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Korea Open Badminton Championship Results, Seoul Korea for January 15th 2009

World number 1 Lee Chong Wei (in photo) is looking for his third consecutive title after impressive wins in Kota Kinabalu last month and the Malaysian Open last weekend.  It took him 56 minutes to take care of South Korean junior Hong Ji-hoon 21-11, 17-21, 21-15 in the first round.     
In other men’s action:  Saensomboonsuk beat Malaysian Pei Wee Chung 21-14, 21-11 in his first round match Wednesday. Arif defeated India’s Anand Pawar 21-14, 21-15 while Wei Feng overcame South Korean Kim Sa-rang 21-15, 21-12.

Fifth seed Joachim Persson of Denmark took out struggling former All-England champion Mohd Hafiz Hashim  21-13, 21-12. Sho Sasaki of Japan and Simon Santoso also moved on easily in their opening matches. Arvind Bhat’s tournament is over after losing to seventh seed Przemyslaw Wacha of Poland 21-11, 14-21, 21-23.

Advancing in the men’s doubles to the second round were former national pairs, Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah and Chan Chong Ming-Chew Choon Eng.

In women’s action: Julia Wong made it through her opening round match when she defeated India’s Aditi Mutatkar 21-9, 21-15.

Indonesia’s Pia Zebadiah Bernadet of Indonesia knocked off the Malaysian Open quarter- finalist Lydia Cheah 21-9, 21-16. Julia Wong from Malaysia will look to continue her bid for the title in a tough match against third seed out of Hong Kong, Wang Chen.

In mixed doubles competition India’s V.Diju and Jwala Gutta upset top seed Nova Widianto and Liliyana Natsir of Indonesia 21-10, 21-16, 21-9.  That impressive win earns them a spot in quarter final action.
 
Misc news:

-Head coach Rashid Sidek is being forced to review the play of Mohd Hafiz Hashim after a string of less then impressive performances.  After his latest loss in Seoul Rashid was quoted saying, It is disappointing really. It was a very poor showing and it is high time for me to discuss his future with Misbun,”  It appears as though his future with the Badminton Association of Malaysia is in serious jeopardy.

-In Kuala Lumpur national doubles player Mohd Zakry. Zakry, who injured his knee last month in Kota Kinabalu, had to ease up on his comeback after experiencing some pain in his injured left knee.  Zakry who is currently ranked fourth in the world with partner Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari, should have enough time to heal for the All-England and Swiss Open in March.

-At the Belgium Open, top seeded Angus Gilmour and partner Martin Campbell from Edinburgh are the new European (under 19) men’s champions, after handling Austrians Paul Demmelmayer and Bernd Thorman 21-17 21-15 to finish out the tournament.  They will now focus their attention on the European Junior Championships in Milan, Italy April 3-7.

-Gail Emms has agreed to become an ambassador for the sport of badminton, and a mentor to young players in her home country of England.  Emms who debuted in 1995, and represented England 68 times stated,   “I’m not here to coach but to inspire and motivate and I hope I can play my part in getting people involved in badminton at all levels.”  She will mostly work at the National Badminton Centre in Milton Keynes.

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