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Wong stumbles after brave fight
September 23, 2001 - Source : IBF
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A first ever Chinatitle for Malaysia was always going to be a long shot for Wong Choong Hann, but the 24-year-old Commonwealth gold medallist was not going to go without a fight.
Wong, 24, became the first Malaysian since Misbun Sidek in 1986 to reach the China final when he beat youngster Guo Jianhua at the Youngor Super Grand Prix in Ningbo yesterday to set up a final bout with World Grand Prix Final and Asian champion Xia Xuanze. With it went the responsibility of preventing a clean sweep of all five titles by the host nation.
Although Wong and Xia have clashed on numerous occasions, the 23-year-old Chinese has always come out on top, and this time it was no different. It was a well-matched contest, but Olympic bronze medallist Xia was the more aggressive and his fearsome attacks paid off, but not before the match went to the full five games, concluding 7/3, 3/7, 7/2, 5/7 7/4.
While world number one Xia can enjoy the euphoria of a third consecutive title, Wong must settle for a runners-up prize for the second time in a month, as he lost in the Singaporefinal to Taufik Hidayat in August. But after a year of inconsistent form through injury, the Malaysian is ever closer to winning his first title since the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur three years ago.
In the women’s singles, Zhou Mi stormed to a straight games win over Gong Ruina 7/2, 7/0, 7/4 in a reversal of the World Championship final in Seville in June, and thus tightened her grip on the world number one spot.
Also silver medallists in Seville, Zhang Jiewen and Wei Yili claimed the women’s doubles title over compatriots and second seeds Huang Nanyan and Yang Wei after four closely-fought games 8/6, 7/3, 6/8, 8/7, while Liu Yong failed to add the men’s doubles title to his win in the mixed event yesterday.
Liu and partner Chen Qiqiu - who pulled off the shock of the tournament yesterday when they beat top seeds Candra Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto - got off to a slow start against teammates Zhang Wei and Zhang Jun, and dropped the first game 7/1 before settling down and adjusting to the pace. But although exerting the pressure throughout the five games, Zhang and Zhang walked away with the win, depriving Liu of his double.
With the Chinese taking a full clutch of titles on home soil, all eyes will now look towards next week’s 1* Hong Kongand the European series of Grand Prix events - starting with the Germanin two week’s time - to see whether the rest of the badminton world can try and match up to the tough Chinese standards.
Results:
Men’s Singles
Xia Xuanze (CHN) beat Wong Choong Hann (MAS) 7/3, 3/7, 7/2, 5/7 7/4
Women’s Singles
Zhou Mi (CHN) beat Gong Ruina (CHN) 7/2, 7/0, 7/4
Men’s Doubles
Zhang Wei & Zhang Jun (CHN) beat Liu Yong & Chen Qiqiu (CHN) 7/1, 4/7, 8/6, 4/7, 7/5
Women’s Doubles
Zhang Jiewen & Wei Yili (CHN) beat Huang Nanyan & Yang Wei (CHN) 8/6, 7/3, 6/8, 8/7
Mixed Doubles (played Saturday, 22 September)
Liu Yong & Chen Lin (CHN) beat Michael Sogaard & Rikke Olsen (DEN) 4/7, 8/7, 8/7, 7/5
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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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