Rubber-set is on as the INA pair took the second-set 21-14. Not a high quality match obviously as both pairs made very comical errors in both sets. The one which make less error in the decider will take this one.
Li Gen looked frustrated as he was the main culprit in the third-set. I counted at least 5-6 pts from his errors alone.
Yet another defeat for Li Gen. Zhang Nan must be frustrated at having to be paired with him. The same goes for other ex-partners.
..but Li Gen has good court manners. Apologizing to the opponents for the time out for treating his back.
Is Li Gen, front court player, or back court player? Maybe pairing olympic champ Fu or Cai will help boost his confidence...
CHN should have at least 1 representative in the final. Bao YiXin & Tang JinHua look much stronger than their opponents.
Liu Yuchen... Li Junhui... Hong Wei... Chai Biao... Liu Xiaolong... Qiu Zihan... Cai Yun... Fu Haifeng... The experiment continues.
It must be some kind of record for China. For out of all the 5 matches that their players are involved in, they lost all of them here in this SF! Let's see whether their remaining 2 matches in WD and MD can redeem some consolation and pride for China. Granted their players here are not really from the first team, not even Zhang Nan whose scratch pairing with Li Gen just came to a habitual end for the latter.
It must be rare for Singapore to have two finalists in a GP! I missed Gu Juan's match on TV as it was not shown, but her G2 with Hera Desi must be pretty close at 23-21. Nevertheless congrats to GJ for making another GP final. But her final Thai opponent Busanan, who beat China's Xirui Hui convincingly, is a tough prospect. My hope is that at least we can capture one title to boost the confidence of the Singapore camp.
I noticed Gu Juan playing with a bit more intensity than before and with the occasional smash. Hope she's not at the wrong end of a lop-sided affair tomorrow; maybe she has a fighting chance against Busanan whom she's beaten once in four meetings at the MAS GPG in Mar this year.
I think what GJ also needs is some kind of "brain-washing" to remind herself she can do it again. Indeed being more aggressive in her attacks when the opportunity arises is the way to go instead of relying on her defensive play time and again. Gu Juan, you can do it!
Yes, the inner belief that she can do it. If she could somehow beat Busanan tomorrow, even if it is owing to the latter having a bad day, it would be such a huge confidence booster for her in future tournaments. Remember she came close to beating P V Sindhu in the MAS GPG'13 for the title and also recently bested Saina Nehwal in the SCG Thai Open'13, no mean feat.
