Thursday October 18, 2012
Easy for Chun Seang
By RAJES PAUL
ODENSE: It was a day of mixed fortunes for Malaysian shuttlers as another prominent Dane – Tine Baun – made a startling announcement of her final appearance in the Denmark Open.
Malaysian professional Tan Chun Seang walked into the second round without breaking sweat after Tommy Sugiarto conceded a walkover in the men’s singles event.
Chun Seang will next play the winner of the match between Chong Wei Feng and Simon Santoso of Indonesia.
In other men’s singles matches, second seed Chen Long of China and fifth seed Sho Sasaki had to go to the distance before prevailing against Hu Yun of Hong Kong and Anand Pawar of India respectively.
Malaysia’s second ranked pair Hoon Thien How-Tan Wee Kiong overcame a strong challenge in the opening game to beat lanky Russians Vladimir Ivanov-Ivan Sozonov 22-20, 21-13 to march into the second round.
It was a sad end for reigning Dutch Open runners-up Gan Teik Chai-Ong Soon Hock when they lost 21-17, 12-21, 14-21 to Holland’s Jorrit De Ruiter-Dave Khodabux in the first round.
Soon Hock said he could not play his normal game because of a neck pain.
“We had a good draw but my condition was not good today. I found it hard to play with my painful neck. We’ll have a good rest before making our way to the France Open next week,” he said.
Said Teik Chai: “Overall, it has been good for us since we started playing five months ago. The final appearance in Holland is good for us. We are grateful to the many sponsors who continue to support us.”
In the mixed doubles, Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying battled their way into the second round with a 15-21, 21-17, 21-15 win over Dave Khodabux-Selena Piek of Holland.
The fifth seeds will take on Anders Kristiansen-Julie Houmann of Denmark and should make it to the quarter-finals provided they can play a more polished game.
There was some sad news for Danish fans when their top women’s singles shuttler and world No. 6 Baun announced her retirement plans yesterday.
The two-time All-England champion wants to hang up her racquet at next year’s All-England to focus on her family and studies.
She will enrol in a university in Copenhagen next February to study health and nutrition.
“I am 33 years old and I think the time has come for me to say goodbye to badminton. I have been playing competitive badminton since 25. I’m finding it hard against younger players,” said Baun.
“I want to have children and I am also going to further my studies. It’s good to leave when one is at the top of the game.
“I will miss it but I am sure that Denmark will produce more players. Some are young right now but, given time, they will make it to the top like me.”
She is the second Danish to play in her last Denmark Open. Their top men’s singles shuttler – Peter-Gade Christensen – will also stop playing in December and this Denmark Open is his last.
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