Lin ‘Super’ Dan is preparing for the All-England Badminton Open championships to be held in Birmingham from 9^th to 14^th March at the National Indoor Arena.

Lin Dan skipped the season’s first two tournaments in Korea and Malaysia in January this year. He was probably more selective as a veteran player in choosing the more important events. The All-England event will have greater exposure and will attract more international players as well.

Right on track will be Lee Chong Wei, the world’s number one player gunning for the title as well. Lee had recently captured the Korean and Malaysian Opens titles which Lin Dan had not participated in both events. However the two top guns will surely provide the excitement and probably the climax of the game. And Lee Chong Wei will most likely retire after the All-England championship. Lin Dan will still be a dominant player to watch in all the tournaments that he participates. He is a legend in his own right being a Olympic and World Champion.

The All-England Open Badminton Championships will be into its 100^th championships this year 2010. It will be the third series in the WBF Super Series circuit after which it will be held in Basel in Switzerland at the Swiss Open from 16^th to 21^st March.

2nd set

Lee Chong Wei was the star performer with the loudest cheer from the home crowd. It was an intense game from the very beginning of the first set with both players carefully crafted their strokes in the point for point match. The game moved up to 15 all leveling the score. But from then on Lee scored successively to take the first game at 21-17. In the second game Lee started off with much confidence and was more aggressive with his attacks. He pumped up the game with many points in succession leading 12-3 in fast pace. Park simply had no answer and looked stunned. However Lee soon became over anxious and made a lot of unforced errors in sending the shuttle out of court thereby earning points for Park without effort. The score advanced to 20-16 and closing the gap for Park. But alas it was too late for Park and Lee sealed the game with the final 21-17 in the second set.
Lee having won 6 titles as well as the Masters was richer by US$40,000. Park with the runner-up title took home US$20,000. With many titles under his collar Lee Chong Wei has yet to capture both the World Championship as well as the Olympic titles.

Malaysian Wong Mew Choo displayed splendid form in the final against Juliane Schenk. Both started off very confidently with very close score leveling on few occasions. Wong Mew Choo had a shaky start but managed to calm herself in the later half. She put pressure on the German who committed a series of mistakes. Eventually Wong led the game and took the first set at 21-15. The second set was disrupted when Juliane was seemed to have breathing problems. Wong was leading 8-1 and after a brief stoppage Juliane decided to carry on with the game. Juliane’s game from then on seemed below par. Wong Mew Choo finished the game with 21-7 win. She won US$40,000, her biggest paycheck so far. Juliane took home US$20,000 which was worth her effort.

The men’s doubles was played between the Koreans and the Danes. Korean pair Jung Jae Sung/Lee Yong Dae took on their nemesis Danish pair Carsten Mogensen/Mathias Boe. The Koreans were all out to atone for their lost last year to Carsten/Mathias. They succeeded this time with a straight sets win of 21-15, 21-15. It was a fast and furious game in both sets with amazing speed and power. It was a delight to watch! The winners were richer by US$42,000 and runner-up by US$20,000.

The top Malaysian women’s doubles pair Chin Eei Hui/Wong Pei Tty maintained their top position defeating the Danish pair Kamilla Rytter Juhl/Lena Frier Kristiansen. The Malaysians proved their worth defeating the Danes 21-17, 21-13. The prize money was the same as the men’s winners.

The mixed doubles title went to the Danes who defeated the Indian players. Joachim Fischer Nielson/Christinna Pedersen scored a major victory for Denmark in taking the title. Their win of 21-14, 21-18 over V.Diju/Gutta Jwala was enriching taking their biggest purse-US$42,000. It was indeed a very happy and rewarding ending for them-both the title and the money!
What a great Masters finals it was.

World Super Series Masters Semi-finals was a great day for the Malaysians and the Danish players. The Malaysians came strongly to secure three places in the finals. The Danes also make their mark assuring themselves of three places as well. The Koreans took two spots and Indians will be represented in the mixed doubles.

World number one Lee Chong Wei had a good run up till this stage. He had been able to stop Peter Gade in two sets. They had many previous encounters before, but Lee marched on winning 21-17, 21-16 and forward to the final. Korean Park Sung Hwan with his confidence building up did not allow Chinese Bao Chunlai to stop him from his winning run. Park quite comfortably controlled his game with a great 21-14, 21-14 win over Bao.

Women’s single player Malaysian Wong Mew Choo seemed intent on securing her final spot in the final. Her winning form produced a concrete win over Yao Jie cementing a solid 21-10, 21-10 score over her opponent. Indian Saina Nehwal was stopped in her track by the German Juliane Schenk. It was a great journey for Juliane as her win catapulted her to the final. It was a great score of 21-18, 21-18 over Saina who unfortunately bowed out to a better player in Juliane.

