Date:11/03/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/03/11/stories/2007031106411800.htm

Sport - Badminton

Lin reaches final

BIRMINGHAM: Lin Dan, the top-seeded title-holder, came within one win of completing a successful defence of the all-England Open badminton by triumphing in the first of two all-Chinese semifinal battles.

Lin won 21-14, 21-1 against Bao Chunlai, both a compatriot and a fellow left-hander.

China occupied all four semifinal places, which was the history-making background to a contest full of wonderful strokes and light-footed court coverage by Lin and Bao, but lacking in adrenalin and uncertainty.

Lin took early leads of 9-3 and 13-5, before Bao, revealing his capacity for elastic movement with angular round-the-head shots, came back entertainingly to 12-16 and 13-17. In the final, Lin will meet Chen Yu who beat Chen Jin 21-18, 9-21, 21-13.

The results: Men: Semifinal: Lin Dan (Chn) bt Bao Chunlai (Chn) 21-14, 21-16; Chen Yu bt Chen Jin 21-18, 9-21, 21-13. Quarterfinals: Lin Dan (Chn) bt Sony Dwi Kuncoro (Ina) 18-21, 21-11, 21-18; Chen Yu (Chn) bt Lee Chong Wei (Mal) 21-19, 22-20; Bao Chunlai (Chn) bt Shoji Sato (Jap) 21-10, 8-21, 21-12; Chen Jin (Chn) bt Kenneth Jonassen (Den) 21-19, 21-19.

Doubles: Semifinals: Cai Yun/ Fu Haifeng (Chn) bt Tony Gunawan/ Candra Wijaya (USA/ Ina) 18-21, 21-19, 21-18; Koo Kien Keat/ Tan Boon Heong (Mas) bt Jens Eriksen/ Martin Lundgaard (Den) 21-15, 21-13.

Women: Singles: Semifinals: Xie Xingfang (Chn) bt Zhu Lin (Chn) 21-14, 21-19; Pi Hongyan bt Zhang Ning 21-18, 21-23, 24-22. Quarterfinals: Xie Xingfang (Chn) bt Jiang Yanjiao (Chn) 21-8, 21-17; Zhu Lin (Chn) bt Xu Huaiwen (Ger) 19-21, 21-19, 21-17; Pi Hongyan (Fra) bt Wang Chen (HK) 19-21, 21-18, 21-11; Zhang Ning (Chn) bt Wong Mew Choo (Mal) 21-17, 21-15.

Doubles: Semifinals: Wei Yili/ Zhang Yawen (Chn) bt Gao Ling/ Huang Sui (Chn) 21-9, 19-21, 21-14. — Agencies