Friday, 17 May 2024

BWF News

A new year has begun, and the Victor Korea Open is in full swing. However, it hasn’t been a smooth start for the second-seeded Men’s Doubles pair, Kim Ki Jung and Kim Sa Rang. After consecutive finals appearances in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur last year, they faced a surprising defeat in the first round. Japan’s Takeshi Kamura and Keigo Sonoda outplayed them, winning 21-17, 21-19. Kamura and Sonoda will now face compatriots Hiroyuki Saeki and Ryota Taohata in the second round.

On the other hand, the top-seeded pairs in Men’s Doubles had no trouble progressing to the next round. Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen from Denmark, Hiroyuki Endo and Kenichi Hayakawa from Japan, All England champions Liu Xiaolong and Qiu Zihan from China, and the crowd favorites Lee Yong Dae and Yoo Yeon Seong from Korea all won their matches comfortably. Boe and Mogensen face a challenging second-round match against Hirokatsu Hashimoto and Noriyasu Hirata from Japan, while Lee and Yoo will take on Lee Sang Joon and Shin Baek Choel, their fellow countrymen.

The highlight of the day was the intense match between the rising Men’s Singles stars from Japan and Korea. Kento Momota, the BWF World Junior champion in 2012, fought hard against the local qualifier, Lee Dong Keun. Momota staged an impressive comeback after trailing in the third game at 16-19. He leveled the score at 19, saved a match point, and won the last two points to secure a memorable victory.

Tham Khảo Thêm:  Badminton Pan America: A Journey to Tokyo 2020

Japan had several more successes in both Men’s and Women’s Singles. Kazumasa Sakai defeated Korean qualifier Jeon Hyuk Jin, while Kenichi Tago overpowered the dangerous Indian player K Srikanth. Takuma Ueda dominated Guru Sai Dutt from India. The only Men’s Singles casualty for Japan was Sho Sasaki, who was outmatched by the seventh seed Du Pengyu from China.

In Women’s Singles, Japan also performed well, winning four out of five matches. Eriko Hirose, Minatsu Mitani, Sayaka Takahashi, and Akane Yamaguchi all emerged victorious.

In Women’s Doubles, there was an unexpected gift for Korea’s Choi Hye In and Park So Young. They received a walkover from World champions Yu Yang and Wang Xiaoli from China, granting them a spot in the quarter-finals. Despite the walkover, China still has other strong contenders in Bao Yixin and Tang Jinhua, the new combination of Ma Jin and Tang Yuanting, as well as the twins Luo Ying and Luo Yu.

HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Korean great Lee Yong Dae is aiming for his fifth Men’s Doubles title. Previously, he triumphed with Jung Jae Sung and Ko Sung Hyun, and now he partners with Yoo Yeon Seong. They had a convincing win against Kim Dae Sun and Kim Ji Won in the opener. However, their second-round match against second seeds Xu Chen and Ma Jin from China will be much tougher.

  • Men’s Singles top seed Lee Chong Wei from Malaysia faced Son Wan Ho in the first round, but the Korean couldn’t pose a challenge. Son failed to replicate his upset victory over Lee in 2012. Although he pushed the Malaysian close in the second game, Lee secured a 21-11, 21-18 win. Meanwhile, Germany’s Marc Zwiebler emerged victorious in the all-European battle, defeating Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen 21-19, 21-16.

  • Carolina Marin returns to the Superseries circuit after a hiatus since June 2012. The young Women’s Singles prospect from Spain made a winning comeback, defeating Korea’s Kim Hyo Min 21-13, 21-15. She now faces Ratchanok Intanon from Thailand in the second round, who defeated Marin at the BWF World Championships.

Tham Khảo Thêm:  BWF News

FAQs

  1. Which pairs advanced to the second round in the Men’s Doubles category?

    • Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen
    • Hiroyuki Endo and Kenichi Hayakawa
    • Liu Xiaolong and Qiu Zihan
    • Lee Yong Dae and Yoo Yeon Seong
  2. Who won the intense Men’s Singles match between Kento Momota and Lee Dong Keun?

    Kento Momota emerged victorious after an intense battle.

  3. How did the Japanese players fare in Men’s and Women’s Singles?

    The Japanese players had several wins in both Men’s and Women’s Singles.

  4. Which Women’s Doubles pair received a walkover in their match?

    Choi Hye In and Park So Young from Korea received a walkover from Yu Yang and Wang Xiaoli from China.

Conclusion

The Victor Korea Open has witnessed some exciting matches, surprising wins, and dominant performances. The tournament continues to showcase the talent and skills of top players from around the world. Stay tuned for more action and surprises in the upcoming rounds of this prestigious badminton event.

For more badminton news and updates, visit Carnegiecentre.