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Thursday, March 5, 2009

YONEX ALL ENGLAND – Zhou Mi out but hardly an upset!!



World number 2 and number 2 seed Zhou Mi had to succumb to the talents of Chinese shuttler and recent German Open winner Wang Yihan in what, on paper, appears an upset but in reality is just another day at the office for the Chinese wonder kid.

By Mark Phelan (Live) Photos: badmintonphoto.com (Live in Birmingham)

In day of a few surprises in the women’s singles it was Wang Yihan’s turn to dump a seed out of the tournament. The Chinese shuttler dented Zhou Mi’s aspirations of All England glory in the longest game of the day which extended to 6 minutes over an hour in a titanic three set battle.
Wang Yihan took the opening set after both players struggled to find any consistent rhythm as they shared the lead back and forth to level at 19-19. Just when it looked like the set might extend beyond 21 the world number 17 found the inspiration to take the next two points to deal the first blow in this badminton marathon.
In the second set the momentum once again ebbed back and forth but this time at 18-18 it was Zhou Mi who found the touch to take the three points she needed to level that match up at one set a piece.
In the third the world number 2 took a seemingly unassailable lead at 13-5 and looked to be heading to the quarter final but Yihan found the resolve and determination to fight back and level the match at 18-18 and even went on to lead at 19-18. Both players were level again at 21-21 and with match point to Yihan at 22-21 Zhou Mi drove into the net to give the Chinese shuttler the win and in doing so put the 4th Chinese shuttler into tomorrow’s quarter final.


In the mixed doubles it was a bad day for Denmark as all three of their remaining pairs were shown the door at the second round stage. Earlier in the day the combinations of Bonde/Neilsen and Delbo Larsen/Schjoett Kristensen fell at the hands of Asian opponents and late in to the evenings play world number 5 pair of Thomas Laybourn and Kamilla Rytter Juhl were beaten in three sets 16-21 21-12 21-18 by Chinese pair Zheng Bo and Ma Jin.

Cai and Fu continued to impress on their return as a pair with a 25 minute win in 2 sets over Korean pair Kwon and Yoo while number 2 seeds from Denmark Rasmussen and Passke were clearly refreshed after been rested for the European Team Championships two weeks ago as they took only half an hour to defeat Ikeda and Sakamoto from Japan.

As the evening drew to a close Denmark’s men’s and women’s singles players continued to fly the flag for the European powerhouse as Peter Gade and Tine Rasmussen followed Persson and Brosolat Jensen in making it through to tomorrows quarter final. Boe and Mogensen continued that winning trend for Denmark with a convincing win over Fuchs and Kindervarter from Germany 21-18 21-11.

In the battle of Britain in the mixed doubles it was a case of experience emerging victorious over youth. Number 4 seeds Anthony Clark and Donna Kellogg in their first appearance at this years All England’s were composed is ending the dream of Gabby White and Chris Adcock 21-14 21-16.

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