COPENHAGEN MASTERS: SUN JUN, CAMILLA MASTER THE MASTERS

** This NEW SHUTTLENWS REPORT is presented by badminton world champions YANG YANG (1987 and 1989) and ZHAO JIAN HUA (1991) and by YANG YANG BADMINTON PRODUCTS **

December 30, 1997 (NEW SHUTTLENWS) - China's Sun Jun and Denmark's Camilla Martin proved themselves to be the masters of the badminton masters last night in the finals of the Copenhagen Masters international invitational tournament at the Circusbygningen in Copenhagen, Denmark. Sun, winner of the World Grand Prix Finals two weeks ago, continued his winning ways and defeated 1995 world champion Heryanto Arbi of Indonesia 15-9 and 15-7 in the men's singles final. Martin squeezed past tough-to-beat Chinese star Gong Zhichao 12-11 and 12-10 in the women's singles championship match.

In the men's doubles final, the scratch Indonesian pairing of world champion Chandra Wijaya and world number ten Tony Gunawan beat the scrappy English combination of Simon Archer and Chris Hunt 15-13 and 15-8.

In the men's singles final, Sun played very well early in the first game while Arbi started slowly. Sun gained a 4-0 advantage before Arbi got into the match. The Indonesian pulled closer at 7-5 but Sun did not let up on his world-class play and increased his lead again at 12-9. He then closed out Arbi with three more points and won the first game at 15-9.

In the second set, it was Arbi who got off the blocks first with his patented leaping powershots. The Indonesian had the early lead 4-2 and then 5-2. Arbi then started to fade after several fast-paced rallies while Sun stepped up his play. The Chinese player took the lead at 8-7 and then went on a scoring spree while Arbi was unable to tally a point. Sun won the second 15-7.

The women's singles championship match was a battle. Gong had the advantage early in the first game 4-1 but the Dane then played better and pulled closer at 5-7. Martin passed Gong at 9-8 and then gained game point at 10-8. The Chinese player battled back and forced deuce at 10-all. In the 2-point tiebreaker, the two competitors did not let up and played hard for every point, but it was the Dane who won in the end 2-1 (game score: 12-11).

At the start of the second set, Gong seemed tired and demoralized after she had lost the very-hard fought first game. Martin zoomed to a commanding 7-0 lead before Gong gathered herself and mounted a comeback. She outrallied the Dane and even reached game point 10-9. Martin however stopped Gong from equalizing the match and forced a setting at 10-all. The Dane then managed to end the championship match with two points in the tiebreak, winning at 12-10.

(mcoe/dsimmons)