Finals Japan Open 2005

[FEND.]

And now jens clears it and again and sudket smashes down the middle and drosp it now and saralee aiming HER SHOT AGAINST METTE BUT GOES OUT!! 2 - 1 to the danes!! METTE DID REAL GOOD TO DUCK!!!

lol. Now jens to serve... and jens now and jens smashes it against the net!! 2 - 1 2nd!!!

[FEND.]

METTE NOW PLAYING THE ASSASSINATION GAME HITTING HER SHOT AGAINST SARALEE WHO DUCKED BUTI TWAS STILL IN!! 1- 2 2nd@!!!

[FEND.]

SUDKET WITH ANOTHER OF HIS JMP SMASHES ATTEMPTS TO KILL IT BUT HITS IT AGAINST THE NET!! 2 - 1 to the danes now who will serve... mette and now Lift by JENS IS JUST LONG!!! 2nd!!! serve... and now jens to serve and saralee clears an JENS 3 SMASHES IN A ROW!!!! taking the third POINT!!!

[FEND.]

Jens lifts this and tries to defend himself against a smash but hits it against the net!! 1 - 3 to the THais!!

[FEND.]

2nd server now as sudket's serve hits the net!! 2 - 3 now as saralee's serve is just nicely in BUT HER SERVE NOW HITS THE NET!! 3 - 2!!

[FEND.]

One Serve Killed As Mette Hits The Return Against The Net And Now Sudket Finding Another Spot In The Empty Coner!! Serve Goes To Thais!! 2 - 3!!!

[FEND.]

Jen's smash hits the net 3- 3 and now JENS AGAIN AND METTE AT THE NET AND JENS FLYING IN SMASHES THE SHUTTLE!!!! 3-3 2nd

AND MARTIN IS A COMMENTATOR!!

AND NOW SUDEKET AND SARALEE AIMING AT THE MIDDLE OF THE OF JENS!! 4 -3 !!! 2nd!!!

[FEND.]

3 - 4 to the DANES NOW!!! And now jens to seve and jens SMASHES IT INTO THE EMPTY LEFT HAND SIDE!!! 4 -4 !!!

[FEND.]

Serve by jens hitting the net!! 4-4!! And now jens smashes and another and mette joins in and jens again and AGINA AND SUDKET DIVES IN VAIN AS HE HITS THE SHUTTLE WIDE!!

5 -4!! or rather the shuttle touched the ground already!

[FEND.]

Saralee Error At The Net Her Push Hitting The Net And Now Sudket What A Shot Flings The Shuttle Towards An Empty Corner In The Danish Side!! 4- 6 To The Thais Now!!

[FEND.]

LONG DRIVE BY SUDKET!! TOO LONG!! 4- 6 2nd server nand now SUDKET ATTEMPTING A SHOT AGAINST METTE SUCCEEDS WITH IT!! 5 -6 apologies given out and a service fault callled!! 6- 5!

[FEND.]

And now saralee hits on e against Mette!! killing off one serve... jens to serve now.. and ens lifts it and mette is under barrange and i think jens lifted it but goes well wide!! S.O!! 5 -6!!!

OMG JENS BACKHAND SMASH HITS THE NET!! 6- 6!!

[FEND.]

7 -6 AS JENS MISJUDGED THE SERVICE AND NOW METTE LIFTS AND SUDKET IS THERE WITH 2 SMASHES the 2nd one taking the 8th point for the thais!!

[Mag]

Hi guys, a bit late to join the action as always.

Jens is doing OK I see. He's one of the greatest, and he's proved it once again. I can't help but notice how quiet it got about the MD final after they crushed Candra/Sigit. :rolleyes:
Perhaps Jens will get proper recognition if he goes on for another 15 years and wins the WC at the age of 50? :D

Go, Jens! Go Mette!

[FEND.]

AND NOW. Welcome MAg and now SUDKET ANOTHER SMASH TOWARDS METTTE's FEET!! 9 - 6 to THAIS!!

