Shuttlers set up all-Chinese finals
Source: Agencies |
August 16, 2009, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
OLYMPIC champion Lin Dan passed a stiff test against Sony Dwi Kuncoro to move one step away from capturing a record hat-trick of world titles yesterday.
The player nicknamed "Super Dan" ended Indonesian hopes in the singles by downing sixth seed Kuncoro 21-14, 13-21, 21-15 to set up an all-Chinese final against world No. 2 Chen Jin in Hyderabad, India.
Second seed Chen muscled his way past former champion Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia, routing the fourth seed 21-16, 21-6 in 39 minutes in an awesome display of power and precision.
The women's final will also have a Chinese winner after twice former champion and sixth seed Xie Xingfang overcame eighth seed Pi Hongyan, a Chinese-born French player, 21-18, 21-8.
Xie will face seventh seed Lu Lan, who upset compatriot and world No. 2 Wang Lin 21-18, 21-19 in the other semifinal.
Lin, 25, praised Kuncoro and was happy China will be the winner today.
"Sony was playing tactfully, not allowing me to finish off quickly," he told reporters, adding: "It does not matter who wins, China is assured of the gold medal."
Fifth seed Lin, world champion in 2006 and 2007, was subdued early on but steadily took control by drawing Kuncoro to the net to finish off points. However, Kuncoro bounced back in the second game when he kept Lin off the net and engaged him in longer rallies to force errors.
Lin displayed his class in the decider to edge clear of the tiring Kuncoro, who hit wide twice in a row to end the contest.
Hidayat, the 2004 Olympic champion, countered the 23-year-old Chen's power initially with his crafty approach, but the taller Chinese took charge in the later stages, hammering powerful smashes to the Indonesian's forehand and body.
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