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NEWS
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Marleve ousts world number one for final berth
Source : IBF
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Indonesia’s Marleve Mainaky has earned himself another shot at the men’s singles title after dumping world number one Chen Hong out of contention at the Brunei World Grand Prix Finals today.
 Mainaky, who lost to Peter Gade in the final of the 1999 event, got off to an uncertain start against the world bronze medallist Chen, quickly dropping the first game 2/7. But the 29-year-old Indonesian – looking comfortable with the fast pace of the 7-point system - bounced back in style, grasping the second game 7/1, before Chen even had chance to catch his breath.
The third and fourth games were more balanced in terms of the score line, but it was the newly-crowned Indonesiachampion who had the stronger desire, determined to make amends for his 1999 loss and snare a first world title. Mainaky wrapped it up in four games 2/7, 7/1, 7/5, 7/5 in 39 minutes.
China will have one representative in the men’s singles final, though – in spite of a vociferous crowd cheering for Malaysian Roslin Hashim (pictured), Xia Xuanze emerged victorious from the gripping second semi.
The partisan fans looked as they would have something even greater to cheer for as Roslin stormed ahead to take the first game 3/7, but Xia was out prove himself worthy of the Olympic bronze medal he earned almost a year ago and was not going to give up without a fight – a 66 minute fight as it turned out.
The 22-year-old Chinese pulled level at one game all, and then nudged ahead to take the third 8/7 after a fantastic display of agility and lightning reflexes. The advantage going into the fourth game was clearly with Xia, but again Roslin dug deep and forced the match into a decider. Somehow finding an extra burst from somewhere, Xia – the 2000 All England champion – tied it up 3/7, 7/4, 8/7, 0/7, 7/0.
The women’s singles was more of a foregone conclusion with an all-China cast in the final tomorrow.
Hong Kong’s Wang Chen upset the odds in reaching the semi-finals here in Brunei, but was unable to pull off any more shocks losing tamely to Seville silver medallist Zhou Mi 7/0, 7/5, 7/4. Dai Yun, once again, retains her “bridesmaid” status after losing to compatriot and Olympic champion Gong Zhichao (pictured) in four games 7/3, 4/7, 7/2, 7/0.
In the men’s doubles reigning champions Candra Wijaya and Tony Gunawan cruised through to the final, crushing Denmark’s Michael Sogaard and Jim Laugesen (pictured) in straight games. It was a bad omen from the start for the Danish pair when Laugesen turned up and unpacked his rackets on court 3 while Sogaard, Wijaya and Gunawan and the court officials were on court 1.
If he knew what was about to unfold, he probably would have stayed there. The Danes were thrashed 7/4, 7/2, 7/3 in just 22 minutes.
Olympic gold medallists Wijaya and Gunawan will take on compatriots Sigit Budiarto and Halim Haryanto, who beat China’s Zhang Jun and Zhang Wei 8/7, 7/3, 4/7, 8/6 in the last match of the day.
It was a bad day altogether for Zhang Jun, who had earlier lost out of a place in the mixed doubles final with partner Gao Ling. In a reversal of the Olympic final, the Chinese lost to Indonesians Tri Kusharynto and Minarti Timur – runners-up of the 1999 World Grand Prix Finals to absent Koreans Kim Dong Moon and Ra Kyung Min.
Denmark were assured of a place in the mixed final, as Michael Sogaard and Rikke Olsen were pitted against Jens Eriksen and Mette Schjoldager. On past meetings, Sogaard and Olsen should have won, but after a tense five-gamer Eriksen and Schjoldager won 2/7, 7/4, 7/3, 4/7, 7/1.
In the women’s doubles Chen Lin and Jiang Xuelian beat English roses Gail Emms and Joanne Wright, and top seeds Huang Nanyan and Yang Wei beat Helene Kirkegaard and Rikke Olsen 7/2, 7/4, 7/3. |
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August 12, 2001  |
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