SUDKET TO SERVE AND NOW JENS LIFTS AND SUDKET RREPLIES WIT H A SMASH OR 2!! AND HIS NETPLAY JUST TIPING OVERR!! 9 -6 2nd!!

And now... JENS'S PUSH FOR RETURN OF SERVE IS WIDE!! 10 - 6!!

[FEND.]

11 - 6 to the thais now and mistake by jens again at the net!! 12 - 6!!!

[FEND.]

Shot by the thais is out.. service goes to the danes!! 6 - 12!!! Mette is using NS7k?? or issit 8K?? the one where the T is silver..?

[FEND.]

JENS NOW BREAKIG THRU THE THAI"S DEFENSE WITH A MIXTRUE OF SHOTS!! 7 - 12!! and too short a serve or wassit a brilliant return by sudket which kills the first serve off!! 7 - 12 2nd and jens's serve goes wide!!?!?!? 12 - 7!!

[FEND.]

12 - 7 now!! and Saralee gives the 2nd serve away with a poor tap at the net!! 7 - 12

[Mag]

Hm. 6-12. It looks like it's over for the Danes...
:eek:

[FEND.]

FIRST SERVE KILLED OFF?!?! DIN SEE HOW THAT HAPPENED...

METTE TO SERVE NOW.... and SUDKET NICELY PLACING THE SHUTTLE WITH A CAREFULLY ANGLED DROP!! 12 - 7!!

[FEND.]

12 - 7 now 2nd service after sudket's clear went long and now Sudket JMP SMASH AND ERIKSEN CAN ONLY HIT THAT OUT!!! 13 - 7!!

[FEND.]

14 - 7 AS METTE CAN'T REACH SARALEE's DROP AT THE NET!!

[FEND.]

And Now Tense On Sudket's Drop Hits The Net!! S.o!! 7 -14 To The Danes!! Can They Pull This One Back!?

[Mag]

Ouch. :(
One final too much for Jens.

[FEND.]

OMG AFTER ANOTHER TENSE RALLY JENS JUST WASTED HIS SHOT AT THE NET HITTING THE SHUTTLE AGAINST THE NET!! 2nd service..

And now METTE'S OVERHEAD SHOT AT THE NET SENDS THE BIRD NETWARDS!!

SARALEE TO SERVE NOW.. and SUDKET UNDER PRESSURE CANT RETURN JENS's DRIVE!!

14-7 2nd.. and now low one and SUDKET LEAVES METTE'S CLEAR!!! ITS OVER!! 15 - 7!!!!! THAIS WIN!!!

[FEND.]

Time to eat my ricenoodles now!!

Need to put PC in my room too. Cyas later guys!

[Mag]

Phew. What a final. I'm looking forward to seeing that one later.
Great win by the Thais!

[kwun]

Mag, Jens is indeed still going strong. but i do see that he is having some difficulty with the hard to reach shots and noticably slower than when he was young like when he was playing with Jesper. i see him playing for another 5 yrs with this form.

[the_danish_boy]

Mag, Jens is indeed still going strong. but i do see that he is having some difficulty with the hard to reach shots and noticably slower than when he was young like when he was playing with Jesper. i see him playing for another 5 yrs with this form.
i agree with you...he says to danish television that his last tournament will be olympics in 2008 (probably), hehe..:)

[kwun]

ok. it is official. Sudket and Sarelee are my favorite mixed doubles pair.

the game of mixed to me is a game of brain, placement and formation. and they have it all. never will they hit a shot without passing it through their head first. when you think they will do a big jumpsmash, you may get a cross court block or a big attacking clear to the only place where you are not defending. or if you think Saralee would lift, straight, instead she twists her wrist and give you a cross court net. all shots response are calculated and creative.

their formation is also very fluid and constantly chaing and not dead and fixed.

add together the excellent defensive control by Saralee, great calmness and composure when she is defending the hardest of smashes from Jens. and the sheer emotional jumpsmashes from Sudket who will never wait for a lift to drop and instead leaps up in the air to meet it.

a contrast from the clinical Chinese style. what a refreshing pair to watch.

