Gade Christensen, Martin score wins
Gade Christensen, Martin score wins
JAKARTA (JP): Men's and women's singles defending champions
Peter Gade Christensen and Camilla Martin are one step closer to
retaining their titles in the opening tournament of the
International Badminton Federation (IBF) Grand Prix Series at the
US$250,000 Samsung Korea Open in Hanra Gymnasium on Cheju Island,
South Korea.
Top seed Gade Christensen, who is now the world number two,
ousted All England winner and world number five Xia Xuanze of
China 15-8, 15-10 in Saturday's semifinals. The Danish 24 year
old will meet with Chinese young star Xiao Hui in the final.
Unseeded Xiao killed the hopes of South Korean spectators of
seeing their young hero Lee Hyun-il reach the final after
outclassing the host player 15-6, 15-9.
World champion Martin, who off court is Gade Christensen's
girlfriend, also managed grab her final ticket after sending home
Zeng Yaqiong of China 11-4, 11-3.
Martin will be challenged by host shuttler and fourth seed Kim
Ji-hyun on Sunday. The South Korean was too powerful for Chinese
young starlet Xie Xinfang, winner of the 2000 Asian Badminton
Championships, and won 11-7, 13-11.
Host South Korea ensured a title in the all-Korean men's
doubles final between Olympics silver medalists Lee Dong-soo and
Yoo Yong-sung and Olympics bronze medalists Kim Dong-moon and Ha
Tae-kwon.
Lee and Yoo defeated Jesper Larsen and Jens Eriksen of Denmark
15-10, 15-10 while Kim and Ha won over Jim Laugesen and Michael
Sogaard also of Denmark 15-12, 15-8.
Should Lee and Yoo win Sunday's match, they will retain their
title. Last year they beat Indonesian Ricky Subagja and Rexy
Mainaky, who have switched to a coach for the England team.
South Korea is also placing two pairs in the women's doubles
and mixed doubles.
A new partnership of Ra Kyung-min and Kim Kyeung-ran will
challenge top seeds Huang Nanyan and Yang Wei of China on Sunday.
Ra and Kim crushed compatriots Yim Kyung-jin and Lee Hyo-jung
15-7, 15-3 while Huang and Yang had to exert themselves to
overcome Lee Kyung-won and Chung Jae-hee 8-15, 15-12, 15-9.
In the mixed doubles, defending champions and third seeds Kim
Dong-moon and Ra Kyung-min will challenge Olympics gold medalists
Zhang Jun and Gao Ling of China.
Kim and Ra eliminated Michael Sogaard and Rikke Olsen of
Denmark 15-5, 15-8 while Zhang and Gao defeated Ha Tae-kwon and
Chung Jae-hee of South Korea 15-11, 15-8. (yan)