Singapore Open: Chinese shuttlers win mixed doubles title

SINGAPORE, June 14 (Xinhua) -- China's duo Zheng Bo/Ma Jin defeated their teammates to triumph at the Singapore Open mixed doubles final on Sunday.

The fifth seed Zheng Bo/Ma Jin won the sixth seed Xie Zhongbo/Zhang Yawen 19-21, 21-19, 21-11.

The Aviva Open Singapore 2009, the fifth super series badminton event of the year, kicked off at Singapore Indoor Stadium on Tuesday. With a total prize of 200,000 U.S. dollars, the six-day event has brought together over 240 top players from 28 countries and regions.

Chinese shuttler Bao wins men's singles title at Singapore Open

China's Bao Chunlai hits a return to Thailand's Boonsak Ponsana during their finals match at the Aviva Open Singapore Super Series badminton tournament in Singapore June 14, 2009.(REUTERS)

China's Bao Chunlai holds aloft the winner's trophy as he celebrates after winning against Thailand's Boonsak Ponsana in their finals match at the Aviva Open Singapore Super Series badminton tournament in Singapore June 14, 2009. (REUTERS)

China's Bao Chunlai won against Thailand's Boonsak Ponsana in their finals match at the Aviva Open Singapore Super Series badminton tournament in Singapore June 14, 2009.

Official: Chinese team puts high hopes on Lin Dan to win Indonesia Open 2009

JAKARTA, June 17 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese team set high expectations on its Men's single shuttler Lin Dan to win Djarum Indonesia Open 2009 super series after he skipped the previous super series held in Singapore, a Chinese team official said here on Wednesday.

"Yes, we expect Lin Dan to seize the championship here," Xia Xuanze, the Chinese team Men's single coach told a press conference after the victory of Lin Dan against his Indonesian contender Andre Kurniawan Tedjono in straight two games 21-13, 22-20 here.

Xia said that Chinese team has its own strategy to face the international badminton championships throughout this year.

In the fifth super series Singapore Open 2009, Chinese maverick men's single shuttler Bao Chunlai seized the championship. He now absent in the sixth super series tournament that provides 250,000 U.S. dollars of rewards.

After receiving 'The Best Player' title in the Sudirman Cup 2009 held in Guangzhou, China May this year, the world's number three shuttler Lin Dan is expected to have fresh power and high spirit to seize the sixth super series championship, Xia added.

The Chinese coach added that Lin Dan is already customized with the atmosphere of badminton match in Indonesia with its "warm-hearted" audience, he said.

"A match with Taufik Hidayat would likely the most anticipated one. Among tough rivals in the tournament, Taufik could still be the toughest for Lin Dan," Xia said.

The 28 years old Taufik Hidayat, gold medalist in Athens 2004 Olympic Games, is now ranked number five in Badminton World Federation (BWF).

Should Lin Dan win the BWF-sanctioned tournament, he will be the first Chinese men's single shuttler to grab victory in international badminton championship held in Indonesia after 20 years.

The last Chinese men's single player won in Indonesia Open tournament was Xiong Guobao in 1989.

Chinese shuttlers victorious at Indonesia

JAKARTA, June 18 (Xinhua) -- Top Chinese players on Wednesday night advanced in the Indonesian Open badminton super series here.

The world's No. 2 Wang Yihan played her qualifying match against Dutch Judith Meulendijks, winning 21-14, 21-15.

China's Chen Jin, ranked sixth in the world, swept past in the qualifying match Malaysian contender Kuan Ben Hong 21-11, 21-11 in men's singles.

The world's No. 7 women's singles shuttler Lu Lan finished her match with a 21-11, 21-15 win over Maja Tvrdy from Slovenia.

Chinese shuttlers open second qualifying round with massive wins

JAKARTA, June 18 (Xinhua) -- All Chinese shuttlers easily finished their matches in two straight games in Indonesia Open super series' qualifying round here on Thursday.

Opening the qualifying match, world's No. 6 Mixed Double players Xie Zhongbo and Zhang Yawen casually defeated their Indonesian contenders Pia Zebadiah Bernadet and Fran Kurniawan Teng in two straight games 21-16 and 21-15.

In the next court, the other Chinese Mixed Double players Ma Jin and Zheng Bo, ranked No. 5, ended the game easily against Indonesian players Hendra Aprida Gunawan and Vita Marissa 21-16 and 21-12.

