VIETNAM OPEN 2010 QF – Intanon to face Chinese wall

Ratchanok Intanon is the sole fighter against China’s Armada in the women’s singles event in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where the Vietnam Grand Prix tournament is taking place this week.

The young Thai, deprived of participating in the recently held Youth Olympic Games proved her worth on the senior tour by beating no less than Indonesia’s Maria Kristin Yulianti – bronze medallist of the 2008 Olympic Games – to clinch her ticket for the semi-finals for her first time ever in a Grand Prix event. She will now face Liu Xin who, amazingly, is ranked below the 15-year-old Thai despite being the current Bitburger Open champion and Asian Championship runner-up.  The other semi-final is between Zhou Hui and Yao Xue of China as well.

In the men’s singles, a lot of surprises occured with the loss of the main favourite and title holder Nguyen Tien Minh who was beaten by unknown Chen Yuekun of China. No seeded players are left in the draw and the Chinese  have 3 shuttlers in the semis, leaving it to Hong Kong’s Wei Nan to trouble them.

Lee Wan Wah and Choong Tan Fook are still on course to win gold in the men’s doubles, while Ma Jin could make it another success with yet another partner in the women’s doubles – this time, youngster Zhong Qianxin and a possible double gold with He Hanbin in the mixed. The latter will take on Japan’s Shiota and Ikeda in the semi-final on Saturday.

All results HERE