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Malaysian flag flying high in semi-finals
June 29, 2002 - Source : IBF
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Lee Tsuen Seng, James Chua and reigning champion Ong Ewe Hock stunned their home fans at the 4* Proton-EON Malaysiayesterday by cruising through to the semi-finals with upset victories over the three top seeds.
Ong’s experience shone through with a straight games win over Chinese youngster Lin Dan, who made his international debut playing under the shortened 7-point scoring system. Malaysia’s defending champion Ong outclassed Lin, the tournament’s second seed, 15/11, 15/9 to book himself a place in the semi-finals, joining compatriot Lee Tsuen Seng after his shock victory over Xia Xuanze.
China’s top seed had no response for the Malaysian’s sharp attacks in the first game, and quickly went down 7/15 to Lee before staging a comeback in the second game, pulling ahead 14/7 and looking to force the third and deciding game.
But the 23-year-old Dutchchampion, aided by a vociferous home crowd in Penang, clawed his way back into contention to draw level at 14/14 before finishing off the Asian Champion 17/16 after Xia opted to set the second game.
National champion James Chua silenced compatriot and third seed Wong Choong Hann in their quarter-final bout, enjoying a surprisingly easy win 15/7, 15/4 to leave the 1998 Commonwealth gold medallist licking his wounds with a matter of weeks to go before defending his Commonwealth crown in Manchester.
Bao Chunlai finalized the semi-final line-up with a 15/12, 15/6 win over Singapore’s Ronald Susilo.
Camilla Martin remains on course for her second Grand Prix win of the year to add to her All England crown after a trickier than expected match against Thailand’s SEA Games champion Sujitra Ekmongkolpaisarn which she came through12/13, 11/8, 11/9.
China took the three other semi-finals berths through Xie Xingfang, qualifier Wei Yan and Hu Ting, who crushed Hong Kong’s second seed Chen Wang in straight games 11/3, 11/1.
In the mixed doubles, European silver medallists Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms proved themselves to be favourites for the Commonwealth gold medal after humbling compatriots Simon Archer and Jo Goode 11/13, 11/4, 11/6 to claim a place in the final, to be played on Saturday. Gunning for their second Grand Prix title after their Dutchtriumph, the English national champions will face Chinese youngsters Wang Wei and Zhang Yawen.
The hosts enjoyed mixed fortunes in the men’s doubles – second seeds Chew Choon Eng and Chan Chong Ming lost at the hands of Liu Yong and Chen Qiqiu, leaving teammates Choong Tan Fook and Chang Kim Wai to fly the Malaysian flag by themselves in the semi-finals. Choong and Chang overcame Denmark’s Michael Sogaard and Michael Lamp in three games.
Top seeds Jens Eriksen and Martin Lundgaard Hansen kept Danish hopes alive in this category with an 8/15, 15/6, 1/9 win over Nathan Robertson and Anthony Clark of England.
An all-Chinese women’s doubles final looks on the cards – top seeds Huang Nanyan and Yang Wei easily beat their Japanese opponents Ogura and Shiota, while Zhang Yawen and Zhao Tingting also had a smooth ride against second seeds Harder and Schjoldager 11/5, 11/6. |
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