Men’s doubles Danish pair of Carsten Mogensen/Mathias Boe exterminated the promising Chinese pair of Xu Chen/Guo Zhendong. The talented Chinese pair could not overturn the table on the more coordinated Danes. The Danes produced a straight sets win of 21-19, 21-17. The top Korean pair Jung Jae Sung/Lee Dong Dae pounded the new Malaysian pair Mohd Tazari Mohd Fairuzizuan/Abdul Latif Mohd Zakry with 21-14, 21-11. They succeeded in half an hour. The Koreans will face the Danes in the east-west meeting.

Women’s doubles Malaysians Chin Eei Hui/Wong Pei Tty, the number one ranked had taken care of the Thais Aroonkesorn Duang Anong/Voravichitchaikul Kunchala. Chin/Wong won 21-15, 21-18 over their Thai opponents. Danish Kamilla Rytter Juhl/Lena Frier Kristiansen continued their successful run. Their game against Chinese Taipei pair Cheng Wen Hsing/Chien Yu Chin took them to 3 sets before winning 21-17, 10-21 and 21-16. The Danes will battle out with the Malaysians in the final, another east-west encounter.

Mixed doubles have a surprise entry this time. The Indian pair V.Diju/Gutta Jwala made their entry into the final. Their performance was admirable defeating the Polish Robert Mateusiak/Nadiezda Kostiuczyk 21-19, 21-11 in 30 minutes. The Danish pair Joachim Fisher Nielsen/Christinna Pedersen defeated another European competitor Anthony Clark/Donna Kellogg from England winning 21-13, 21-17. The more experienced Danes will meet the fresh entrants in the final.

The champions will be decided in the finals of the Super Series Masters.

The Yonex Sunrise BWF Super Series Masters Finals played on Friday in Round 3 will determine the last four in each category to go to the semi-finals on Saturday.

Denmark’s Peter Gade was the sole representative from Europe to take his place in the men’s singles semi-finals amongst the three other Asians, Lee Chong Wei, Bao Chunlai and Park Sung Hwan.

Peter Gade, the ‘old man’ at 32 years of age outplayed his younger opponent Thai Boonsak Ponsana who is 5 years younger than he. The 3 sets thriller was exhilarating and exciting for the spectators enjoyed a splendid display of superb badminton. Peter Gade finally secured a great win of 21-13, 20-22 and 21-15.

Lee Chong Wei who took on Bao Chunlai outplayed him in under thirty minutes scoring 21-13, 21-11. And what an unexpected outcome it was.

Jan Jorgensen managed to pull through the game against Park Sung Hwan winning 21-19, 21-13 in this round. Park with better score will go to the semi-final. Hsieh Yu Hsin of Chinese Taipei scored his win over off-form Taufik Hidayat with 21-17 and 21-15.

Lee Chong Wei (Group A) will take on Peter Gade (Group B), Bao Chunlai (A) will take on Park Sung Hwan (B) on Saturday.

Women’s single player Wong Mew Choo easily disposed Charmaine Reid scoring 21-6 and 21-13. Saina Nehwal did the same to Porntip Buranaprasertsuk with 21-13 and 21-19 win. Yao Jie did equally well over Nicole Grether taking home 21-18 and 21-15 win. Salakjit Ponsana had a tougher time against Juliane Schenk before surviving with 22-20, 9-21 and 23-21.

Wong Mew Choo will next play Yao Jie whereas Saina Nehwal will take on Juliane Schenk in the semi-final.

Men’s doubles Chinese pair Xu Chen/Guo Zhendong was doing very well against the Malaysians Tan Boon Heong/Koo Kien Keat. They overcame the experienced Malaysians eventually winning in 3 sets with 21-7, 16-21 and 21-12. Another young Malaysian pair Mohd Tazari Fairuzizuan/Abdul Latif Mohd Zakry did much better taking the Indonesians Sukmawan Rian/Dasuki Yonathan Suryatama to 21-13, 21-13 in just 24 minutes.

Koreans Jung Jae Sung/Lee Yong Dae proved their mettle against Carsten Mogensen/Mathias Boe. The Koreans won both sets with 21-16, 21-16. The game between Alvent Yulianto/Hendra Aprida Gunawan and Anthony Clark/Nathan Robertson went to the Indonesians with 21-16 and 21-18.

In the semi-finals Xu/Guo will face Carsten/Boe. Tazari/Latif will take on Jung/Lee.

