China loses all in Japan Open badminton
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-04-11 17:17

The Chinese shuttlers failed to reap a single title as both Bao Chunlai and Gong Ruina lost their men's and women's singles finals at the Japan Open badminton tournament here on Sunday.

China's Bao Chunlai returns a shuttlecock during the Yonex Open Japan 2004 badminton championships men's singles final match against Ronald Susilo of Singapore in Tokyo April 11, 2004. Susilo defeated Bao 15-13 15-6. [Reuters]

The fifth-ranked Bao was defeated by Ronald Susilo 15-13 and 15- 6 as the 24-year-old Singaporean, who ranked 10 places below, enjoyed his best day to win the men's singles title.

By winning the final in 45 minutes, Susilo said that "it was a good match. I did pretty well today. It's special for me and it's great to win this prestigious Japan Open."

Bao, who eliminated teammate and reigning world number one Lin Dan on Saturday, came back from three points behind to take a 13- 10 lead in the first game before Susilo used an array of overhead drops to Bao's backhand front corner.

Susilo jumped ahead 7-2 from a 2-all in the second game with quick attacks at the net.

"I know I'm an underdog, he's higher ranked than me, so I played more relaxed, I didn't feel any pressure, I just enjoyed. That's why I could play all my abilities on the court," said Susilo.

In the women's singles final, top-ranked Gong Ruina lost to her Dutch rival 4th-ranked Mia Audina Tjiptawan 7-11, 11-7 and 11-7.

And fourth-ranked Wei Yili and Zhao Tingting also lost their women's doubles final to third-ranked Ra Kyung-Min and Lee Kyung- Won of South Korea 15-6, 5-15 and 15-1.

Eighth-ranked Indonesian pair of Nova Widianto and Vita Marissa defeated 7th-ranked Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thungthongkam of Thailand 15-10, 15-13 to win the mixed doubles title.

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