The home team asserted its intent to dominate the early rounds the 2010 Victor Korea Open Super Series but finally allowed two visiting competitors to scrape by in the day’s last two matches.  But the attention of the crowd and press was drawn to the playing of one not involved in the competition at all.

By Don Hearn, Badzine Correspondent, live in Seoul.  Photos: Yves Lacroix, BadmintonPhoto (live)

Normally quiet on qualifying day, the 2010 Korea Open was awash in paparazzi this year as a member of the boy band 2PM made a guest appearance on court for a friendly exhibition match against Korean star player Lee Yong Dae.  U.S.-born Nichkhun, showed that he obviously had some on-court experience but still swatted plenty of air in his brief bout with the Beijing gold medallist.

In terms of the actual competition, the men’s singles was the major point of dispute.  Malaysia and Chinese Taipei both saw their players score wins over Korean opponents but Ajay Jayaram - India’s only competitor left in the draw after a series of withdrawals – could not fight past Hwasun International runner-up Hwang Jong Soo and went down in three games.  Chou Tien Chien of Chinese Taipei got off to a winning start for 2010 by beating Hwasun International champion Rho Ye Wook but then fell to Lee Cheol Ho.

For East Asian Games gold medallist Choi Ho Jin (pictured), Korea Open qualifying was no walk in the park even if he had beaten Lin Dan not a month before.  Choi struggled in his first match, against Mohamad Arif Abdul Latif but came through that one in three games.  In his second venture, however, Choi came up short against another Malaysian, Tan Chun Seang.  Choi and Tan split the first two games and in the third, Tan managed to pump himself up, filling the silence of the giant hall with his celebratory shouts.

De Ruiter/Jonathans of the Netherlands, who had Korean Kim Young Man in their coaching corner, provided the most thrilling finish. After narrowly dropping their first game to Korea’s Jang Sung Ho / Kim Mi Young, the Netherlands pair bounced back to win the second convincingly.  In the decider, Jonathans used her touch and coverage at the net to keep the Koreans on the defensive and they fought back from 12-15 down to take the match 20-22, 21-14, 21-18.

For the Dutch pair, it was a huge win as it marked the international comeback for Lotte Jonathans (pictured), whose two sons have occupied her time in the four years since her last court date.

Main round action begins bright and early Wednesday morning, before which, the Seoul temperature is to plunge to a frigid -15 Celsius.  Badzine will be here all week to bring the action to you, though, regardless of your climatic region.

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