Martin, Sun reach World C'ships finals

COPENHAGEN (JP): Danish women's singles player Camilla Martin surprised many by upsetting China's second-seeded Gong Ruina 6- 11, 11-9, 11-3 in a thrilling 50-minute match before a 4,000- strong crowd in the Brondby Hall here on Saturday afternoon.

Ruina won the first game 11-6, but failed to finish off the match when she gave the second game to Martin. In the decider, third-seeded Martin led 6-2 before Gong could add another point. The 18-year-old Chinese spoiled her chances, making many mistakes to let Martin end the match 11-3.

"Actually I didn't sleep well last night. I felt something was wrong with my body especially in the first set. But I refused to give up before the home crowd. I kept playing and became better in the second game. I saw her become tired and make unforced errors," said the 25-year-old Dane.

"I was very tired in the second set but Gong wanted to pause between plays, which didn't give her benefit as the crowd shouted at the Chinese."

Martin will meet the winner of the match between Dai Yun of China and Mette Sorensen of Denmark.

"Right now I don't care about tomorrow. It's not certain that I'm going to meet her. If I have to meet Dai Yun tomorrow, I have learned her playing from our last meet. I won't change my playing," she said.

"I think I played well in both the Sudirman Cup and World Championships. I think the Chinese shuttlers were not highly concentrating for both events. I am happy to show the Chinese team that it's not the same old story," said the girlfriend of world No. 1 Peter Gade Christensen.

"I never mention my target in the championships other than to him."

Martin has been seeing a psychologist to help her overcome the pressure of her matches.

"The last time I met him, he told me that I can walk on the Chinese Wall. So I think they are just humans not unbeatable giants."

China has six top seeds in the championships.

Gong declined to attend the press conference, but coach Tang Zuehua said Martin played well in the second and third games.

"They have never met before but Gong failed to overcome the pressure and she became more nervous. Maybe because she's still young," he said.

Unforced errors

In the men's singles, home favorite Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen crashed to the 1997 championships semifinalist Sun Jun of China 4-11, 6-11.

Hoyer-Larsen, at 33 the eldest seeded in the tournament, said: "I was too slow and it's easy for him to push me on the court. I couldn't keep my speed like I did yesterday and I made many unforced errors."

"I was a little bit disappointed but I was too passive on the court. I felt my left thigh was weaker because yesterday Hendrawan of Indonesia forced me to take low balls during the match. But Sun had a great defense and he played much better than I did today."

Hoyer-Larsen, who planned to retire if he won the championships, said he would take another chance to qualify for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

"I'd like to try to qualify for the Olympics because I want to say goodbye at the quadrennial event. I still feel that I have a good match in me. I'm still among the top players."

Sun said he had an easy match against Hoyer-Larsen.

"I played him many times and I only lost once. I understand him very well and I was not nervous at all."

Sun said he was looking forward to meeting Gade Christensen in the final. Gade Christensen still has to face Fung Permadi of Chinese Taipei in the semifinals on Saturday evening.

"I beat him in the Sudirman Cup final and I hope I can win again this time."

Sun lost to Dane Peter Rasmussen in the championships final two years ago.

Sun's coach Tong Sinfu said: "When he saw the drawing, he felt that he would manage to the final. He usually wins easily to Hoyer-Larsen."

South Korean women's doubles Ra Kyung-min and Chung Jae-hee won a place in the final after defeating Danish pair Ann Jorgensen and Majken Vange 15-10, 7-15, 15-10.

Ra and Chung will meet defending champions Ge Fei and Gu Jun in Sunday's final. Ge and Gu beat compatriots Qin Yiyuan and Gao Ling in another all-Chinese semifinal 15-6, 15-7. (yan)

Results (x-denotes seedings):

Men's singles: 2-Sun Jun (Chn) bt 4-Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen (Den) 15-4, 15-6

Women's singles: 3-Camilla Martin (Den) bt 2-Gong Ruina (Chn) 6-11, 11-9, 11-3

Women's doubles: 15-Ra Kyung-min/Chung Jae-hee bt 4-Ann Jorgensen/Majken Vange (Den) 15-10, 7-15, 15-10; 2-Ge Fei/Gu Jun (Chn) bt 5-Qin Yiyuan/Gao Ling (Chn) 15-6, 15-7