CHINA MASTERS 2013 QF – Jorgensen keeps European flag flying

This China Masters marks the first time ever that the sports giant Adidas has sponsored a Superseries-level badminton tournament. While plagued by withdrawals from players having either injuries or playing at Chinese National Games, it was still a chance for upcoming Chinese players to test their mettle against the most experienced players on the circuit and for new pairings to feel each other out. As for Europe, only Jan O Jorgensen managed to make it to the quarter-final stage and he qualified for saturday’s semis.

By Kira Rin. Photo (archives): Badmintonphoto

Rising Japanese junior Kenta Momota was stopped in his tracks by the sole European left in the tournament, Denmark’s Jan O Jorgensen (photo). Both sides gambled heavily on their net play to gain points, but Jan came off with the win in the final set by virtue of having patience and a better stamina reserve than Kenta.

“I’m in the semi-final after a 3-set win over talented young guy Kento Momota from Japan. I thought I had him after winning the first set and being up in the second but he fought back and took the second. I kept cool and got a good start leading 11-3 and it was almost sealed. I’m happy to be in another semi-final.  I will play Wang Zhengming tomorrow! Lost to him last time, so I’m hoping to turn it around tomorrow,” Jorgensen wrote on his Facebook page.

Porntip Buranaprasertsuk (photo), who had disposed of 7^th-seeded Minatsu Mitani yesterday, overpowered Han Li, who had also eliminated another seeded player, Chinese Taipei Open winner Sung Ji Hyun. Porntip’s loud yells filled the air as she powered through with quick clears and smashes. Han could only sneak in some of her own attacks but was only moderately successful, and finally had to cede the game on an unsuccessfully contested shuttle that landed very close to the side line.

Only the seeded Chinese singles players, 1st seed Li Xuerui and 7^th seed Wang Zhengming made it through the quarters, with Zhengming taking revenge for Du Pengyu’s upset loss to Kazumasa Sakai.

The experienced Sho Sasaki overcame his younger compatriot Kenichi Tago to became the 2^nd Japanese player to secure a semi-final spot.  Earlier, Sayaka Takahashi had managed to come back from an 8-point deficit to secure the match within the second game 22-20.

The Great Wall of China Stands in doubles

China had a most successful outing today as it managed to win every doubles match it was placed in, securing 6 semi-final spots altogether.

Markis Kido and his new partner Gideon Markus Fernaldi were the first to crash head-on into the Great Wall of China, as they were stopped by Chai Biao and Hong Wei (photo), who had renewed their partnership after the World Championships. Not even the fast and angled attacks were enough to faze Chai and Hong, who were able to counter, then add their own attacks to the mix.

The versatile Yoo Yeon Seong put his long reach to use, seemingly effortlessly covering his front partner Eom Hye Won to dispose of Indonesia’s Lukhi Apri Nugroho / Annisa Saufika in 31 quick minutes, just 2 minutes slower than top seeds Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang, who methodically eliminated Greysia Polii and Nitya Krshinda Maheswari in the women’s doubles.

The women’s doubles pair of Jang Ye Na and Kim So Young became the only non-Chinese pair to feature in the women’s doubles semi-finals, as China assumed the other 3 spots.

Markis Kido and Pia Zebadiah Bernadeth were able to turn their doubles losses into a mixed win, taking the semi-final spot ahead of Shin Baek Cheol and Jang Ye Na. Of particular note was that Pia was able to taste sweet revenge against Jang Ye Na, who had denied her a women’s doubles semi-final spot earlier in the day.

To finish off the day, Korea’s top pair, Lee Yong Dae and Ko Sung Hyun proved that they still had the skills to play together at top level as they managed to secure a semi-final spot at the expense of Hirokatsu Hashimoto and Noriyasu Hirata, in 3 games.  In what is likely their last tournament together as a pair, before they do a partner swap with Shin/Yoo (see here), they have Liu Xiaolong / Qiu Zihan standing in their way.  Liu/Qiu have won all three of their matches this year against the world #1’s.

Click here for complete quarter-final results