International Olympic Committee : News

Badminton: India Open results

4/28/2013 3:14:15 PM

Results of the finals of the India Open badminton tournament in New Delhi on Sunday (x denotes seeding):

Men

Singles

Lee Chong Wei (MAS x1) bt Kenichi Tago (JPN x6) 21-15, 18-21, 21-17

Doubles

Liu Xiaolong/Qiu Zihan (CHN x8) bt Ko Sung-Hyun/Lee Yong-Dae (KOR x3) 22-20, 21-18

Women

Singles

Ratchanok Intanon (THA x3) bt Juliane Schenk (GER x2) 22-20, 21-14

Doubles

Miyuki Maeda/Satoko Suetsuna (JPN x4) bt Christinna Pedersen/Kamilla Rytter Juhl (DEN x2) 12-21, 23-21, 21-18

Mixed doubles

Tontowi Ahmad/Liliyana Natsir (INA x1) bt Ko Sung-Hyun/Kim Ha-Na (KOR) 21-16, 21-13

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Badminton: Asia Championships final results

4/21/2013 10:07:54 AM

Results of the finals of the Badminton Asia Championships on Sunday:

Women's singles

Wang Yihan (CHN X2) bt Li Xuerui (CHN x1) 21-13, 22-20

Men's singles

Du Pengyu (CHN x2) bt Chen Long (CHN x1) 21-17, 21-19

Women's doubles

Yu Yang and Wang Xiaoli (CHN x1) bt Tang Jinhua and Ma Jin (CHN x5) 21-15, 14-21, 21-15

Men's doubles

Lee Yong-Dae and Ko Sung-Hyun (KOR x1) bt Kim Sa-Rang and Kim Ki-Jung (KOR x3) 21-13, 22-20

Mixed doubles

Ko Sung-Hyun and Kim Ha-Na (KOR) bt Zhao Yunlei and Zhang Nan (CHN x2) 22-20, 21-17

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Badminton: All-England badminton results - 2nd update

3/10/2013 4:17:47 PM

Results of the finals of the All-England Open championships:

Finals

Women's doubles

Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang (CHN x1) bt Cheng Shu and Zhao Yunlei (CHN) 21-18,21-10

Men's doubles

Liu Xiaolong and Qiu Zihan (CHN) bt Hiroyuki Endo and Kenichi Hayakawa (JPN x4) 21-11, 21-9

Women's singles

Tine Baun (DEN x7) bt Ratchanok Intanon (THA x8) 21-14, 16-21, 21-10

Men's singles

Chen Long (CHN x2) bt Lee Chong Wei (MAS x1) 21-17, 21-18

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Badminton: All-England Open results - 1st lead

3/7/2013 3:26:22 PM

Results from the All-England Open championships on Thursday (x denotes seeded player):

Men's singles

2nd rd

Jan Jorgensen (DEN) bt Sony Dwi Kuncoro (INAx4) 11-7 retired

Lee Chong Wei (MASx1) bt Wang Zhengming (CHN) 21-17, 21-19

Chen Long (CHNx2) bt Takuma Ueda (JPN) 21-15, 21-10

Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk (THA) bt Sho Sasaki (JPN) 21-9, 21-11

Chen Jin (CHNx5) bt Chen Yuekun (CHN) 21-10, 21-10

Women's singles

2nd rd

Ratchanok Intanon (THA) bt Nichaon Jindapon (THA) 21-18, 21-17

Sung Ji-Hyun (KOR) bt Pai Hsiao Ma (TPE) 21-12, 21-10

Eriko Hirose (JPN) bt Bae Yeon Ju (KOR) 20-22, 22-20, 21-19

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Lin through as China guarantees medals - London 2012 - Badminton

8/3/2012 12:00:00 AM

Lin faced the prospect of a shock exit as he was taken to three games and hauled back to 15-13 in the third after conceding five successive points, but he held on.

