KUALA LUMPUR, 18 August 2007 — China’s world No. 1 Lin Dan stormed into the semifinals of the world badminton championships yesterday, as Malaysia suffered yet more heartache in their quest to win a first-ever title.
Defending champion Lin was pushed in the first game against rising Indian star Anup Sridhar, but soon took a stranglehold on the match to win 22-20, 21-9.
“He’s quite a complete player, one of the fittest guys around and it’s difficult to break down his defense,” said Sridhar of the Chinese number one.
Malaysia’s chances of securing an elusive title were almost destroyed as three of their four hopefuls, including doubles stars Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong, were dumped from the quarterfinals.
Koo and Tan, the No. 2 seeds and Malaysia’s great hopes, were beaten by Japanese national champions Shuichi Sakamoto and Shintaro Ikeda in an enthralling three-game encounter.
After losing the first, they fought back to win the second, but a string of mistakes, including on match point when Koo completely missed the shuttle, cost them the match.
Japanesse coach Park Joo-Bong praised his charges but conceded that the Malaysian pair made “quite a lot of mistakes.” The defeat follows world number three Lee Chong Wei’s shock upset in the third round of the men’s singles of this wildly unpredictable tournament.
Veteran doubles pair Choong Tan Fook and Lee Wan Wah are the only Malaysians left standing after they downed China’s world number ones Fu Haifeng and Cai Yun in a three-game thriller.
Spurred on by a deafening home crowd, the No. 6 seeds produced some powerful badminton to triumph 15-21, 21-18, 19-21.
“The crowd made a lot of difference, we really have them to thank,” Lee said. “We hope there are two more matches of better performance to come.”
After losing their doubles duo, and other stars during the week, China tightened their grip on the men’s and women’s singles.
Lin faces a semi-final showdown with teammate Bao Chunlai who trounced Denmark’s Kenneth Jonassen in a clinical display of badminton.
China’s sixth seed Chen Yu also walked all over Singapore’s Ronald Susilo.
Chen now takes on Indonesia’s Sony Dwi Kuncoro, the only player left to halt the Chinese charge in the men’s singles.
The Indonesian sent Peter Gade packing in a fiery match that left the Danish champion with a yellow card when he hit an advertising board with his racquet in frustration.
Kuncoro, who claimed Malaysian Lee’s scalp earlier this week, said he was confident of his chances against the Chinese juggernaut.
“I think I’m good enough to win the championship, I’m prepared and ready,” the ninth seed said.
In the women’s singles, China’s world number one Zhang Ning secured a semi-final spot after a near flawless display of badminton against England’s Tracey Hallam.
Zhang, seeking to reclaim the crown she lost in 2005, takes on Hong Kong’s Wang Chen after she walked all over France’s Pi Hongyan.
China’s fifth seed Zhu Lin also fought off Malaysian darling Wong Mew Choo in three games despite the raucous home crowd screaming her on.
The softly spoken Wong upset two-time defending champion Xie Xingfang in the third round, but her dream run came to an end yesterday.
China’s Zhu plays teammate Lan Yu who fought off a ferocious challenge from Germany’s Xu Huaiwen, a former China squad member, to eventually win 21-9, 12-21, 21-16.
In women’s doubles, Japan’s Kumiko Ogura and Reiko Shiota downed Taiwan’s Chou Chia Chi and Ku Pei-Ting.
China’s Yang Wei and Zhang Jiewen defeated Malaysia’s Wong Pei Tty and Chin Eei Hui. Defending mixed doubles champions Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms of England were dumped in their quarter-final against Indonesia’s sixth seeds Flandy Limpele and Vita Marissa.
