The Daily Indian

New Delhi: Indian Shuttlers, Jwala Gutta and V Diju scripted a grand win of the Grand Prix Gold in Chinese Taipei on Sunday thus becoming the first Indian mixed doubles pair to seize the feat in Taipei city.

The world number seven Indian pair prevailed 24-22, 21-18 over the Indonesian duo of Hendra Aprida Gunawan and Vita Marissa to achieve the historic feat in Taipei city.

In the first game, the Indian pair opened up a 15-9 but the Indonesian combo staged a comeback to reduce the gap to 15-14. But Jwala and Diju quickly got their act together and prevailed in long rallies to go one up.

The Indonesians started off well in the second game and were leading at 13-9 but this time it was turn Indians’ turn to claw back at make it 15-15. Jwala and Diju then grabbed the lead and sealed the issue in their favour.

Jwala-Diju, the first India mixed doubles pair had reached the quarterfinal of the World Badminton Championship in Hyderabad mid-august, 09. They had also won the Bitburger Open and Bulgarian Open last year.

Badminton Association of India (BAI) President VK Verma said, “This is very good news for India. This is the first time that any doubles pair of India have won a grand prix gold event. They have been doing well and now with this win they have catapulted themselves to be one of the Commonwealth Games medal hopes for the country,” he added.

Olympic champion Lin Dan today became the first badminton player to clinch a hat-trick of world titles, beating fellow Chinese Chen Jin in straight games in the finals of the mega-event at the Gachibowli stadium here today.

World number five Lin outplayed second-ranked Chen 21-18 21-16 in a contest that lasted 46 minutes.

Lin had won the earlier World Championship in 2006 and 2007, apart from winning four All-England title in 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2009.

In an all-Chinese clash, fifth seed Lin rode on his lightening smashes and long aggressive rallies to beat his higher-ranked opponent.

He also outsmarted Chen on the nets, leaving his compatriot to rue a series of unforced errors in the match.

Lin stamped his authority right from the start as he pushed Chen on the back-foot after an initial neck-and-neck competition at 6-6.

The GMC BalaYogi stadium got the fans slowly trickling in to get a glimpse of the contestants who exhibit best court play and dexterity in the Quarterfinals of this first international of this stature on in Hyderabad. It was exciting Badminton at the Quarter finals of the World Badminton Championships in Hyderabad today… Some impressive wins came from the players like Taufik Hidayat , Sony Dwi Kuncoro , Lee Chong Wee, Lin-Dan in Men’s Quaterfinlas and Xei-Xing Fang, in Women’s Quarter –finals respectively who strode into semi-finals of the Championships with great élan. Though it was nerve wrenching battles that tested the badminton skills , it was a day of some disappointment to the Indians. Firstly, the much worked up excitement at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium got little dreary as there was not an accountable win from Indian team today. Upon squeezing a three set win from Petya of Bulgarian yesterday in the pre-quarter finals Saina seemed to have really lost out on her endurance, focus to clinch the quaterfinals from the Chinese compatriot.  Now, streak into the match between the Chinese Lin Wang and the Saina Nehwal, India seeded sixth in the tournament. Indeed it was Wang who set a commanding lead in the first game closing it at 21:16. However, some unforeseeable errors from the Lin Wang got Saina much ahead in the second game unsettling he rhythm of the Wang for quite a while. Nonetheless it was Wang’s firm resolve that helped her win back the momentum in the game and eventually the crucial match in her favour. Lin Wang ranked two in the tournament vengefully marches ahead into the semi-finals to avenge her defeat to Saina in the recent Indonesian Open series. Lin Wang won the quarter final 21: 16 ; 21: 19.

As India clocks to celebrate its Sixty Third Independence Day, a rather disappointing stroke to the Indians. Saina Nehwal , a lone prospective drive in the Badminton World Championships, 09 in women’s singles came to a rather unpersuasive halt. On the other end, it was the Indonesian mixed doubles pair of Nova and Liliyana who just pulled off an impressive win against the Indian pair of Jwala and Diju. The Indonesian pair posted a convincing tread into the semi-finals by taking the quaterfinal match at 21: 17; 12: 21; 21: 14.  Equally attention-grabbing was another quarterfinal match in the evening between the Xie-Xingfang, China and the Zoug Mi, Hongkong , China. Xie Xing fang convincingly registered an incredible win against the World No.1 Zoug Mi in two straight sets. Xing Fang had exploited her height to her opponents dis-advantage, though Zhou Mi did her best to stay in the competition Xing Fang’s classical precision into the strokes led her to an impressive win with 21:15; 21:18 against the Zhou Mi.

Just lets get to the most awaited match of the tournament, I would say , of course, I mean the match between the Gladiators of the evening…Lin-Dan, China and the Peter Gade Rasmussen of Denmark .These two players got the spectators sit up and watch every move with great anxiety. Deceptive power play is the forte of Lin-Dan who set the Dane scramble for points. With eclectic mix of deft court craft and jump smashes Lin- Dan closed the race with 22:20 ; 21:16 win vehemently setting his challenge into semifinal that would be the decider of the Finalists of the World Badminton Championships, 09.

The match that put the expectations of the Lee Chong Wei in dump was the outcome of another quarterfinal between the Sony Dwi Kuncoro, the Indonesian. In a much engrossing match Sony formidably took the three set winner from the World No.1 and the 2005 World Champion. The scores stand to be 21: 16 ; 14: 21 ; 21 :11 . A few other doubles matches were quite a moment for the Badminton enthusiasts.