The second seed's eventual 75-minute 21-12 16-21 21-16 win kept the man widely regarded as the best player of all time on course for a repeat of the Beijing 2008 final against Lee Chong Wei.

Top-seeded Malaysian Lee, looking increasingly assured in his recovery from an ankle injury, was troubled only in the first game before seeing off India's Kashyap Parupalli 21-19 21-11.

The semi-final line-up was completed by China's third seed Chen Long and seventh seed Lee Hyun-il, of Republic of Korea.

Chen saw off Peter Gade, the Danish veteran playing his fourth and last Olympics, 21-16 21-13 while Lee stunned fourth seed Chen Jin of China 21-15 21-16.

Three Chinese women will feature in the last four of the women's Singles along with Saina Nehwal of India.

Nehwal, the fourth seed, came through against Europe's top player, Denmark's Tine Baun.

Top seed Wang Yihan brushed off Cheng Shiao Chieh of Chinese Taipei 21-14 21-11, Wang Xin avoided an upset to beat Thailand's Intanon Ratchanok 17-21 21-18 21-14 and Li Xuerui overcame Hong Kong's Yip Pui Yin 21-12 22-20.

China are guaranteed at least one gold as top seeds and world champions Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei set up a final with number two pair Xu Chen and Ma Jin in the Mixed Doubles.

Both came through three-game battles against Denmark's Joachim Fischer and Christinna Pedersen and Indonesia's Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir respectively. For the first time in Olympic history, Indonesia now cannot win a Badminton gold medal.

In the women's Doubles, Tian Qing/Zhao Yunlei and Mizuki Fujii/Reika Kakiiwa will face each other after respective victories against Valeria Sorokina/Nina Vislova and Alex Bruce/Michele Li.

Bruce and Li put up the strongest fight, going down 21-13 to the Japanese in the third game.

The men's Doubles competition is heading for the semi-final stage.

Top seeds Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng won their all-Chinese clash with Chai Biao and Guo Zhendong to set up a meeting with Malaysia's Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong.

The other semi-final will be between second seeds Chung Jae-sung and Lee Yong-dae and Denmark's third seeds Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen.

Top seeds stroll to Doubles gold - London 2012 - Badminton

8/3/2012 12:00:00 AM

The top seeds were far too strong for their compatriots and second seeds Xu Chen and Ma Jin as they powered to a 21-11 21-17 victory at Wembley Arena.

The bronze medal was won earlier in the day by Danish pair Joachim Fischer and Christinna Pedersen, who beat Indonesia's Tonowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir.

The result of the gold encounter rarely seemed in doubt after world champions Zhang and Zhao got off to a superb start, racing into a 12-5 lead.

Zhao, despite apparent trouble from a knee injury, rarely relinquished control at the net while Zhang set up plenty of winners.

Their opponents could not impose themselves and were frequently forced into errors.

Zhang and Zhao led 8-0 in the second game and only had a brief struggle two points from victory as Xu and Ma won four in succession.

But victory was not long delayed and Zhang ran to the crowd to collect a flag from a supporter and threw his shoes into the audience.

Fourth seeds Fischer and Pedersen earned some consolation after their semi-final defeat by outplaying third seeds Ahmad and Natsir to win 21-12 21-12.

The result meant that for the first time in Olympic Games history Indonesia had failed to pick up a Badminton medal. At all previous Games since the sport was introduced at Barcelona 1992, the country had won at least one gold.

Ahmad said: 'I failed to cope with the expectation and under-performed.'

The men's Singles final on Sunday will be a repeat of the Beijing 2008 showpiece of four years ago between all-time greats and arch-rivals Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan.

Defending champion Lin had little trouble seeing off Republic of Korea's Lee Hyun-il.

The world number two won 11 of the first 12 points of the match and 12 of the last 14 as he powered past seventh seed to win 21-12 21-10.

