RUSSIAN OPEN: METTE SORENSEN STUNS CAMILLA

** This NEW SHUTTLENWS REPORT is presented by badminton world champions YANG YANG and ZHAO JIAN HUA and by YANG YANG BADMINTON PRODUCTS **

August 30, 1997 (NEW SHUTTLENWS) - Mette Sorensen of Denmark upended her unusually slow and off-form teammate Camilla Martin in one of the semifinal matches at the Russian Open badminton tournament in Moscow today. Sorensen, the women's singles fourth seed, unexpectedly beat the top-seeded Martin 11-6 and 11-8.

In the other women's singles semifinal, Mette Pedersen of Denmark put an end to the run of Korean rookie Kim Kyung Ran. Pedersen beat Kim 11-6 and 11-7 to book a place in the finals against compatriot Sorensen.

In another upset based on the seedings but one which was not unexpected, the third-seeded men's doubles team of Jon Holst-Christensen and Michael Sogaard of Denmark, runners-up at the top-tier All-England badminton tournament this year, took out the top seeds, Andrej Antropov and Nikolaj Zuev of Russia, 9-15, 15-12 and 15-11.

Second-seeds Jim Laugessen and Thomas Stavngaard of Denmark had an easy win over Sergei Melnikov and Artur Kachaturyan of Russia 15-2 and 15-8 in their half of the men's doubles semifinals.

In men's singles, the semifinals went according to form. Top-seeded Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen of Denmark easily disposed of Rikard Magnusson of Sweden, the third seed, 15-9 and 15-8, while fourth-seeded Kenneth Jonassen, another Dane, turned back a strong second-game comeback attempt from the sixth-seed, Henrik Bengtsson of Sweden, 18-16 after Jonassen had won the first 15-8.

With his victory and with second-seed Thomas Stuer-Lauridsen eliminated in the quarterfinals, Hoyer seems poised to take his first Open title since he won the gold medal at the Atlanta Olympic Games last year. The younger Jonassen though is expected to try hard to beat Hoyer and end his own Open title drought.

In the all-Denmark women's doubles semifinals, the top-seeded pair of Helene Kirkegaard and Rikke Olsen and the second-seeded duo of Ann Jorgensen and Majken Vange beat their more junior teammates.

Kirkegaard and Olsen tromped all over Ann-Lou Jorgensen and Tine Rasmussen and defeated them 15-0 and 15-5, while the other Jorgensen, Ann, and Vange posted a 15-11 and 15-7 victory over Pernille Harder and Mette Schjoldager.

In mixed doubles, two Danish pairs, the duo of Jon Holst-Christensen and Ann Jorgensen and the team of Janek Roos and Helene Kirkegaard won their semifinal matches (no scores were reported - Editor).

(mig)