After winning the first game at 21-13, world's No. 3 women's single shuttler Wang Lin left the court with granted victory following the failure of her Indonesian contender Adriyanti Firdasari to continue the game due to knee injury.

Meanwhile, the world's No. 8 in women's single Xie Xingfang dominated the match against her Dutch contender Rachel van Cutsen 21-6 and 21-15.

Peter Hoeg Gade, the world's No. 2 player, had to go through a though three-game match to defeat Vietnamese player Tien Minh Nguyen with scores of 13-21, 21-19 and 21-14.

Indonesian Open 2009 is the sixth badminton super series sanctioned by World Badminton Federation that provides total reward of 250,000 U.S. Dollars.

All-China meets loom in quarterfinals of Indonesia Open

JAKARTA , June 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese badminton players maintained victorious momentum on Thursday at the Indonesia Open super series with domestic meets looming in the quarterfinals.

Lin Dan, world No. 3, defeated Hsieh Yu Hsing from China Taipei 21-12, 21-12 to set up an all-Chinese showdown against Chen Jin in the round of last eight on Friday. Chen Jin advanced after ousting Dutchman Dicky Palyama 23-21, 22-20.

In women's singles, world No. 2 Wang Yihan would face Chinese compatriot Lu Lan in the quarterfinals.

In another all-Chinese match, Cheng Zhu/Zhao Yulin and Zhang Yawen/Zhao Ting Ting will vie for a place in the women's doubles semifinals.

Cheng/Zhao came from one set down to beat Indonesians Nitya Krishida Maheswari/Greisya Polii 21-23, 21-11 and 21-8, while Zhang/Zhao thrashed Donna Kellogg/Imogen Bankier 21-11, 21-10.

Defending men's singles champion Sony Dwi Kuncoro defeated Wong Choon Hann of Malaysia 21-8, 21-12. The world No. 4 will next face Chan Yan Kit from Hong Kong, China in the quarterfinals on Friday.

Meanwhile, Indonesian top player Taufik Hidayat went through a tough match against Bonsak Ponsana of Thailand to book a berth in the quarterfinals, where he meets Peter Gade of Denmark.

"As I play at home, the chance to win against Gade would be fairly great. Support from the audience and my experiences vying him several times would be great assets to face my match tomorrow," said the 2004 Olympic champion.

Indonesian shuttlers urged to up game in Singapore Open

JAKARTA, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia expected much on its female badminton players to improve their performance from last year when they take part in this year's Singaporean Open, starting next Tuesday.

Indonesian women's doubles pairs Shendy Puspa Irawati/Meiliana Jauhari and Greysia Polii/Nitya Krishinda had to be content with a quarterfinal finish in last year's event. Coach Aryono Miranat blamed the poor performance on the players' lack of international experience.

"I have to admit our senior women's doubles players have limited tournament experience, so their game hasn't matured yet," he was quoted by the Jakarta Post as saying.

"The more tournaments a shuttler joins, the more mature their performance will be. That is what our women's doubles players lack; but hopefully they can improve in the Singapore Open," Aryono added.

World No. 7 Shendy/Meiliana and world No. 19 Greysia/Nitya will be part of the Indonesian contingent heading to Singapore and looking to recover from their failure in last month's Sudirman Cup.

"Regardless of the tough target, we must go for it," Aryono said.

Indonesia also has an outside chance in the women's singles, with coach Marleve Mainaky expecting at least a semifinal finish for Adriyanti Firdasari.

Mixed doubles coach Ri chard Mainaky is making the tournament, which runs from June 9 to 14, as a tryout for the country's top-ranked mixed doubles pair Nova Widianto and Liliyana Natsir.

The world No. 1 pair is focusing on the defense of the world championship in India on Aug. 10-16.

"The Singapore Open and the Indonesian Open from June 14-21 will be testing grounds for them to create a whole new playing pattern," Richard said recently.

Indonesia will also send Markis Kido/Hendra Setiawan, Rian Sukmawan/Yonatan Suryatama and Bona Septano/Muhammad Ahsan in the men's doubles; and last year's finalist Simon Santoso and Sony Dwi Kuncoro in the men's singles.

2nd round of women's singles at China Open

China's Guo Yue returns the ball during the second round of the women's singles against Hirano Sayaka of Japan at the China Open table tennis tournament in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, June 6, 2009. Guo won 4-0.(Xinhua/Jiang Fan)

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