[cooler]

ok. it is official. Sudket and Sarelee are my favorite mixed doubles pair.

the game of mixed to me is a game of brain, placement and formation. and they have it all. never will they hit a shot without passing it through their head first. when you think they will do a big jumpsmash, you may get a cross court block or a big attacking clear to the only place where you are not defending. or if you think Saralee would lift, straight, instead she twists her wrist and give you a cross court net. all shots response are calculated and creative.

their formation is also very fluid and constantly chaing and not dead and fixed.

add together the excellent defensive control by Saralee, great calmness and composure when she is defending the hardest of smashes from Jens. and the sheer emotional jumpsmashes from Sudket who will never wait for a lift to drop and instead leaps up in the air to meet it.

a contrast from the clinical Chinese style. what a refreshing pair to watch.

it's nice to see new tactic and form from an upcoming badminton country like Thailand. Historically, thai sports and martial arts are extremely fast and quick, their badminton shown by this pair is another reflection of their way of play and fight. Being shorter has it advantage tool as demonstrated by this thai pair, as long as u can keep up the fast pace, twist and turn fast, it can overcome the advantage of height, especially in doubles.

thai guy using 800 OF as he is definitely playing offensively. :p
the danish gal was using ns7000

[MarkinJapan]

nice to see the thai pair coming back and winning the final they lost last year. 2004 yonex open was the first time I watched this pair and I agree they are an exciting pair to watch.

[kwun]

nice to see the thai pair coming back and winning the final they lost last year. 2004 yonex open was the first time I watched this pair and I agree they are an exciting pair to watch. the best part about the Thai's are their creativeness. i keep on wondering what reply they are going to give on each shot. what holes they have found on the other end of the court. it gives badminton a higher degree of unpredictability, making it so much more enjoyable to watch.

it just tells us that power and speed is not everything in badminton.

brilliant

[aiyuuw]

the best part about the Thai's are their creativeness. i keep on wondering what reply they are going to give on each shot. what holes they have found on the other end of the court. it gives badminton a higher degree of unpredictability, making it so much more enjoyable to watch.

it just tells us that power and speed is not everything in badminton.

brilliant wow, mr.kwun's in loooooovehttp://badmintoncentral.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[kwun]

wow, mr.kwun's in loooooovehttp://badmintoncentral.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif i am always in love with badminton. (don't tell my wife... ;) but i think she knows....)

[FEND.]

lol. Kwun,

The Thais were really great. It was hard to keep up with them and they do things really unconventionally like when they place the shuttle they place it at the backcorners instead of the usual smash against the body or drop down the middle.

Sudket prolly demonstrated he has the best jmp smash in the world. The way he poises himself is really fantastic and he could easily do a drop with his kind of positioning and you wouldn't even know it!!

[viver]

it just tells us that power and speed is not everything in badminton.

brilliantAgree with you completly. Watched a bit here but somehow I could only see about 15 sec and wait for another 15 sec, watch again 15 secs... :mad:

One return by the Thai player, saw him sending Erikssen the wrong way. To be able to do this, just speed and power are not enough. Would like to be able to watch the whole game without interruptions.

[cooler]

the best part about the Thai's are their creativeness. i keep on wondering what reply they are going to give on each shot. what holes they have found on the other end of the court. it gives badminton a higher degree of unpredictability, making it so much more enjoyable to watch.

it just tells us that power and speed is not everything in badminton.

brilliant

although i had emphasized speed alot but speed isnt has to be solely physical. Often we debated about power vs speed vs technique/stroke skills but they are all lower form when compare to mental. When asked about the ultimate question, i've said mental but did not elaborate.
http://www.badmintonforum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=21378&page=1&highlight=mental

mental component can be divided into these important sub-components

- fast thinking (when one process thoughts fast, more alternatives can be selected for the best choice, eg best chess players can set his/her game plan many many moves ahead in the head, eg hyperthreading)
- reaction and anticipation or reading of opponents
- mental toughness, ie staying focus in time of chaos or desperation.