Women’s doubles pair Kamilla Ryther Juhl/Lena Frier Kristiansen went on to win 21-10, 21-7 against Charmaine Reid/Nicole Grether. Chin Eei Hui/Wong Pei Tty won 21-17, 21-13 against Gabrielle White/Jeny Wallwork. Cheng Wen Hsing/Chien Yu Chin outplayed Aroonkesorn Duang Anong/Voravichitchaikul Kunchala winning 21-10, 21-13. Lastly Choinet Laura/Rahmawati Weny had to struggle against Chou Chia Chi/Chang Hsin Yun before overcoming with 15-21, 23-21 and 21-18.

Kamilla/Lena will meet Cheng/Chien. Chin/Wong faces Aroonkesorn/Voravichitchaikul in the semi-finals.

Mixed doubles pair Robert Mateusiak/Nadiezda Kostiuczyk disposed Prapakamol Sudket/Thoungthongkam Saralee without much effort with 21-12, 21-16. V.Diju/Jwala Gutta had the same easy task of ending the game against Anugritayawon Songphon/Voravichitchaikul Kunchala with 21-12, 21-8. Joachim Fisher Nielsen/Christinna Pedersen beat Ko Sung Hyun/Ha Jung Eun in straight sets with 21-17, 21-15. Finally the game between Anthony Clark/Donna Kellogg and Hendra Aprida Gunawan/Vita Marissa went through a rough patch. It was a 3 sets encounter with Anthony/Donna taking the game with 21-15, 16-21 and 21-15 win.

Into the next round Robert/Nadiezda will face V.Diju/Jwala. Joachim/Christinna will take on Anthony/Donna in the semi-finals.

More excitement is expected in the semi-finals!

The Yonex Sunrise BWF Super Series Masters Finals entered its second day. Top seed Malaysian Lee Chong Wei and compatriot Wong Mew Choo assured themselves in good standing.

Lee Chong Wei was in his top form as he took on former world champion Taufik Hidayat and scored a major success over the Indonesian. Lee took 10 minutes in his first set win and overall 28 minutes to end the game. It was an impressive win of 21-6, 21-13 thereby ensuring his place in the semi-final. Wong Mew Choo also put up a convincing win over Thai Pontip Buranaprasertsuk in the women’s single with 21-9, 21-7 to be in the last four for the semi-final.

Bao Chunlai got a scare in his first set against Chinese Taipei player Hsieh Yu Hsin. But his composure and skill helped him overcome his opponent with his eventual win. The outcome was 17-21, 21-8 and 21-16 to Bao which took 52 minutes. Indian player Saina Nehwal had the better of Canada’s Charmaine Reid winning 21-14, 21-9. Saina made the cut for the last four in the semi-final.

China’s Xu Chen/Guo Zhendong came strongly to overpower the young Malaysians Mohd Tazari Mohd Fairuzizuan/Abdul Latif Mohd Zakry. The Chinese pair won 21-18, 21-17. They will move up the ladder in the semi-final. Malaysian pair Tan Boon Heong/Koo Kien Keat defeated Indonesian pair Rian Sukmawan/Dasuki Yonathan Suryatama with 21-15, 21-14. They are keeping their hopes alive in the semi-final having won just one game.

Women’s double pair Chin Eei Hui/Wong Pei Tty beat their Danish opponents Kamilla Rytter Juhl/Lena Frier Kristiansen. The Malaysians won 21-19, 21-15. Charmaine Reid (Can)/Nicole Grether (Ger) came through with 21-17, 21-13 win over England’s Gabrielle White/Jenny Wallwork.

In the mixed doubles Polish pair Robert Mateusiak/Nadiezda Kostiuczyk beat the Koreans Ko Sung Hyun/Ha Jung Eun with 22-20, 21-13. The match between Danish and Thai mixed doubles took much longer ending in 1 hour and 6 minutes to decide the winner. The Danes won in a tight 3 sets game of 19-21, 21-18 and 21-17 over Prapakamol Sudket/Thoungthongkam Saralee.

In the Group B men’s single match Korean Park Sung Hwan shocked the number 2 seed Peter Gade in a 3 set stunner. The match stretched to 1 hour of play with Park winning 21-12, 7-21 and 21-15. Thai Boonsak Ponsana playing against Dane Jan Jorgensen went to straight sets win for Boonsak with 21-9, 21-18. With this win Boonsak remains in the running for a berth in the semi-final.

Group B women’s single match Thai Salakjit Ponsana beat German Nicole Grether with 21-17 and 21-7. Another German Juliane Schenk had better luck against Yao Jie of Netherlands winning 21-13, 21-10

Men’s doubles in Group B match between Koreans Jung Jae Sung/Lee Yong Dae and Indonesians Alvent Yulianto Chandra/Hendra Aprida Gunawan went to the Koreans. Jung/Lee won in an exciting 21-19, 21-19 finish. The strong Danish pair Carsten Mogensen/Boe Mathias had a hard fought match with Anthony Clark/Nathan Robertson. It was a rubber set win for the Danes winning 21-15, 18-21 and 21-13. It lasted almost an hour.

