TUC 2010 Quarterfinals – Asian flavours, European spices

By Jan Lin and Selina Ng, reporting ‘live’ from Kuala Lumpur. Photos: Badmintonphoto (live)

If European champions Denmark’s treat of a down-to-the-wire affair with the hosts wasn’t enough, the German men and Russian ladies made the money worth it for the spectators as they refused to be annihilated by their respective Asian counterparts, Japan and Korea.

Marc Zwiebler (pictured right) and Ella Diehl, who spearheaded the respective German and Russian charge, came close to drawing first blood for their teams. Diehl came back from an abysmal first set to take Bae Seung Hee to a tiebreaker before bowing out 9-21, 21-19, 14-21.

Up against Japanese young sensation Kenichi Tago, Germany’s world number 19 Zwiebler was a face of bravery to steal the first set 15-21 but couldn’t resist the Japanese mental toughness as the recent European bronze medallist lost the next two sets 18-21, 18-21.

“It’s disappointing because we actually had a very favourable draw,” Zwiebler said. “I knew it was going to be hard but I feel comfortable during the game. I was struggling with the draft in the second set and Tago looked more tired than I was.”

Zwiebler conceded that it was mentally very tough for him in the tiebreaker and at the crucial 18-all juncture in the third game, the crowd’s vociferous presence affected his concentration, as a result, he committed three consecutive unforced errors to lose the game and the chance to give his team a crucial 1-0 lead.

Yet, neither the German men nor the Russian ladies were ready to just pack up. The first doubles of both teams showed their mettle to treat the spectators to two delectable doubles competitions.

While Russia’s Valeria Sorokina / Nina Vislova fell 23-21, 9-21, 22-24 to Lee Hyo Jung /Kim Min Jung, Germany’s Michael Fuchs / Kristof Hopp powered past Endo Hiroyuki / Hirobe Yoshiteru 16-21, 21-19, 24-22. But despite the willing hearts, Germany soon proved to be out of depth as Sho Sasaki and doubles pair of Kenichi Hayakawa / Kenta Kazuno took the next 2 points for Japan. The Russian resistance continued when world number 45 Bibik Tatjana (pictured left) played her guts out to upset Sung Ji Hyun 21-12, 8-21, 21-14 and kept the tie alive.

Russia’s doubles ace Anastasia Russkikh then teamed up with Ksenia Polikarpova hoping to create a miracle that was not to be as Ha Jung Eun / Jung Kyung Eun held their nerves to deliver the winning point 21-16, 21-12.

Korea will play Japan in the semi-finals at 12pm on Thursday, while Indonesia takes on China, who beat India 3-0 in the quarterfinals, at 6pm.