I have no prob. finding B player that can move faster than pros, or a player that can nail a shuttle harder than a pro, and many coaches possess better technique than a pro but a pro has better mental components than any of the above type of players.

moving fast without thinking fast has its limit. (look at ben johnson, fastest human, physically, but not very bright, coz 100m is a very simple task) However, it goes without saying that players that can move fast usually think fast too. (ex. anyone can hope on an indy race car and go 220 mph on track but not all can last very long)

[aiyuuw]

lol. Kwun,

The Thais were really great. It was hard to keep up with them and they do things really unconventionally like when they place the shuttle they place it at the backcorners instead of the usual smash against the body or drop down the middle.

Sudket prolly demonstrated he has the best jmp smash in the world. The way he poises himself is really fantastic and he could easily do a drop with his kind of positioning and you wouldn't even know it!! now im taking back my statement about being grateful that there was no broadcast here, becos i'd pass out etc., i would love to c himhttp://badmintoncentral.com/forums/images/smilies/crying.gif

[kwun]

although i had emphasized speed alot but speed isnt has to be solely physical. Often we debated about power vs speed vs technique/stroke skills but they are all lower form when compare to mental. When asked about the ultimate question, i've said mental
http://www.badmintonforum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=21378&page=1&highlight=mental

mental component can be divided into these important sub-components

- fast thinking (when one process thoughts fast, more alternatives can be selected for the best one, eg best chess players can set his/her game plan many many moves ahead in the head)
- anticipation or reading of opponents
- mental toughness, ie staying focus in time of chaos or desperation.

I have no prob. finding B player that can move faster than pros, or a player that can nail a shuttle harder than a pro, and many coaches possess better technique than a pro but a pro has better mental components than any of the listed type of players.

moving fast without thinking fast has its limit. (look at ben johnson, very fast phyiscially but not very bright, coz 100m is a very simple task) However, it goes without saying that players that can move fast usually think fast too. (ex. anyone can hope on an indy race car and go 220 mph on track but not all can last very long)
agree. it depends on the turf. mixed doubles is a game of the mind, as i said.

bring some amazing finger speed to play chess but left the brain at home, and you will get no where. ;)

[cooler]

agree. it depends on the turf. mixed doubles is a game of the mind, as i said.

bring some amazing finger speed to play chess but left the brain at home, and you will get no where. ;)

by having mental speed first, then one know which skills to master and not wasting training energy on techniques that has less reward/effort ratio ;)

yes, XD is very mental based mainly because:

1. lady and man physical abilities are so different, more room to exploit
2. lady and man thinks differently, like mars vs venus ;) which u do know by now :D

[MarkinJapan]

2. lady and man thinks differently, like mars vs venus ;) which u do know by now :D yeah, the men are thinking about trucks and the women about housework.....;) just kidding.

how were you watching the game kwun?

[Anatolii]

you are too captious.

CH has told you he is retired only because of tired? You should not say that when you don't know what happened!that's right.

Zhang Ning, Lin Dan win women's singles at Japan Open Badminton
www.chinaview.cn 2005-04-10 15:37:31


TOKYO, Apr. 10 (Xinhuanet) -- China's Olympic and world champion Zhang Ning was crowned in the women's singles event at the Japan Open badminton tournament here on Sunday as she ended the winning streak of fellow Chinese Xie Xingfang with an 11-7, 11-8 victory in the final.

Later in the men's final, Lin Dan captured the singles title in another all-Chinese final againstthird-seeded compatriot Chen Hong, who was trailing 15-4, 2-0 before retiring due to fever.

Top seed Zhang, who surrendered her world number one ranking to Xie this week, used effective drops to Xie's backhand front to seal upthe 37-minute match.

"I reached the final in Japan for the first time and went on to win the title. I'm really happy about it," said Zhang.