In Group B women’s doubles the Thais Aroonkesorn Duang Anong/Voravichitchaikul Kunchala had an equally tough fight against Chou Chia Chi/Chang Hsin Yun from Chinese Taipei. The Thais survived 18-21, 21-16 and 22-20 taking 48 minutes. Cheng Wen Hsing/Chien Yu Chin from Chinese Taipei marched through Choinet Laura/Rahmawati Weny from France with 21-9, 21-17 win.

The mixed doubles Indian pair V.Diju/Gutta Jwala made their way passed the more experienced Indonesians Hendra Aprida Gunawan/Vita Marissa with 21-18, 21-17 win. England’s pair Anthony Clark/Donna Kellogg put up a strong front to overcome Thais Anugritayawon Songphon/Vorachitchaikul Kunchala. The score ended at 18-21, 21-16 and 21-12 to Anthony/Donna.

The surprises and expectations are endless.

In the Super Series Masters the Malaysians Lee Chong Wei and Wong Mew Choo got off to a good start defeating both their opponents on the opening day of the tournament. Lee easily defeated Hsieh Yu Hsin from Chinese Taipei in straight sets 21-11, 21-12. Women’s single player Wong Mew Choo scored an upset over Nehwal Saina of India in 3 tough sets. The Malaysian struggled to a rubber set win of 21-13, 13-21 and 21-14.

China’s Bao Chunlai had to fight hard to overcome Indonesian Taufik Hidayat especially in the second set. Bao went on to win 21-18, 26-24 in the first round. Women’s single player Thai Pontip Buranaprasertsuk defeated Charmaine Reid 21-13, 21-12. All these players are in Group A.

In the Group A lineup the new Malaysian men’s doubles pair Mohd Tazari Mohd Fairuzizuan/Abdul Latif Mohd Zakry upset their countrymen Tan Boon Heong/Koo Kien Keat 21-15, 21-17. The shock defeat ended in just 24 minutes.

The Chinese men’s doubles pair Xu Chen/Guo Zhendong managed to pull through against the Indonesians Sukmawan Rian/Dasuki Yonathan Suryatama. The closely fought match ended with 26-24, 22-20 win in favor of the Chinese.

In Group A the mixed doubles Thais Prapakamol Sudket/Thoungthongkam Saralee advanced with 21-14, 21-19 winning over Koreans Ko Sung Hyun/Ha Jung Eun. The Polish pair Mateusiak Robert/Kostiuczyk Nadiezda defeated Danish Nielsen Joachim Fischer/Pedersen Christinna 21-19, 21-18.

In Group B the men’s singles contestants between both Danish players Peter Gade and Jan Jorgensen was one of experience that triumphed over the newbie. Peter Gade triumphed 21-12, 21-15 over compatriot Jan in straight sets. The other match involving Korean Park Sung Hwan and Thai Boonsak Ponsana was a battle of wits. The determined Korean Park pressed home with 28-26, 21-18 win.

Women’s singles players Germany’s Juliane Schenk battled it out with compatriot Nicole Grether in the opening match. Juliane came through with 21-17, 21-14 win over Nicole. In the other match Yao Jie from Netherlands had an easier win over Ponsana Salakjit from Thailand scoring 21-14, 21-11.

Men’s doubles Korean pair Jung Jae Sung/Lee Yong Dae had a strong win over England’s Anthony Clark/Nathan Robertson. The score was 21-18, 21-13. Danish pair Carsten Mogensen/Boe Mathias also powered their way over Indonesians Alvent Yulianto Chandra/Hendra Aprida Gunawan with 21-16, 21-18 win.

Women’s doubles Thai pair Aroonkesorn Duang Anong/Voravichitchaikul Kunchala won over the French pair Choinet Laura/Rahmawati Weny with 21-19, 21-13. The match between two pairs from Chinese Taipei Cheng Wen Hsing/Chien Yu Chin and Chou Chia Chi/Chang Hsin Yun took only 16 minutes. The final score was 21-12, 21-6 to Cheng/Chien. It was indeed one of the fastest games ever in the tournament.

Mixed doubles game between England’s Anthony Clark/Donna Kellogg and India’s V.Diju/Gutta Jwala went to the English pair with 21-15, 21-16. Indonesians Hendra Aprida Gunawan/Vita Marissa also overcame Thais Anugritayawon Songphon/Voravichitchaikul Kunchala with an easy game ending 21-14, 21-13.

More actions are to be expected into the second day.