South Korea loses, still makes final four
GLASGOW: South Korea squeezed through to the semi-finals despite losing the final Division 1 Group B tie 3-2 to Denmark at the Sudirman Cup World Team Championships on Wednesday.
Both teams finished with two points but the Koreans fended off the Danes for the last four place on rubbers difference 9-7.
Indonesia finished top of the group after a 4-1 victory over Hong Kong.
World Champion Lin Dan suffered a shock defeat to Lee Chong Wei in the men's singles but China still easily beat Malaysia 4-1 to top Division 1 Group A.
It was in the final rubber that Lin, unbeaten in this championship since 2003, succumbed 21-17, 21-17 to Lee, a former world No.1 who has dropped back to No 4.
China, the record five time winners, now meet three time former champions South Korea in Saturday's semi-finals.
It was a marathon battle between Korea and Denmark. Han Sang Hoon and Lee Hyo Jung claimed the first point, beating Jens Erikssen and Kamilla Rytter Juhl 21-14 22-24 21-13.
Peter Gade won a strange men's singles to level the score one-all. Tine Rasmussen then added the women's singles and Lars Paaske and Jonas Rasmussen added to the drama by taking the men's doubles.
The deciding women's doubles was a lop-sided contest on paper, but it turned out to be a pressure-packed battle. Lee Kyung Won and Lee Hyo Jung, the world No 4 pair, needed four game points in the first rubber before taking it 21-19 from the No 19 ranked Lena Frier Kristiansen and Juhl.
Kristiansen and Juhl raised hopes of a comeback by taking a 6-1 lead in the second, but the two Lees survived the onslaught to win 21-19 21-14.
AFP
(China Daily 06/15/2007 page24)
