CHINA SENDS 7 ENTRIES INTO VIETNAM OPEN FINALS
by Mike Grossman (from a report filed by Y.M. Fong)

November 23, 1996 (New Shuttlenws) - Chinese players landed 7 of the 10 finals spots at the badminton Vietnam Open in today's action, with Indonesia sending 2 entries into the finals and Malaysia 1.

In men's singles, Yan Wei gained his first final in a major international tournament with his 15-13 and 15-7 semifinal victory over Tam Kai Chuen of Hong Kong. He will face another first-time finalist, Nunung Subandoro of Indonesia. Subandoro put an end to the giant-killing run of Jason Wong of Malaysia in his semifinal match, beating the Malaysian 15-8 and 15-2.

Wong had accounted for top-seed Hermawan Susanto of Indonesia in the second round.

In the men's doubles semifinals, Liu Yong and Zhang Wei of China came back from a first-game loss to beat Malaysians Chow Choon Eng and Rosman Razak, 7-15, 15-6 and 15-13.

In the other men's doubles semifinal, Lee Wan Wah and Choong tan Fook of Malaysia stopped Indonesians Ade Sutrisna and Victo Wibowo 15-2 and 15-9 to book their place in the finals. Lee and Choong also cemented their entry into the Grand Prix Finals in Bali with their performance at the Vietnam Open.

The women's singles finals will be an all-China affair. Sun Jian upset Lidya Djaelawidjaya of Indonesia 11-5 and 11-0 in one semifinal and Zeng Yaqiong survived a strong first game challenge from Korean Choi Ma Ree to take the other final spot. Zeng beat Choi 6-11, 11-1 and 11-0.

The women's doubles finals will also be all-China with second-seeds Zhang Jin and Peng Xingyong facing singles specialists Sun Jian and Zeng Yaqiong.

Zhang and Peng defeated the Korean pair of Chung Jung Hee and Choi Ma Ree 15-8 and 15-2, while Sun and Zeng defeated Finarsih and Djaelawidjaya of Indonesia in three games, 15-5, 8-15 and 15-12.

The mixed doubles team of Liu Yong and Zhang Jin are China's seventh finals qualifier. Liu and Zhang beat Victo Wibowo and Etty Tantry of Indonesia in the semifinals 15-4 and 15-10. They will battle Sandiarto and Finarsih of Indonesia, 15-11 and 15-2 semifinal winners over Ho Van Loi and Nguyen Thi Tien of Vietnam, for the mixed doubles title.