Chinese Olympic champions Zhang Jun and Gao Ling lost to
Indonesian Nova Widianto and Lilyana Natsir 17-14, 4-15 and 15-6 in
the mixed doubles quarterfinals at the China Open badminton
championships?in Guangzhou?on Thursday.
The newly-paired Indonesians will next play Olympic
semifinalists Jens Eriksen and Mette Shojoldager of Denmark, who
beat Koo Kien-Keat and Wong Pei Tty of Malaysia 15-10, 15-2.
"We are not shocked at all and had thought about it before the
match," Gao said, "We have been short of regular training after the
Athens Olympic Games."
Zhang and Gao had a tough beginning when they trailed 4-0 in the
first set.
They saved two game points at 14-12 and leveled 14-14. But the
Indonesians scored three points in a row on their serve and finally
survive a close first set 17-14.
Although resurging to take the second set, the Chinese duo lost
momentum in the decisive third.
They just restored training weeks ago, according to their coach
Chen Xingdong.
"They are not in the form, especially Zhang Jun. He has been
gaining weights due to the lack of training," Chen said.
"Widianto's new parnter did quite well. She's young and responds
quickly," he added.
Widianto used to be paired with Rita Marissa and they made the
quarterfinals in Athens.
The other Chinese duet Chen Qiqiu and Zhao Tingting, seeded
No.2, became China's only hope for the mixed title on their own
turf.
They overcame fifth-seeded Kim Yong Hyun and Lee Hyo Jung of
South Korea 15-11 and 15-7 later in another quarterfinal.
Indonesians Anggun Nugroho and Tetty Yunita, also a new pair,
produced a second surprise.
They booked the last semifinal berth, beating Carsten Mogensen
and veteran Rikke Olsen of Denmark.
Olsen split with Jonas Rasmusen after the Athens Games where
they entered the semifinals, allowing Rasmusen to concentrate on
men's doubles.
(Xinhua News Agency?November 12, 2004)