Lee Hyun Ill beating China’s former World Champion, Chen Jin

Korea’s most experienced shuttler, Lee Hyun Ill had to work hard to win his Men’s Singles semi-final after beating China’s former World Champion, Chen Jin in the 2011 Korea Open Grand Prix Gold, in Korea, on Saturday, December 10.

2011 Korea Open Grand Prix Gold
Lee Hyun Il

The left-handed Korean delivered phenomenal performance in the opening set of the match. While, Chen Jin struggled hard to find a good flow but failed to anticipate the variations of his world number 11 Korean rival. The Korean set up a good lead in the opening games with a score 21-17.

But Chen Jin played wonderful badminton in the opening second set and easily took it with an impressive margin. He was perfect in his shot selection as his strokes laded in the right areas of his opponent’s court. Chen Jin force the rubber games after taking this games 21-13.

In the last games, Lee Hyun played in the similar style as he maintained his pressure on Chen Jin, who tried to put up strong resistance but failed to level the match as his opponent was playing far better badminton. Lee Hyun played at his best speed and remained successful in taking the game with a tight score of 21-18.

Lee Hyun, who is the third seed, finished up the match in rubber games by working for one hour 20 minutes in the court.

In the final Lee Hyun will face his compatriot Wan Ho Shon, who defeated the 22-year-old Arif, who is currently World Number 64 in the other semi-final in the 2011 Korea Open Grand Prix Gold

World champion Chen Jin crashes out

World champion Chen Jin became the second big name to be shown the door at the Yonex All England Open Badminton Championships at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham. China’s Chen Jin suffered a startling sudden second round collapse.  

Chen Jin, was eliminated at the same stage in the second round of the PROTON Malaysia Open and VICTOR Korea Open in straight set.

Showing no respect for the greatest world champion, Germany’s Marc Zwieber outplayed Chen Jin, victory in the second round of YONEX All England Championship. Germany’s triumphed in 47 minutes. The Germany outplayed Chen Jin 21-18, 22-20 to set up a quarter-final and match-up against Japan’s Kazushi Yamada.


"I didn't expect to lose," Chen said. "But I was not in good form today. I don't know what happened. I played really bad especially with my overhead shots."

In another match, Yamada surprised to beat second seed Taufik Hidayat in the opening round. In second round he continued his giant killing act when he ousted former world junior champion Wang Zhengming in three thrilling games. Yamada looked a great form during a 21-15, 19-21, 21-16 win over Wang Zhengming.

Wang Zhengming, who has risen quickly up the world rankings, lost the first game 21-15 but came back strongly to level the match with a 21-19 victory. The decider was quite close until Yamada found his second wind to win 21-16 to end the 56-minute match.

The YONEX All England Championships is among five Premier events in the 12-leg OSIM BWF World Superseries and offers a total prize money of USD350,000. It is the second OSIM BWF World Superseries Premier tournament of the year.

The OSIM BWF World Superseries is a series of 12 tournaments, including five Premier competitions and will culminate with the season ending World Superseries Finals in December where the top eight players and pairs based on the Superseries Standings will qualify.

Lin Dan shows his superb

China’s Lin Dan won the YONEX German Open after defeat team mate Chen Jin 21-9, 21-11 in Sunday’s final. For Super Dan, who Three-time world champion of China, this tournament used as warmed up for next week’s YONEX All England.

Olympic gold medalist who has won the oldest badminton tournament four times - 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2009 - showed that he had targeted to win for the second OSIM BWF World Superseries Premier tournament of the season. His matches in this Grand Prix Gold tournament won in straight games. Having won the inaugural OSIM BWF World Superseries Premier event in Korea in January, Lin Dan has now set his eyes on securing the top spot in this season’s OSIM World Superseries standings.

Lin Dan, who pulled out of the Malaysia Open at the quarter-final stage after aggravating an injury, is second with 16,040 points. Meanwhile World No.1 rival Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia currently sits top of the OSIM BWF World Superseries standings. He had 18,550 points after winning the PROTON Malaysia Open Superseries. He added some point after reaching the final of the VICTOR Korea Open Superseries Premier final.

On final, Lin Dan showed the man who has replaced him as world champion with excellent skill and technic. He was running his younger compatriot, Chen Jin, ragged with pace brilliant court craft. Lin Dan beat Chen Jin in straight set 21-19, 21-1

With all the top players set to do battle in Birmingham, Lin Dan has the biggest chance to reassert his dominant player over the rest of the badminton world.