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Korean Open Badminton Championships, Seoul Korea Jan 16th 2009

In a thrilling quarter-final match Sung Wang did everything he could to end Lee Chong Wei's impressive play, but it just wasn't enough in th end.  Sung Wang was up 8-4 in the third game, however Chong Wei nailed six points in a row to end the tally at  18-21, 21-7, 21-16.  It took 59 minutes for Chong Wei ti increase his career record against Sung Hwan to 9-1.

In other men's action:  Simon Santosa of Indonesia stayed alive in the tournament for another day beating his countryman Andre   Kurniawan Tedjono 21-6, 21-8.  He will now face Denmark's Peter Gade Christensen in the semi-final.  Christensen struggled against virtual unknown Shon Wan Ho of South Korea 21-13, 9-21, 21-17 in 55 minutes.
Men's Doubles: Veterans Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah went down to Fang Chieh Min-Lee Sheng Mu of Taiwan in 26 minutes. 
21-14, 22-20. The strong South Korean duo of Jung Jae Sung-Lee Yong Dae beat Han Sang Hoon-Shin Baek Cheol 21-14, 21-13. The South Koreans are looking for their fourth title in five tournaments.
In Women's action:  Julia Wong fell short to third seed Wang Chen of Hong Kong  21-14, 15-21, 21-5 in 39 minutes.  France's Pi Hongyan was trailing 13-18 in the first game and managed to turn things around to edge out Zhou Mi.  Mi was leading during most of the second game, but Pi went the distance in the third to win 23-21, 19-21, 21-12. In the last singles match of the day, Tine Rasmussen continued to climb to the number one spot, coming back from one game down to beat Indonesia’s Adriyanti Firdasari. 
Women's Doubles:  For the second week in a row two time Chinese champions Yang Wei and Zhang Jiewen lost, as they were defeated by Lee Hyo Jung and Lee Kyung Won of Korea.  Lee Hyo Jung used her size and strength to pound away at the Chinese ladies on home court to win a  21-16, 18-21, 21-10 victory, to advance to their second straight final.  

Mixed Doubles:  V. Diju-Jwala Gutta of India took out Wijaya Rendra-Meiliana Jauhari 21-17, 16-21, 21-9.  The Koreans Lee Yong-dae-Lee Hyo-jung (pictured) beat Indonesians Fran Kurniawan-Shendy Puspa Irawati 21-11, 21-11.   In other quarter-final action A. Songphon-V. Kunchala of Thailand defeated Joachim Fischer Nielsen and Christinna Pedersen of Denmark 17-21, 21-19, 21-18.  In the last quarter-final match Yohan Hadiukusumo Wiratama and partner Chau Hoi Wah from Hong Kong beat Robert Blair and Imogen Bankier (England/Scotland) 24-22, 21-18. 

 
Misc news: 
-Today Badminton England teamed up with every Premier League football club to try to increase its participaction.  It will offer thousands of young kids between the ages of 11 and 16 to have the opportunity to play the sport.  Supported by Sport England and the Youth Sport Trust, the initiative is being funded by the Government.  Young badminton hopefuls got the chance to take to the court with 

Badminton England Ambassador and former Olympic silver medalist Gail Emms, and England international and Tottenham star Jonathon Woodgate.  Adrian Christy, Badminton England Chief Executive stated,   “We are delighted to be involved with this unique and exciting project."   

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