CHINA NATIONAL GAMES – Jiangsu to Appear in Both Finals
Posted by valsus on October 18, 2009
Source : http://www.badzine.info
Both the men’s and women’s teams of Jiangsu had successful outings on Sunday at the team semi-finals of the China National Games when they triumphed over Guangdong and Hunan 3-0 and 3-2 respectively. The finals will be played on October 13th.
Cai gets the Better of Partner Fu
The Jiangsu men’s team, defending champions in Qingdao, had an easier task than their female counterparts. Cai Yun and company defeated last year’s runner-up Guangdong in the first semi-final.
Li Yu chalked up the first point for Jiangsu when he beat reigning World Junior Champion Wang Zhengming of Guangdong in two straight games 21-14, 21-15. Next, current world champions Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng (pictured above shaking hands) really put their friend- and partner-ship on hold when they appeared on opposite camps for the first men’s doubles showdown.
Cai Yun, partnering Xu Chen, another national team player, took the toughChinagames-Chen Jin first game 21-19. In the second game, Fu Haifeng and partner Zhu Lihua, the weakest link among the four, did not play better than the first game and lost 12-21 in the second game ceding the match. Jiangsu had a comfortable lead at 2-0. “I am so familiar with Fu. Whoever will win depends on his form,” Cai told the Xinhua news agency.
Playing under no pressure, world no. 4 Chen Jin (photo) booked Jiangsu’s ticket to the finals when he easily overcame Zhu Pengxiang 21-15, 21-15.
In the 2nd semi-final, Fujian beat Liaoning 3-1 to enter the final. It was a very joyous victory for Fujian, who made it to the final after a twelve-year drought. The line-up of Fujian consists of singles players Chen Long and Chen Hong and doubles players Guo Zhengdong & Liu Xiaolong.
Rematch of World Championships in the Cards
For the first time in 12 years, Jiangsu made it to the final of the women’s team event. In the first semi-final, they had to struggle and work hard to overcome Hunan 3-2.
Jiangsu’s Lu Lan (photo), world No. 8, defeated Shi Xiaoqian of Hunan, to start on a winning note for Jiangsu. After the next three matches, Hunan managed to even the score 2-2. In the decider, heroine Wang Rong of Jiangsu easily beat Asian Junior Champion Chen Xiaojia of Hunan, sending Jiangsu to the finals.
Chinagames-Lu LanIn the second semifinal, Guangdong beat Hubei 3-0. Veteran Liu Jian, the Thirty-two-year-old who won this year’s Thailand Open, beat Chen Xi 21-12, 21-11 to clinch the first point for Gaungdong. The second was won by Yang Wei / Zhang Jiewen. Xia Jingyun wrapped up the match 3-0 by beating the opponent Li Wen at 21-18, 21-14, helping Guangdong to a 3-0 victory.
This means Xie Xingfang and Lu Lan – best players of Guangdong and Jiangsu will face each other in Tuesday’s final – for a rematch of the World Championship final in Hyderabad, where the younger overcame her elder team-mate.
Hubei and Guangdong win Bronze
In the bronze medal play-off, Hubei beat Hunan 3-1 and scooped the remaing hardware in the women’s team competition, while Guangdong finished third in the men’s after beating Liaoning 3-1.
The finals will be played on Tuesday, October 13th for the women’s team event, while the men’s team competition will finish up the following day.