*The 29-year-old veteran moved Xie from the baseline to the front with an array of soft-touched shots combined with smashes and disguised overhead drops.

"In the beginning, I felt she was very tired, she didn't move as quickly as she usually does, so I didn't change my tactics. I just played my usual game to beat her today," added Zhang.

It was Zhang's first title since winning the Singapore Open in November, while Xie had previously won six straight Grand Prix titles including the most prestigious All England last month, and 34 straight matches.

In the men's doubles events, top seeds Danish duo of Jens Eriksen and Martin Lundgaard Hansen beat Indonesia's Candra Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto 15-10, 15-3 in the final, and Wang Wei and Zhang Jiewen won over fellow Chinese Wei Yili and Zhao Tingting 15-12, 15-2. Enditem

[FEND.]

Tough luck for Chen Hong, but at least we got some extra action in the XD!!

[Badmincraze]

Sudket/Saralee r now my fav XD players too :D

Sudket's jumpsmashes r powerful n Saralee defends well n is able to deliver surprising attacks. Juz a couple of service faults though :p ...

Their actions really make up for the loss in MS... ...

[BethuneGuy]

it just tells us that power and speed is not everything in badminton.


Speed and power are still QUITE a big part of badminton though. The pair was pretty fast nonetheless.

[Loh]

The roles changed. Unlike the All England, Zhang Ning was decidedly different in yesterday's Japan Open Finals.

Zhang Ning looks magnificent in her apple green one-piece suit, trimmed in black with matching hair clip on her long pony-tail, which is at least three times the length of her much younger and model-like opponent. In contrast, Xie Xing-fang wears a two-piece black and white attire but still looks elegant in her 'willowy' figure. The 'high' Chinese collar on both the ladies' shirts is a welcome change from the 'flat' ones that used to be the norm.

There is a certain spark on Zhang's face that I have grown accustomed to after seeing her in action these many years, quite unlike the one that I saw of her during the AE Finals. Her attire is short enough to show off her relatively 'strong' legs and well-toned arms. Xie seems a little taller of these two tall Chinese girls and her black outfit contrasted well with her fairer skin and long limbs.

But once the battle begins, one could tell that Zhang is not the same. She must have trained harder during the interim period as she moves about the court much more faster than before, yet she maintained good balance and posture. Xie is always a mite slower and thus has no chance to take the initiative and to mount attacks.

Zhang is stronger in most departments, be it at the net or back of the court and controls the proceedings rather efficiently to Xie's chagrin. Her powerful smash often meets with no reply, a sliced net cross followed by a swift round-the-head smash is all it takes to finish the rally. And Zhang does that consistently.

And so the match ends in two straight games with Zhang taking full revenge of their previous encounter.

By the looks of things, this 29-year old Olympic Champion will not relent. Woe betides those confronting her at the forthcoming World Championships. :)

[Shuttlebugs]

Can someone post some pictures of the champions in action. Thanks.

[Anatolii]

Can someone post some pictures of the champions in action. Thanks.the pics are posted in the "Japan open 05 pics" thread. but a good source of them would be from www.gettyimages.com. they're in the EDITORIAL section. the pics that ants puts up are good too. but i don't know where he obtains them however. .. ask him. :D

[hcyong]

You seem to like to comment on what they wear. Hmmm....

Even at the All-England, I noticed that Zhang at least matched Xie in all departments but that her lack of stamina let her down. However, stamina is something that can be regained quickly and I expected her to defeat Xie when they met next (which was yesterday).


The roles changed. Unlike the All England, Zhang Ning was decidedly different in yesterday's Japan Open Finals.

Zhang Ning looks magnificent in her apple green one-piece suit, trimmed in black with matching hair clip on her long pony-tail, which is at least three times the length of her much younger and model-like opponent. In contrast, Xie Xing-fang wears a two-piece black and white attire but still looks elegant in her 'willowy' figure. The 'high' Chinese collar on both the ladies' shirts is a welcome change from the 'flat' ones that used to be the norm.