Malaysia's top seed Lee was made to work much harder by third seed Chen Long and looked more impressive for it as he won 21-13 21-14.

Lee and Lin produced a stunning spectacle when they met in the final of the World Championships at the same venue last year.

Lin survived match point to win and will again be favourite, despite Lee's long-established status at the top of the world rankings.

The Malaysian, a perennial runner-up to Lin, will also carry the pressure of bidding to win his country's first Olympic Games gold in any sport.

The first women's semi-final proved a disappointing spectacle as top seed Wang Yihan made easy work of India's fourth seed Saina Newhal, winning 21-13 21-13 in 42 minutes.

Wang was joined in the final by fellow Chinese Li Xuerui, who beat another compatriot in Wang Xin.

Third seed Li, a late selection by China for the tournament, continued her impressive progress with a 22-20 21-18 success over the second seed.

Knockout places taking shape - London 2012 - Badminton

7/31/2012 12:00:00 AM

The 2004 gold medallist was game point down in the first game of what was effectively a shootout for a place in the last 16 at Wembley Arena but came through 22-20 21-11.

Abian spurned his chance to take the opener when, after making a brilliant diving recovery, he smashed a potential winner into the net.

The Indonesian made him pay for the miss and established a grip he did not relinquish to claim the qualifying spot from Group O.

Hidayat blamed the early start for his sluggishness in the opening stages.

He said: 'I never play early mornings. It's too early for me, I'm not an early morning person. My body is still adjusting. Because I play too early, it's like I'm still sleeping.'

India's Kashyap Parupalli sprang a surprise to go through at the expense of 10th seed Tien Minh Nguyen of Vietnam.

The world number 21 produced one of the best performances of his career to win 21-9 21-14 and top Group D.

Danes Kamilla Rytter Juhl and Christinna Pedersen stunned second seeds Tian Qing and Zhao Yunlei to secure one of the top two spots in Group D of the women's Doubles.

Lee taken all the way - London 2012 - Badminton

7/30/2012 12:00:00 AM

The top seed was taken to three games by Finn Ville Lang in a late-night thriller at Wembley Arena, but produced a strong finish to prevail 21-8 14-21 21-11.

Lee had been troubled in the build-up to London 2012 by an ankle injury and showed signs of rustiness as world number 45 Lang fought back in the second game.

Although the Malaysian eventually came through by winning 10 of the last 11 points, his performance will offer encouragement to his rivals, particularly reigning champion Lin Dan.

Lin, the Chinese superstar and second seed, looked in superb form as he brushed aside Ireland's Scott Evans earlier in the day.

Lee, who plans to retire after the Games, said: 'I am only mentally strong because I have had an injury and I am still not 100%.

'But I had nothing to lose and I just tried my best.'

Danish veteran Peter Gade, playing his fourth and last Olympics at the age of 35, started his latest bid for gold with an easy win over Portugal's Pedro Martins.

Watched by Crown Prince Frederik, the Sydney 2000 semi-finalist and fifth seed won 21-15 21-8.

The day's highest-profile casualty was Japan's eighth seed Kenichi Tago, who crashed out after a shock loss to Sri Lanka's Niluka Karunaratne. The big guns in the women's Singles had no such trouble.

Chinese pair Wang Yihan and Wang Xin, seeds one and two respectively, both reached the last 16 with comfortable wins in a morning session.

Visitors in the afternoon were denied a potentially thrilling finish in a men's Doubles match between Thailand's Bodin Isara and Maneepong Jongjit and the Poles Adam Cwalina and Michal Logosz.

The Polish pair were trailing 17-15 in a deciding game when Logosz snapped an Achilles tendon landing awkwardly after jumping. He left the arena in a wheelchair and the Thais won by default.

The USA's 2005 world champions Howard Bach, 33, and Tony Gunawan, 37, announced their retirement after going down to a third successive loss in the men's Doubles, this time to Japan's Naoki Kawamae and Shoji Sato.

