominating performance, with him smashing and folloing everything through to the net. There was a series of long rallies that were good, but the Chinese pair and raining champions never seemed to really get started, and they lost to the mighty Kim in straight games. What amazed me about Kim is his ability to read the game so quickly, amazing!
2nd Game - Ladies Singles
Not my favourite, but it turned out to be a good game. Gong got away quickly with some nice net shots, but Zhang's drops and slices were out of this world, leaving Gong nowehere to be seen. These tight net shots in reply meant a strong shams to finish the point, and Zhang's hold and flick across to the backhand side left a weak reply which could be killed off. Both played well and moved the shuttle about, both moving well and some extremely long rallies which left the crowd applauding, supurb badminton.
3rd Game - Men's Singles
The one i had been looking foward to, Xia against Wong, and in my eyes, two very evenly matched players. Xia got off to a great start in the first game and it seemed Wong was a little edgy, maybe Xia's experience is what helped. However, in the second game Wong took control and with some extremely long rallies, lots of diving on the court to save the point. Wong took the second game, and then we knew we was in for a battle.
The third game was neck a neck, and towards the end Wong looked a little tired. Some long rallies went in Xia's way and he say gold, he just then stepped up the pace and then won the match. An emotional display as he kneeled on the floor with his head in has hands banging against the floor, then standing up and throwing his shirt into the crowd. A great match that went the full distance. What gave Xia the advantage was his deception, Wong didnt know which way to go and was second guessing most of the time.
4th Game - Ladies Doubles
Pretty much knew who the winners would be here as the past record went in Gao / Huang's favour. Some long rallies again, but the number 1 seeds had incredible power and defence that moved the shuttleabout and created all sorts of problems, however, the 4th seeds over come it and with the longest rally around 81 shots, overcome their opponents and duely won the game.
5th Game - Mens Doubles
The one i had been looking foward to as, not only is it my game, but as it had Candra / Sigit playing in it, and to be honest, my money was on them with their performance during the previous rounds.
However, can someone tell me what Sigit was playing at in the first game?? He was more than showboating, with a shot froma round his side and around the back of his head happening in the first few points! The Danes rushed to a 13-1 lead and it looked bad. They took it fairly comfortably but Sigit was making many mistakes, i felt sorry for Chandra.
The second game they come alive, and it turned out to be nail biting. The danes had great movement and defence and caught the Indo's off guard. Anything short, Jonas was driving back and taking TOTAL control of the net. The got to a 13-9 lead and it looked all over. But nerves got to them as they lost the second 15-13.
Both sides were now on fire, and the Danes were playing brilliant. Sheer power made sure the Indo's defence had to be spot on. Some brilliant flat rallies left the audience with their head in their hands, and i couldnt watch!!
The Danes got to a 14-9 lead, and all of a sudden the Indo's come back 14-13 with a second serve. A powerful smash see that the defence from Wijaya went out, and the went on to win the game 15-13. A truely emotional celebration as Jonas kneeled with his hands in the air, and Lars laid on the floor banging his hands. Jonasran around the court and then embraced Lars, and then the coach.
But, i have no idea what Sigit was doing, and they were getting in eachothers way all the time, maybe he tried to be something a little too special, but anyway, congrats to Jonas and Lars!
So, there is my mini round up of todays events, if you caught it on TV, the mens doubles and singles is one to look out for....breathtaking, fingerbiting play from all players.
Matt