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China on track for home domination
September 19, 2001 - Source : IBF
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China’s bid to make a clean sweep at their home Grand Prix looks stronger than ever with only two qualifying places slipping from their grasp.
China took every qualifying place in the men’s singles with both young and old stars battling through the early rounds for a place in the main draw.
World Junior Champion Bao Chunlai, and his more experienced compatriots Chen Gang and Luo Yigang all had to start their campaigns in the first stage thanks to the radical new format adopted by the organisers where only 32 places are available in the men’s singles main draw.In the women’s singles, only Chinese Taipei’s Shao-Chieh Cheng could break through the ''''Great Wall of China'''' to claim a place in the main draw. Her Win over Chen Yali sets her up for a clash with China’s Guo Xin. With the withdrawal of fifth seed, Denmark’s Camilla Martin and seventh seed Julia Mann of England, Tracey Hallam becomes Europe’s only entry in the women’s singles event.
In the men’s doubles the withdrawal of second seeds Michael Sogaard and Jim Laugesen provided a space in the main draw for England’s Nathan Robertson and Anthony Clark. The only drawback? A first round head-to-head with the mighty Kim Dong Moon and Ha Tae Kwon.
Malaysia’s men’s doubles pairing of Chang Kim Wai and Hong Chien Hun claimed the second non-Chinese qualifying spot with a convincing win over Sun Qi and Jiang Lai. They now line up against Lars Paaske and Martin Lundgaard Hansen of Denmark.
In the controversial women’s doubles qualifying, China’s top singles stars proved they could make the grade as doubles players too. World number one and reigning Chinasingles champion Zhou Mi teamed up with world number four Gong Zhichao in a bid to make the main draw – they didn’t disappoint. Their run of form may soon be at an end however, their first round match pits them against compatriots and world number one pair Gao Ling and Huang Sui.
Also demonstrating the adaptability of the Chinese game were Gong Ruina and Zhang Ning. Currently ranked two and three respectively in the singles the girls clearly found their styles complementary and they too qualified for the main draw. They now take on Denmark’s top doubles exponent Rikke Olsen who partners Mette Schjoldager.
Chinese pairings made a clean sweep of the mixed doubles qualification and now occupy 10 of the 16 places available in the main draw. With the withdrawal of Indonesia’s Bambang Suprianto the chances of a Chinese title look increasingly good. |
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Other news:
» Now Gopichand pulls out of Malaysian Open
» Xia, Martin have top billing at 2002 Malaysia Open
» Hafiz to take three-week break
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