Controversial pairs to meet in South Korea
SEOUL (AFP) – Controversial women’s badminton pairings from China and South Korea who were booted out of the London Games in a “play-to-lose” scandal will face each other in the semifinals of the Korea Open Saturday.
China’s Yu Yan and Wang Xiaoli, and South Korea’s Jung Kyung-Eun and Kim Ha-Na will meet in a rematch of their bizarre Olympic encounter, which saw the players booed off court after the Chinese lost in straight sets.
In total, eight female badminton players, from China, South Korea and Indonesia were disqualified from the Games for trying to lose matches in order to secure a more favourable draw in the next phase.
After beating Bao Yixin and Tian Qing of China 21-11, 21-18 in the Korea Open Super Series Premier tournament, Jung said she was looking forward to once again meeting Yu and Wang, who went through on a walkover.
“At the Olympics, we didn’t play a proper match,” she said. “Tomorrow, we’re going to try to beat them with our skills.
In the men’s singles, world number one Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia defeated Hu Yun of China, 21-15, 21-17, to get closer to his second consecutive Korea Open title.
Lee could have a clear path to the top of the podium, with his archrival, Lin “Super” Dan of China, missing in action.
Lin hasn’t played since edging out Lee for the Olympic gold in London last summer, citing fatigue and preparation for his wedding in September.
At last year’s Korea Open, only Lee’s victory over Lin in the men’s singles final prevented a clean Chinese sweep.
In the men’s doubles, the top-seeded Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen of Denmark beat the South Korean duo of Kim Ki-Jung and Kim Sa-Rang, 21-15, 21-10.
And in the women’s singles, third-seed Saina Nehwal of India fell to Han Li of China 21-14, 15-21, 21-12, leaving all top three seeds gone and the competition wide open.
The number one seeded mixed doubles team, Xu Chen and Ma Jin, dispatched Chris Adcock and Gabrielle White of England, 21-13, 21-17, in their quarter-final match.
