Wong crashes out in Korea

The expected final between the top two seeds Peter Gade of Denmark and Wong Choong Hann of Malaysia was upset today in Korea. Choong Hann lost in a simple two-game match to his compatriot and world ranked number 96 Ismail Saman. This was a disappointing match for Choon Han who appeared to lose motivation in the second game throwing the match away with a series of unforced errors. The unseeded Saman meets fellow Malaysian Rashid Sidek in the semi and the winner will face the victor from the match between Gade and 5th seeded Luo Yigang of China in Sunday’s final. Player of the Year Camilla Martin stands in good stead to take the title this week. She has comfortably seen off opposition from Kim Kyeung Ran of Korea, Judith Meulendijks of the Netherlands, and another Korea, Lee Kyung Won to book her place in the final against Japan’s Kanako Yonekura. World Grand Prix Finals Champions, Candra Wijaya and Tony Gunawan look lik taking the Men’s Doubles title, now that top seeds Ha Tae Kwon and Kim Dong Moon have been eliminated – the world number one pair failed to reach the quarter-finals, losing to the legendary Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky who go on to face compatriots Flandi Limpele and Eng Hian in the first semi-final. It won’t be easy for Wijaya and Gunawan to make the final – they’re playing convincingly and haven’t conceded a game yet, but Korea’s number two pair Lee Dong Soo and Yoo Yong Sung will be hoping for a steal on home soil when the pairs meet in the second semi. Huang Nanyan and Yang Wei fly the sole remaining flag for China in this tournament. They’ve reached the semis in the Women’s Doubles, and will face Korea’s Yim Kyung Jin and Lee Hyo Jung. Unsurprisingly, top seeds Ra Kyung Min and Chung Jae Hee occupy the other semi-final, and will play Ann-Lou Jorgensen and Mette Schjoldager of Denmark. A rematch of the Baiduri World Grand Prix Finals final awaits us in the Mixed event, with top seeds Kim Dong Moon and Ra Kyung Min firm favourites to take the title over Indonesia’s Tri Kusharyanto and Minarti Timur, as they did in Brunei.