Boonsak vows to take it one step further

 

 

Boonsak Ponsana, runner up in last years World Cup invitational tournament in Yiyang has vowed to make it one step further in this six-star China Masters, which kicked off in Chengdu, Sichuan Province on Wednesday. The Thai got his ticket for a second round clash against Chen Jin.

 

This time, it isnt the World Cup, but the China Masters. Last December, it was in Yiyang that Boonsak Ponsana had reached the final of the World Cup. Yet the Thai wonder still feels like home here in another part of the land of badminton, where he had once come to train and study as a young teenager. "I came to Fuzhou to train few years ago but I feel this is like a second home to me." The Thai wonder - who now only gets a weekly day of studying to get his law degree - is back in China to get to the top this time. "I dont know how well I can perform and I will take it one step at the time, but I hope to be the champion here," he said after his easy two-game match against Malaysias Pei Wei Chung 21/12 - 21/7.

 

Ponsana did use some of his tricky shots which saw the ever moving Pei often going back to where he was coming from, but was still hoping for a better match tomorrow. "I didnt play my best as the shuttles were really fast today and I could hardly control them, but I hope that I will play well tomorrow as I really want my revenge against Chen Jin," said Ponsana. The two young players had a wonderful match in the All England a little over a month ago, when Chen Jin had finally gotten the best of the Thai. This will definitely be one of the highlights of the day.

 

Very few matches were scheduled for the first day of this event, which started at 1pm and finished off at around 6pm, on three courts, in front of a rather good crowd. But some were quite fought for, such as the match between Xia Xuanze and Ahn Hyun Suk of Korea. The former World Champion was playing the new scoring system for the first time - he mentioned afterwards it suited him fine - but had to save more than five game points in the opening game before taking it away 25/23 on his first game point.

 

It was a good thing as the young Korean was good enough to take the second 21/17 before the Chinese wrapped it up 21/13. Yet the local press, after few questions about the match asked what the story of him playing in the mens double was all about. "I believe it will be very difficult for me to qualify for Beijings Olympics in the men singles, so I might try my luck in the mens double," he said in a smile that hinted to reporters he was only half joking. Except for Li Yu, who was defeated by Lee Tsuen Seng of Malaysia, Chinese youngsters had a rather good day, with amongst others the victory of Lu Yi over Wiratama of Hong Kong.

 

Another upset in the ladies single came as a bit of a surprise when Zhu Lin beat World Junior Champion and Worlds bronze medallist Cheng Shao Chieh of Chiense Taipei in straight games 21/8 - 21/8, showing that the local girls are fully prepared for their home event. Wang Lin, only 16 years old, was quite impressive against Germanys Nicole Grether, who lost her focus after the longest battle of the day. She and partner Juliane Schenk lost in three games and exactly one hour of play against Pan and Zhang despite leading 19/16 in the decider.

 

"We were so close as we had played very well, but at the end, we made too many mistakes," said the German. "It was so frustrating that I couldnt focus well in the singles and this new scoring system makes it go so fast that you cant afford not to concentrate 100 percent," said Grether.

 

The rest of the Chinese promising quintet - Jiang Yanjiao, Chen Li and Lu Lan also secured their ticket for the second round where they will be meeting some the top players of the world; Chen Li against Mia Audina, Zhu Lin against Xu Huaiwen, Wang Lin against Yao Jie, Jiang Yanjiao against Pi Hongyan and Lu Lan against Eriko Hirose, which should make for some incredible matches and a clear image of the new "classic encounters" from now until the Beijing Olympics.

 

Only one scheduled match didnt take place. The mens double, as Denmarks Laybourn and Paaske - the second mens double for Denmark in the upcoming Thomas Cup - pulled out citing injury. This might be good news for the only American representatives Howard Bach and Tony Gunawan who were to meet the Danes. Instead, the world champions will play Chinas Xu and Sun.

 

In the ladies double, the most appealing match of the day saw Wei Yili and Zhang Yawen easily dispose of Japans best hope Ogura and Shiota 21/10 - 21/11 in half an hour while two of the most fought encounter saw another Chinese pair came as winner. Pan/Zhang against Grether and Schenk , then Liao and Wang who beat Polands solid pair of Augustyn and Kostiuczyk 17/21 - 21/10 - 21/19. The mixed double event will kick off on Thursday at 1pm.

 

All results :
http://www.badmintoninternational.net/chinamasters2006
http://sports.163.com/special/00051QSE/dsbmrzhk08.html

Live images for medias:
http://www.badmintonwire.net