** HELP!!! Keep NEW SHUTTLENWS going - BUY our sponsor's products. **

Malaysian Open: New World Champions Come Tumbling Down

** This NEW SHUTTLENWS report is presented by YANG YANG Badminton Products and The Best Badminton Camp on the U.S. East Coast - the 1999 George Washington University Badminton Camp. **

July 2, 1999 (NEW SHUTTLENWS) - Badminton's newly crowned singles world champions came tumbling down to earth today in the quarterfinals of the Malaysian Open championships. Sun Jun of China, the world men's singles titleholder, was upended by teammate Luo Yigang 8-15 and 3-15, while Camilla Martin of Denmark, the world women's singles champion, was bounced by Zhou Mi of China 10-13 and 1-11.

Sun was way off form in his match with Luo. The world champion was a step slower than usual and his defense, one of the keys to his success, was not up to his usual standard, specially in the one-sided second game.

Martin's play in her contest with Zhou was also below par. In the Danish player's own words, she "played badly", specially in the second set. She and Zhou had played to a tiebreak in the first game, with the Chinese player winning at 13-10. In the second game, it was a no-contest with the world champion managing only a solitary point.

Chinese players were also triumphant in the other women's singles quarterfinals to guarantee China the 1999 Malaysian Open women's singles title. Yao Jie defeated teammate Zhang Ning 8-11, 11-8 and 11-8, Gong Ruina beat fellow Chinese player Zeng Yaqiong 11-5 and 11-4, and Dai Yun eliminated Kelly Morgan of Wales 4-11, 1-9 and 11-9.

In one of the other men' singles quarterfinals, M. Roslin Hashim of Malaysia, yesterday's conqueror of world number one Peter Gade, beat up on fellow Malaysian Ong Ewe Hock 15-5 and 15-3. Hashim took advantage of Ong's inability today to hit deep lobs and attacked Ong's shots to the mid and three-quarter court for many scores and setups.

Wong Choon Hann and Rashid Sidek, both also from the host country Malaysia, won the other two quarterfinal matches to round out the semifinal cast. Wong came from behind to put out Indonesian Rony Agustinus in a 98-minute three-setter 12-15, 17-15 and 15-4, while Sidek defeated Chen Hong of China also in three sets 15-13, 9-15 and 15-9.

Following are the results of some of the quarterfinals in the other events.

Mixed Doubles
Michael Sogaard and Rikke Olsen (Denmark) beat Wahyu Agung and Emma Ermawati (Indonesia) 15-6, 15-12
Zhang Jun and Gao Ling (China) beat Bambang Suprianto and Resiana Zelin (Indonesia) 11-15, 15-5, 15-10
Ha Tae Kwon and Chung Jae Hee (Korea) beat Pang Cheh Chang and Lim Pek Siah (Malaysia) 13-15, 15-1, 15-7
Tri Kusharyanto and Minarti Timur (Indonesia) beat Chen Qiqiu and Huang Sui (China) 17-16, 15-5

Women's Doubles
Ge Fei and Gu Jun (China) beat Helene Kirkegaard and Rikke Olsen (Denmark) - 15-13, 15-7
Eliza Nathanael and Deyana Lomban (Indonesia) beat Lu Ying and Huang Sui (China) 15-9, 15-9
Etty Tantri and Chynthia Tuwankotta (Indonesia) beat Mette Schjoldager and Ann-Lou Jorgensen (Denmark) 15-7, 17-14
Qin Yiyuan and Gao Ling (China) beat Resiana Zelin and Minarti Timur (Indonesia) - 15-8, 15-3

Men's Doubles
Ha Tae Kwon and Kim Dong Moon (Korea) beat Wang Wai and Deng Chuan Hai (China) - 15-5, 15-8
Flandy Limpele and Eng Hian (Indonesia) beat Choong Tan Fook and Lee Wan Wah (Malaysia) 15-7, 15-17, 15-9
Lee Dong Soo and Yoo Yung Sung (Korea) beat Denny Kantono and Antonius Budi Iriantho (Indonesia) - no score available (unconfirmed result)
Chandra Wijaya and Tony Gunawan (Indonesia) beat Yu Jinhao and Chen Qiqiu (China) 15-3, 15-4

(yyn/ds)