LI NING SINGAPORE INT'L - A 'BAEminton' Final

Almost four months after an exciting Aviva Open Super Series in June this year, badminton-hungry local fans were happy to get a second serving of international badminton at the Li-Ning Singapore International Series 2009 tournament, which was held from 30 September to 3 October at Yio Chu Kang Sports Hall.

By Timothy Chan, Badzine Correspondent, live from Singapore. Photos: Badmintonphoto (archives)

When it was announced that the two Baes, Bae Seung Hee (World Ranking #29) and Bae Youn Joo (WR #44) from South Korea would be playing in the women’s singles category, there was anticipation by fans about the possibility of an all-Korean final between the two of them. Their wishes of a “BAEminton” final came true, when in the semi-finals, Bae Seung Hee upset top-seeded Zhang Beiwen of Singapore (WR #22) 21-16, 19-21, 21-15 and Bae Youn Joo beat her team-mate Kwon Hee Sook 25-23, 21-19.

At the final on sunday, Bae Youn Joo got the upper hand and beat her higher-ranked compatriot, Chinese Taipei Open runner-up Bae Seung Hee, by 21-15, 21-14. This Singapore triumph came as Bae Youn Joo was playing in her fourth international final, having won the Indonesia International title in 2008 but after losing in both Yeosu International 2008 and last week, she had to prevail in rematches against her opponents from both of those finals. But the Singapore International was the site of her first ever final, in 2007.

LEE-KIM DH Yeosu 3709

Although this tournament is of a lower prize money of US$5,000 compared to the richer Super Series and Grand Prix tournaments, it still had attracted many second-stringer national players from Singapore, Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, India, Wales, USA, Philippines and Kazakhstan.

Besides, Singapore who fielded most of their first-team national players, Korea also sent a big and strong team to this tournament. The women’s contingent was the entire KT&G (Korea Tobacco & Ginseng) pro team, which includes two current national team members.

Miryang's Favourite Shon Shines in the South-east

Korea's men’s players were from the Miryang City Hall team. Miryang, a tiny city near the southern port of Busan, is the hometown of such current stars as Hwang Ji Man and Shon Wan Ho but this tournament witnessed the return of the town's most familiar faces, those of retired players Shon Seung Mo and Lee Jae Jin. But Singapore, too, fielded the famed Ronald Susilo, who is now a part-time national player and who has not been in the international scene for quite a while. Ronald was beaten, in Round 3, by his younger compatriot and second seed Derek Wong 20-22, 21-13, 21-13. Though unseeded, Shon Seung Mo proved that he can still perform well as he captured the men’s singles title by beating third-seeded Indonesian Adnan Fauzi easily 21-9, 21-12.

SARI-YAO-08-RS-SingO2009

In fact, Korea swept all five titles, the biggest winners being Lee Jae Jin and Kim Jin Ock (pictured above), who each won both the mixed doubles together and their respective doubles titles. In the women’s and men’s doubles, Singapore was prevented from taking any title on home soil, as Korea won both matches in equally thrilling encounters which lasted 60 minutes and 48 minutes respectively.

National team player Jung Kyung Eun partnered Kim Jin Ock to squeak by top-seeded defending champions Yao Lei / Sari Shinta Mulia (photo) 22-20, 18-21, 22-20. Lee Jae Jin and Heo Hoon Hoi also topped the top seeds as they won out over Chayut Triyachart / Danny Bawa Chrisnanta 20-22, 21-18, 21-16. In the mixed doubles final, Lee/Kim had gotten their double success story started by beating the pairing of their doubles partners, Heo Hoon Hoi / Jung Kyung Eun, 21-19, 21-11.

Interestingly, Lee Jae Jin's last four international titles (German Open 2007 & 2008, Thai Open 2007 and this 2009 Singapore International mixed doubles) all were captured after beating Korean opponents. So the men's doubles win over the Singapore pair at Li-Ning International 2009 marked the first time since July 2005 that he and partner had beaten a non-Korean pair in a final.

Singapore put in a good showing at home but a few of the top players are off to Ho Chi Minh City this week for the Vietnam Open Grand Prix. Zhang Beiwen, in particular will be hoping to put her home disappointment behind her as she embarks on her women's singles title defense.

All results HERE

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