Lin Dan leads China's domination in World Championship

Hyderabad:

Defending champion Lin Dan reached the men's singles final by pipping Sony Dwi Kuncoro in a thrilling encounter as Chinese domination continued in the World Badminton Championship at Gachobowli Stadium here on Saturday.

World number five Dan prevailed 21-14, 13-21, 21-15 over the sixth seed Indonesian in an edge-of-the-seat encounter that lasted more than an hour.

In other semifinal, world number two Chen Jin notched up an easy 21-16, 21-6 victory over number four Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia in a 39-minute clash.

Incidentally, it will be an all-Chinese affair in both men's and women's singles final on Sunday.

In women's semifinal, China's Lu Lan beat compatriot Lin Wang 21-18, 21-19 to set up a summit-clash against Xie Xingfang, who beat Hongyan Pi of France 21-18, 21-8 in another last four encounter.

In a match that saw fortunes fluctuating too often, Sony made a remarkable comeback from one game down but his effort went in vain as Dan had the last laugh.

Meanwhile, fourth seed Hidayat proved no match to second seed Chen as he squandered an early lead to the Chinese, who retrieved his smashes and flicked in hard.

In the first game Hidayat had opened up a 4-0 lead but Chen soon drew parity and scrapped past him. Although the Indonesian clawed back at 14-all, the Chinese moved ahead and pocketed the game comfortably.

Taking heart from the first game win, Chen didn't provide any chance to his rival and after taking a 8-0 lead went for the kill straight away as Hidayat crumbled under pressure.

"I didn't know how to play against him. I tried whatever I could. I smashed, played net dribbles but he was too good," a disappointed Hidayat said.

Meanwhile, Chen said, "I didn't give him chance to play at the nets and he was a little slow today, may be because of the tougher matches that he played in the tournament so far but I respect him a lot."

The women's doubles final will also be an all Chinese affair with eighth seed pair of Yawen Zhang and Tingting Zhao taking on second seed Shu Cheng and Yunlei Zhao.

Zhang and Zhao beat fifth seed compatriots Jing Du and Yang Yu 24-22, 18-21, 21-8 in 68 minutes.

In the other semifinal encounter, Cheng-Zhao defeated sixth seed Jin Ma and Xiaoli Wang 21-16, 21-12.

In the mixed doubles, seventh seed Dane pair of Thomas Laybourne and Kamilla Rytter Juhl scripted history by reaching their first world championship final, beating top seeded Korean duo of Yong Dae Lee and Hyo Jung Lee 18-21, 21-9, 21-18.

However, another Dane pair of Joachim Fischer Nielsen and Christinna Pedersen were not so lucky as they lost 18-21, 21-14, 18-21 to second seed Indonesian combination of Nova Widianto and Liliyana Natsir.

"I can't believe this, I am just so happy. I was feeling dizzy today but may be it worked as I was more calm," Kamilla said after the match.

"This is one of the biggest win. We beat the chinese yesterday and today the Korean. We kept on attacking and won the long rallies," she added.

In men's doubles, fifth seed Chinese pair of Yun Cai and Haifeng Fu saw off eighth seeds Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif and Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari of Malaysia 18-21, 24-22, 21-15.

The Chinese pair will take on fourth seeded Korean pair of Jae Sung Jung and Yong Dae Lee, who beat second seed Kien Keat Koo and Boon Heong Tan of Malaysia 16-21, 21-14, 22-20 in a see-saw 53-minute battle.