Memories of the Korea Open

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Don Hearn, Assistant Editor for Badzine, was in Seoul to cover the Super Series event. He was lucky enough to have Raphaël and Philippe in Seoul photographing the event. Here are his best memories of the week.

The Korea Open and I are like old friends. I’ve been to at least part of every one since 2002 and have seen every single hour of the last four. I’ve always thought it was a shame that the tournament has not had more prestige. After all, despite offering the highest prize money in badminton for the past decade and being hosted by a nation with one of the strongest teams in the world, it’s been hard for the Korea Open to compete for recognition with the storied history of the All England or the legendary crowds of Malaysia and Indonesia. On top of this is the fact that Seoul is not the famous tourist destination that Paris, Singapore, or Hong Kong is, especially not in the chilly, almost snowless winter that has been this event’s spot on the schedule these last three years.

While there has always been a very vocal crowd and the inflatable clappers often make plenty of noise, the most lasting image of this Korea Open has to be the sight of stands full of spectators reaching up to the very top of the gymnasium. The obvious reason for the increase in the number of spectators was the sudden rise to popularity, since their Olympic gold, of defending champions Lee Yong Dae and Lee Hyo Jung This was unmistakeable throughout the week, starting with the very first day, when less informed fans could be spotted looking dejected at having to wait two more days to see the stars.

In the quiet of the first day of the event, though, it was a less recent, but no less charismatic, former champion who provided the press corps with one of the unexpected scenes away from the courts. 2005 women’s singles champion Jun Jae Youn, who just a year ago was out on court beating Pi Hongyan and Xu Huaiwen, was well into her retirement this year and taking charge of the press room. It’s not every day you get your dinner ordered for you by a former champion.

When I was handed my press badge by a former Canadian Open champion, it was not the only connection to my country of origin in the week. Day Two started off with an inspiring win by two of my compatriots in the mixed doubles. The match featured a coaching showdown between Athens gold medallists Ha Tae Kwun and Kim Dong Moon, Milroy/Mckee’s coach. Kim’s charges won that challenge but throughout the week the two looked far more like the long-time pals than rivals.

For the third year in a row, I found myself being interviewed by the local press as evidently, the novelty of an international-looking journalist speaking in the local tongue has yet to wear off. This has produced the irony that, despite all the writing I do, whenever anyone I meet speaks of having seen “my article”, they are never referring to any of the ones I’ve written. The 2009 Korea Open marked the first time that I’d had a comment, in person, about an article, and from a featured player, no less! A very satisfying change of pace.

What should never be a novelty for a Canadian is a situation where you might be expected to communicate in French as well as English. At this Korea Open, with the tournament referee and two of my colleagues being from France, I had ample opportunity to make the effort to give my shamefully rusty French skills a workout. I’d never stumbled through a French conversation with someone famous, however, so when it came time to speak to the charming French star Pi Hongyan, I found myself tongue-tied. Pi was very kind, though, and didn’t make me feel too ridiculous when I told her that I baked my house!

My most embarrassing moment, though, came at lunchtime on semi-finals day when I failed to notice that my chair had fallen over and I fell on my behind in front of Shon Seung Mo and the entire Korean Junior National Team. I will be hoping that the young ones will have forgotten that little slapstick scene by the time I’m interviewing them when they are Korea’s best in a few years.

Speaking of young stars, a few made their impressions this year. Noteworthy among them was Shon Wan Ho, who eliminated Joachim Persson and stretched Peter Gade to three games. Less newsworthy but still auspicious was 17-year-old Sung Ji Hyun’s victory in her first ever Super Series match. Sung’s match was accompanied by the interesting image of her parents - both former stars and currently top coaches – looking on anxiously as Ji Hyun carried the family banner.

Of course, the most impressive youngster was, as usual, Lee Yong Dae. He and Lee Hyo Jung steamrolled to a mixed doubles title defense and Lee and Jung Jae Sung provided some thrills later in the men’s doubles. Off court, as well, Lee the man is maturing. Just a year ago, Lee the Korea Open champion was shy on camera and barely audible in the press conference but this year, Lee Yong Dae the Olympic champion was monopolizing the questions and seemed right at home in front of the cameras.

The TV exposure of the last six months seems to have brought out the performer in Lee Hyo Jung, too, as she seemed more willing to jest with reporters and got a defiant twinkle in her eye whenever anyone asked questions that hinted at her age or fitness.

On the podium in 2009, however, it was all about the veterans. Compared to the last time Peter Gade won here, taking on world #1 Lee Chong Wei seemed to make him work a little harder but the match finished with no less goodwill than when he beat his compatriot Jonassen in 2005. That was also the last time a Danish pair won the men’s doubles title and this year was an even more Danish year as Tine Rasmussen and Boe/Mogensen both won their first ever Korea Open finals. There was no repeat of 2005 in the women’s doubles, though, as Lee/Lee fell to the veterans of Chinese Taipei.

Though there was no public presentation, Lee Chong Wei receiving the Badzine Fair Play Trophy told a tale of its own. Lee accepted the award in the same manner that he had comported himself throughout the week: quietly and with class. He displayed, in the face of adversity, an attitude befitting a World #1 and managed to keep his cool to beat the crowd's favourite.

The Korea Open is now just a memory. The world's badminton elite are now preparing to descend on Europe for the German, All England, and Swiss Opens. By the time Korea hosts its next tournament, in early April, this bitter winter will itself be nothing but a memory and Suwon's many cherry trees should be in full blossom to welcome Asia's best to produce some of the world's best badminton.

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