TOKYO: The Malaysian presence at the Japan Open dwindled to none yesterday when Mohd Roslin Hashim’s challenge finally ended at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium here yesterday. The 29-year-old Roslin crashed out 5-15, 9-15 to Bao Chunlai of China in the quarter-finals of the five-star, US$180,000 tournament. It was Roslin’s second defeat by the Chinese youngster. He had also lost to Chunlai in the World Championships quarter-finals last year in Birmingham. Roslin, who had upset world number three Lee Hyun-il of South Korea just a day earlier, had badly wanted to avenge his younger brother Hafiz’s defeat at the hands of Chunlai in the third round. But it was the world number five who had the last say. The defeat also dashed Roslin’s hopes of becoming the first Malaysian to win the Japan Open twice. He had won the title in 2001. The Nusa Mahsuri shuttler was the only Malaysian remaining in the quarter-finals after all his team-mates had been eliminated in earlier rounds. And he was so distraught after his defeat that he could not even comment about his game. Despite his defeat, Roslin’s place in the Athens Olympic Games is as good as assured. He is currently ranked 14th in the world and only the top 16 at the end of the Olympic qualifying period on April 30 will get to go to Athens. Roslin can consolidate his position in the Asian Badminton Championships (ABC) from April 20-25 at KL Badminton Stadium. The ABC is the last qualifying tournament to offer Olympic points. One Chinese player is guaranteed a place in the final of the Japan Open as Chunlai takes on top seed and world number one Lin Dan of China in the semi-finals. Lin Dan, who has been a very consistent player, continued his excellent run in the World Badminton Grand Prix circuit when he clawed from a game down to beat a resurgent Peter Gade-Christensen of Denmark 7-15, 15-9, 15-9 in the quarter-final yesterday. The other semi-final match will be between Singaporean Ronald Susilo and South Korean Park Tae-sang. Tae-sang created a big upset when he downed second seed Chen Hong of China 15-11, 10-15, 15-10. Ronald, who had beaten top Malaysian player Wong Choong Hann in the third round, prevented an all-South Korean affair in the semi-final when he tamed Shon Seung-mo 15-6, 6-15, 15-0. There was an upset in the men’s doubles when Indonesian Flandi Limpele-Eng Hian beat world champions Lars Paaske-Jonas Rasmussen of Denmark 5-15, 15-4, 15-10 to set up a meeting with Chinese Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng. TheStar