There is a certain spark on Zhang's face that I have grown accustomed to after seeing her in action these many years, quite unlike the one that I saw of her during the AE Finals. Her attire is short enough to show off her relatively 'strong' legs and well-toned arms. Xie seems a little taller of these two tall Chinese girls and her black outfit contrasted well with her fairer skin and long limbs.

But once the battle begins, one could tell that Zhang is not the same. She must have trained harder during the interim period as she moves about the court much more faster than before, yet she maintained good balance and posture. Xie is always a mite slower and thus has no chance to take the initiative and to mount attacks.

Zhang is stronger in most departments, be it at the net or back of the court and controls the proceedings rather efficiently to Xie's chagrin. Her powerful smash often meets with no reply, a sliced net cross followed by a swift round-the-head smash is all it takes to finish the rally. And Zhang does that consistently.

And so the match ends in two straight games with Zhang taking full revenge of their previous encounter.

By the looks of things, this 29-year old Olympic Champion will not relent. Woe betides those confronting her at the forthcoming World Championships. :)

[seven]

ok. it is official. Sudket and Sarelee are my favorite mixed doubles pair.

the game of mixed to me is a game of brain, placement and formation. and they have it all. never will they hit a shot without passing it through their head first. when you think they will do a big jumpsmash, you may get a cross court block or a big attacking clear to the only place where you are not defending. or if you think Saralee would lift, straight, instead she twists her wrist and give you a cross court net. all shots response are calculated and creative.

their formation is also very fluid and constantly chaing and not dead and fixed.

add together the excellent defensive control by Saralee, great calmness and composure when she is defending the hardest of smashes from Jens. and the sheer emotional jumpsmashes from Sudket who will never wait for a lift to drop and instead leaps up in the air to meet it.

a contrast from the clinical Chinese style. what a refreshing pair to watch.
Wow, I really want to see that match now! :eek::eek::eek:

This is a great win for Sudket and Saralee, I hope there will be others! :)

[Loh]

[QUOTE=hcyong]You seem to like to comment on what they wear. Hmmm....
QUOTE]

Well, if you liken the badminton match as a "Theatre of Dance" and the combatants as the high profile dancers filled with expressions and emotions, leaping and flying into the air, doing set pieces as well as impromptu movements on the floor, running to and fro, sometimes entertaining by the unexpected dives and splits, then the costumes they wear can add great appeal to and complement their beautiful bodies, expressive faces and limbs.

The design and fabric of the attire, the contrast and harmonization of the colours, the accessories, including the rackets they carry and the shoes/wrist and head bands they wear, can certainly enhance the whole visual experience and make the entire 'Badminton Dance' a most pleasurable one to the eyes! :p

[Anatolii]

Well, if you liken the badminton match as a "Theatre of Dance" and the combatants as the high profile dancers filled with expressions and emotions, leaping and flying into the air, doing set pieces as well as impromptu movements on the floor, running to and fro, sometimes entertaining by the unexpected dives and splits, then the costumes they wear can add great appeal to and complement their beautiful bodies, expressive faces and limbs.

The design and fabric of the attire, the contrast and harmonization of the colours, the accessories, including the rackets they carry and the shoes/wrist and head bands they wear, can certainly enhance the whole visual experience and make the entire 'Badminton Dance' a most pleasurable one to the eyes! :pWOW! .. .. that's the first i've heard. .. you're one heck of an imaginative person. :D

[Sealman]

Sudket's jumpsmashes r powerful n Saralee defends well n is able to deliver surprising attacks.
When I saw Saralee play during the women's doubles finals at the Singapore open last year, was quite impressed with her hard smashes. :)

[cooler]

the best part about the Thai's are their creativeness. i keep on wondering what reply they are going to give on each shot. what holes they have found on the other end of the court. it gives badminton a higher degree of unpredictability, making it so much more enjoyable to watch.

it just tells us that power and speed is not everything in badminton.

brilliant

:p it's the only things :p (well, a very big part of it)