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Xia crowned new WGPF champion
August 12, 2001 - Source : IBF
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Olympic bronze medallist Xia Xuanze took the Brunei World Grand Prix Finals title in style today, beating Marleve Mainaky in a thrilling men’s singles final to become the first Chinese men’s player to win a major title this year.
Xia looked inspired as he stepped on court, putting away some blistering smashes which left Mainaky floundering. The 29-year-old Indonesian later revealed that his tactic was to start the match at a fast pace, but quickly found out that Xia’s attack was too relentless and the former All England champion was soon two games ahead 7/4, 7/5.
 Mainaky regained his composure and confidence to pull the third game back 2/7, but it was the fourth which proved the most entertaining of the match. Finding his second wind, Xia stormed ahead to a 6-2 lead and could almost taste the win. But, as they say, it’s not over until it’s over and there was no way Mainaky was going to give up in front such a large crowd hugely biased in his favour.
It also helped that Xia had a spate of last-minute nerves, and instead of finding the court mat with his series of smashes and drives, he found the net tape time and time again. Mainaky drew level at 6-6, but after several errors and exchanges of serve on both sides, the 22-year-old Chinese found the winning shot, and took his victory bow – final score 7/4, 7/5, 2/7, 8/6 – after 49 minutes.
For Mainaky (pictured) the defeat was a bitter pill to swallow as it was the second year in a row he’d lost in the final of this event, but Xia hopes his victory will be a stepping stone to more success for the Chinese team.
“My shots were sharp and I was able to read my opponent’s game. It’s a great pleasure to win and great motivation for me.
“This win will also motivate the other Chinese players competing at the Singaporeand ABC (Asian Badminton Championships).”
Tri Kusharyanto and Minarti Timur were also unlucky losers for the second year in a row, after they were overpowered by Jens Eriksen and Mette Schjoldager – the only European representatives in all of the five finals.
It was an unexpected loss for the Indonesians who had looked sharp and focused throughout the week, and seemed to have the upper hand going into the first game. Both pairs looked nervous at the outset, and had a number of service faults called against them, but the Danes edged ahead to take the first game 8/7, and what followed took everyone by surprise. In straight games 8/7, 7/4, 7/4, Eriksen and Schjoldager won the World Grand Prix Finals title for Denmark – the nation’s first in doubles since 1996 when Michael Sogaard and Rikke Olsen won in Bali. Eriksen dropped to his knees with elation.
Schjoldager said afterwards; “I feel absolutely fanstastic. This is the greatest win we’ve ever had
We’ve played them twice before and I thought it would be much, much tougher.
The crowd were fantastic too. Even though they were cheering for the Indonesians, it’s great to play in that sort of atmosphere.”
The all-Chinese women’s finals saw Zhou Mi take a first world title over Olympic champion Gong Zhichao 7/5, 5/7, 7/1, 7/0, and in the doubles Huang Nanyan and Yang Wei – Olympic silver medallists - overcome compatriots Chen Lin and Jiang Xuelian 8/6, 7/3, 3/7, 7/3.
The men’s doubles final, which saw reigning champions Candra Wijaya and Tony Gunawan pitted against compatriots Halim Haryanto and Sigit Budiarto, was not quite the thriller most anticipated.
It was, however, a fast and furious affair with both pairs showing exactly why the Indonesians are on top of this discipline. Wijaya and Gunawan ended the contest efficiently 7/5, 8/6, 7/2 in just 30 minutes. Although showing great class throughout the match, Budiarto cut a despondent figure at his loss.
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