Republic of Korea's Lee Yong-dae saw his hopes of defending the Mixed Doubles title ended as he and new partner Ha Jung-eun lost 21-15 21-12 to Danes Thomas Laybourn and Kamilla Rytter Juhl.

Badminton stars light up London

8/15/2011 12:15:00 PM

London played host to the BWF World Badminton Championships last week, as the city's preparations for next year's Olympic Games continue. The tournament was held at Wembley Arena, which will stage the badminton events during next year's Games, and attracted enthusiastic crowds eager to cheer on their heroes, with excitement building ahead of the Games in less than 12 months’ time.

The tournament also gave the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) the opportunity to test crucial aspects of its Games-time operations and formed part of the London Prepares series of sporting events, which is being used to fine-tune preparations for the Games next year.

The Wembley venue – which was also used during the 1948 Games in London, when it hosted some of the boxing, diving, swimming, and water polo events – has been extensively refurbished in recent years and received praise from competitors during last week’s tournament.

Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei, who finished second to China’s Lin Dan in the men’s singles, said: “It is the first time I have been to Wembley and the first time I have been to London. It is good. It has been a good experience to come to London and a good experience for next year, for the Olympic Games at the same stadium.”

China's Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng secured their fourth world title in the men’s doubles, and Cai was also pleased to gain experience of playing at Wembley Arena ahead of the Games next year.
“It’s very important to win this tournament and for us to adjust to the venue,” he said. “The playing hall is very good.”

British mixed doubles pair Chris Adcock and Imogen Bankier delighted the home crowd with their run to the final, where they were beaten by China’s Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei. Despite the disappointment of missing out on gold, Bankier was pleased with how the championship went and is now targeting a place in the British team at next year’s Games.

“To play the number of games we have at Wembley has been a fantastic experience for what will hopefully be a successful Olympic Games,” she said. “In terms of Olympic qualifying this is a great start and hopefully we will shoot up the rankings. The confidence we will get from this whole week will be a huge positive.”

Golden Opportunity - Lin Dan, Badminton

10/18/2010 2:28:00 PM

Olympic Review continues its countdown to the 2012 Games with exclusive interviews with stars of three more of the 26 sports on the programme, who are targeting gold in London. Lin Dan, the flamboyant chinese badminton star, was one of the home successes of the Beijing Games, winning the men’s gold medal. He will be defending his title in London in 2012.

At what age did you start playing Badminton?
I started playing badminton at the age of six and then six years later I joined my first junior team.

What is your strongest memory of the 2008 Beijing Games?
The thing that sticks in my mind is when I won the gold medal. At that moment I had realised my dream, which I had worked so long for.

What is your aim for the 2012 Games?
There is still two years to go before the next Olympic Games. During that time I will be taking part in a number of important competitions such as the Asian Games and the World Championships so as to keep in good form for 2012. I will try my best to defend my Olympic title.

Have you been to London before and, if so, what are your thoughts of the city?
London is a city with a great sense of history. I have been there previously when I competed in the All England Championships. I won the event last year, beating Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei, who was also my opponent in the final in Beijing.

What are you most looking forward to about the 2012 Games?
What I am hoping is that I can give the world (and the UK in particular) some more excellent performances and I hope that the Chinese team can achieve some good results so that our flag will again fly above the badminton court.

Who will be your main rivals for the gold medal in London?
Over the next two years, leading players such as Lee Chong Wei and Bao Chunlai will keep making progress. Meanwhile, more new players will come up in the world, such as Chen Jin and Chen Long. All of them are very good players and will be major competitors to me in London.

Who were your Olympic heroes when you were growing up?
While growing up, the members of the Chinese badminton team, such as the great Tang Xianhu, were always my Olympic heroes.

What music do you listen to on your MP3 player?
Both popular and classical music can be found on my MP3 player. Which one I listen to at any one time, depends on my mood at that moment.