Brave fight by the Indians….

In mens’s singles , infact P.Kashyap the current National runner – up lost to Zing Chan, China in three set game in the second round of the World Championships, 21: 14; 10: 21; 7: 21. Not to miss to mention was the Chetan Anand’s match in the pre-quaterfinals , that saw a win posted in straight sets by the Sony Dwi Kuncoro, as Chetan Anand failed to unravel the strategy deployed by the Indonesian, given the bad back that had worked to Chetan’s dis-advantage.  

Nevertheless what ever be the outcome of the tournament that is getting conducted in a sportive manner, THE DAILY INDIAN wishes all its readers A HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY.  As India marches with grace to be the world’s economic power rooted firm in unity and harmony, lets hope the journey continues with impeccable verve to set the vision and aspirations of the Indian freedom fighters’ into a reality.

The ACT 1 of the world’s fastest racquet sport Championships, the day ONE set the tone for the World Championships , 09 that posted the win of Chetan Anand, an Indian, against Korean Ji Hoon Hong 21-8 21-16 yesterday apart from a few other wins from the countries like Denmark, China and Japan. However the players prowess on the second day relatively got slow to live up to the tempo that is fast working up at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium, Hyderabad. Did you say was it exciting…? All I would say is, one should have been there in the stadium. Given the scare of the swineflu looming large in India and Hyderabad being no exception, got the BWF and the BAI officials focused on the safety and security of the players, officials and the spectators alike o top priority, the players are all tuned to the rhythm that begets them to rip their opponents apart.

Aravind Bhat loses to YuHsing

DAY TWO of the tournament, Badminton fans could have expected some excitement atleast from their Indian players. Much to the disappointment of the spectators, Aravind Bhat , the current National Champion lost to the Taipei’s Yu Hsing Hsieh in just three set match, 21-14 ; 19-21; 24-22 in about an hour thus setting the expectations of the fans in disarray…Though he negotiated long rallies , it was mostly the unforeseen errors from him that upset his apple cart. When asked why he lost the match? Aravind Bhat rued, “The drift in the hall is much faster and though I am focused, there was not much I was able to do on the court, I had my go on the court, but somehow the errors just happened. There was not much I could do to eliminate that…”May be he needs to work on his judgement!

Smashes, net dribble and jump smashes were unleashed that set the match between the Taufik Hidayat, Indonesia and the Christian Boesiger, Switzerland…in favour of the Indonesian. Yes, infact it was a cake walk for Taufik, who took the game from the Swiss in just two games, 21-14: 21-14 in less than half-an-hour. Taufik is gearing up the Gladiator in him for the matches ahead.

Putting the unnecessary apprehensions and threat perceptions behind Hyderabad is all to set to pull off the first World Badminton Championships being conducted at the Gachibowli SAAP Stadium. The city is the host to the YONEX-SUNRISE BWF World Championships 2009.

The World Badminton Championships, 09 was flagged off by the Hon’ble, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Dr. YS Rajasekhar Reddy at HICC in Hyderabad on Sunday, the 9, August , 09. At the inauguration of the YONEX-SUNRISE BWF World Championships 2009 yesterday the Chief Minister said that it is an hour of pride to host a tournament of this stature in Hyderabad . About 350 shuttlers would vie for the Championship title while as many athletes from 50 countries have descended in the city to test their skills with the best in the World. So one can definitely expect a great badminton activity at the Gachibowli BalaYogi Indoor Stadium from August 10-16 , 2009. A lot of hustle and bustle would be the common sight at the venue in the next six days. About 255 matches would be played in 5 events during the event in next six days.

England opts out of the tournament

The tournament as a whole is spruced up for the sporting fraternity and the spectators delight alike. The Organizers are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the Championships is a success. Ofcourse it is a matter of delight to the state of Andhra Pradesh aswell. Speaking at the press conference last evening , Cyberabad Police Commissioner Mr Prabhakar Reddy says that there is absolutely no reason to worry as all the safety measures are put in place and players need not get apprehensive. Proper Threat Analysis is in place and due credence is given to the IB reports and their analysis says the situation is quite safe…and no perceived threat to thwart the progress of the tournament. “Our preparedness is there to meet any eventuality, ” he added. With the England team pulling out of the event for their own reasons and the team’ss Chief Executive’s perceptions, the team flew back yesterday afternoon. Nonetheless, the BWF is geared up to ensure the event goes off smoothly and in a sporting manner.

An Australian Security Consultant ‘Intelligence Risks’ is advising the BWF on the security issues, and covering the same, reportedly . Expressing his displeasure over the pull out of the England Team from the tournament Thomas Lund, COO, BWF said, “ It is the perception in the minds that plays a distinctive role in this situation . However we did try to comfort the players but somehow we had failed to reassure the minds of the players over the perceived threat.” Security measures are well assessed by the security agencies to make the players even more safer, he added. Affirmatively, Stuart Borrie, Secretary General, BWF said, “ The safety and the security of the players and participants at the YONEX-SUNRISE BWF World Championships 2009 is of prime concern and we will closely work with the police to ensure this is achievable. ” So sport enthusiasts, fasten your belts for a fascinating feast of badminton!