China gains three titles at Asian c'ships
China gains three titles at Asian c'ships
JAKARTA (JP): South Korea and Malaysia denied China a clean sweep in the finals of the Asian Badminton Championships in Beijing, which finished on Saturday.
Despite making it into the finals in all of the five events, China managed to grab only three titles, already in hand when it ensured all-Chinese finals in the women's singles, doubles and the mixed doubles on Thursday.
South Korea's Park Sung-woo beat world number 12, Sun Jun, with identical scores of 15-8, 15-8. In a low-spirited battle, Park exercised control over Sun with his swift, unexpected changes from defensive to attacking positions. Park's painstaking accuracy and self-control often put Sun Jun in difficult positions and forced him to return haphazardly.
Park powered his way to victory over Sun Jun after overcoming China's sixth-seed Don Jiong in the semifinals and sending Indonesia's Olympic champion and top seed Alan Budikusuma crashing out of the quarterfinals on Thursday.
The other title China lost was the men's doubles, in which Cheah Soon Kit and Yap Kim Hock of Malaysia knocked off Huang Zhanzhong and Jiang Xin 7-15, 15-8, 15-7.
In the women's singles, China's number one Ye Zhaoying trashed compatriot Yao Yan 11-2, 11-0. Gu Jun and Ge Fei routed Qian Yiyuan and Tang Yongshu 15-1, 15-4 in the women's doubles. Liu Jianjun and Ge Fei defeated Jiang Xin and Zhang Jin 15-4, 12-15, 15-5 in the mixed doubles.
Following Alan's quarterfinals exit, Indonesia, which fielded its second stringers, was only able to reach the semifinals of the men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles.
Officials of other teams said Indonesia could have dominated the tournament if their top players, currently preparing for May's world championships, had taken part. (arf)
Results:
Men's singles Park Sung-woo (Kor) bt Sun Jun (Chn) 15-8 15-8
Women's singles Ye Zhaoying (Chn) bt Yao Yan (Chn) 11-2 11-0
Men's doubles Cheah Soon Kit/Yap Kim Hock (Mal) bt Huang Zhanzhong/Jiang Xin (Chn) 7-15 15-8 15-7
Women's doubles Ge Fei/Gu Jun (Chn) bt Qin Yiyuan/Tang Yongshu (Chn) 15-1 15-4
Mixed doubles Liu Jianjun/Ge Fei (Chn) bt Jiang Xin/Zhang Jin (Chn) 15-4 12-15 15-5.