2013 Victor KOREA Open GP Gold - Qualification to FINAL (5th-10th November 2013)

As in their WD match against SIN yesterday, Ko/Yoo #2 were the more excited pair with their loud screams.

However, this did not help them much as though seeded lower at No.4, their opponents, Jang/Kim, did not show that they were inferior in any way and won G1 convincingly, leading all the way. Of course Jang is the more experienced player as she also played in XD with Yoo Yeon Seong.

Of note is the long pony-tail Yoo also wears long stockings in black, aka JOJ.

Ko/Yoo are still behind Jang/Kim 6-10 in G2.

But both teams are worthy of being the finalists with their skilful and energetic display.
 
5-2 to BYJ in G1 against SJH. BYJ seems to have a slight edge in terms of shots placement here. Maybe SJH is a typical slow starter. 7-3 now to BYJ
 
G1 went to 23-year-old Bae 21-19, after she led by a far margin in the early stages.

She is fighting hard to be crowned WS No.1 in Korea! But I'm sure Sung has other ideas.
 
So after a spirited display, Bae becomes the new WS champion with a convincing victory in G3, 21-19, 15-21, 21-9. Sung must have given up in the rubber to have lost so badly. Or her gas tank went empty?

I missed G3 as I fell asleep after a simple lunch of Tom Yam cup noodles, haha.

Now the young Hong Ji Hoon will be tested by veteran Lee Hyun Il to determine whether he is made of good stuff.
 
gjoo888 said:
I saw both He and Yamaguchi play at last week's WJC in Bangkok. Although both are "stocky," He is not that short, Yamaguchi is short, probably around 5 ft. tall with huge legs for her size. It's easy to see where she gets her power.
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Yes, you're right about Akane Y. Her lower body is prominent, her legs, esp those 'outsized' thighs (it's just that I didn't want to be so explicit, now that you mentioned it) which allow her to move so effortlessly and stably.
 
Already we can see why Hong Ji Hoon is a KOR player to watch out for. But still I'd be surprised if Lee HI couldn't handle him.
 
I supposed Bae YJ has the attritional style of play and retrieving ability to frustrate most if not all of the attacking players, esp when they are not at their best.
 
According to BWF biodata, Hong JH is born 10/27/1988, 25 years old now; quite an experienced player already (I thought he is a few years younger than that at first).
 
Justin L said:
According to BWF biodata, Hong JH is born 10/27/1988, 25 years old now; quite an experienced player already (I thought he is a few years younger than that at first).
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Won boy's WJC title in the same year WYH won hers in Korea, if I remember correctly.
 
Interestingly, Hong JH is being coached by park SH while Lee HI has no-one(he doesn't need it anyway).

The evergreen maestro is putting his younger colleague in his place.
 
Whilst it was good to see an all-Korean finals in the Sunday matches with the five titles guaranteed to the Koreans, one could not help but discern an element of bias in the service calls of theKorean service judges against non-Korean opponents.
Zulkiffli Zulfadui vented his frustration by walking out in the 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] round of his match againstHan Ki Hoon whilst trailing 19-21, 10-15 citing biased calls against him andcalls favoring Han. The Koreans should have known that the world was watching and to win under a cloud was not perceived as creditable. The review systemwhich will be implemented at the SS Finals in December 2013, will hopefully,put paid to all dubious line calls for matches played on the TV courts. Notwithstanding the aforesaid,one has to salute Lee Hyun Il for taking the MS title winning all his seven matches in straight games from the qualifying stage. In the process, he beat seeded players like S Santoso (12), Wan Chia-Hsin (14), and Tian Houwei (11). Despite his semi-retirement status, he is miles ahead of players like Liew Daren and Chong Wei Feng and these two Malaysian players must take a leaf from Lee as towhy he is so good. LHI is obviously more than good enough to play 2[SUP]nd [/SUP]or 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] singles for Korea in next year’s Thomas Cup campaign and winning points at that and sadly one cannot say that of the said Malaysian players.
 
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tbgoh288 said:
He should rank among China's top 7 players by now. What has happened to Qiao Bin, injured or facing disciplinary suspension?
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The best part is Tian Houwei can only get better as time goes by considering he is a talented, intelligent player and willing to continue working hard; what's more, it's still early years in his career and he's developing his game while accumulating experience and maturing. Yesterday's 'lesson' at the hands of the redoubtable veteran, Lee HI, will benefit and galvanize him towards realizing his true potential in good time.

Qiao Bin, he too showed promise early this year and then just as suddenly he's off the radar screen - not sure what happened to him. Maybe it's CBA's practice or policy to try out their 'junior' or second tier players in turn and only those who perform acceptably by their standards continue to get chances to compete internationally.

I suppose for these players to perform reasonably well domestically is one thing, to be able to do just as well internationally is what really counts, understandably so. Blame it on CHN having too many such 'junior'/second-tier players that the competition among them is so keen for a chance to play on the international stage. I'm sure most of us following Chinese badminton can easily reel off some 'new' names, eg Zhou Wenlong, Guo Kai and what have you.
 
Whilst it was good to see an all-Korean finals in the Sunday matches with the five titles guaranteed to the Koreans, one could not help but discern an element of bias in the service calls of the Korean service judges against non-Korean opponents.
Zulkiffli Zulfadui vented his frustration by walking out in the 2nd round of his match against Han Ki Hoon whilst trailing 19-21, 10-15 citing biased calls against him and calls favoring Han. The Koreans should know that the world was watching and to win under a cloud was not perceived as creditable.
The review system which will be implemented at the SS Finals in December 2013, will hopefully, put paid to all dubious line calls for matches played on TV courts.
Notwithstanding the aforesaid, one has to salute Lee Hyun Il for taking the MS title winning all his seven matches in straight games from the qualifying stage. In the process, he beat seeded players like S Santoso (12), Wan Chia-Hsin (14), and Tian Houwei (11). Despite his semi-retirement status, he is miles ahead of players like Liew Daren and Chong Wei Feng and these two Malaysian players must take a leaf from Lee as to why he is so good. LHI is obviously more than good enough to play 2nd or 3rd singles for Korea in next year’s Thomas Cup campaign and winning points at that and sadly one cannot say that of the said Malaysian players.
 
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