DUTCH OPEN: TOP SEEDS WONG, MEULENDIJKS STROLL INTO FINALS

** This NEW SHUTTLENWS REPORT is presented by badminton world champions YANG YANG (1987 and 1989) and ZHAO JIAN HUA (1991) and by YANG YANG BADMINTON PRODUCTS **

October 11, 1997 (NEW SHUTTLENWS) - Wong Choon Hann of Malaysia and the youthful Judith Meulendijks of the Netherlands, the top picks in the singles events at the Dutch Open badminton championships in 'sHertogenbosch, both booked their spots in tomorrow's finals with convincing victories in this afternoon's semifinal matchups.

Wong was tested by his semifinal opponent, the fifth-seeded Martin Lundgaard Hansen of Denmark, in the opening game. Wong however prevailed 15-11. The second game was much easier for the Malaysian who won 15-3.

Wong will play the men's singles championship match tomorrow against the German player Oliver Pongratz. Pongratz, the sixth seed, squeezed into the finals with a 15-7, 7-15 and 15-13 victory over the battling Anders Boesen, the eighth seed from Denmark.

Meulendijks had an easy semifinal match against the fourth-seeded Julia Mann from England. The young Dutchwoman outplayed Mann to win the match 11-5 and 11-1.

In the other women's singles semifinal, third-seed Kelly Morgan of Wales eliminated Mette Sorensen of Denmark. Morgan whipped the second-seeded Dane 11-2 in the first game, but Sorensen put her game together in the second set and played Morgan tough. However, the Welsh lady scrapped her way to victory in a tiebreak, 12-10.

In mixed doubles, qualifiers Lars Paske and Jane Bramsen of Denmark took another step forward to a possible Dutch Open title. Paske and Bramsen, who had accounted for top-seeded Aussies Peter Blackburn and Rhonda Cator in the second round, today beat England's Ian Pearson and Sarah Sankey 15-9 and 15-13 in a matchup of qualifiers.

Paske and Bramsen though face tougher opposition in the finals. They will play their third-seeded teammates Jonas Rasmussen and Ann Lou Jorgensen who put out the second seeds, Quenten van Dalm and Nicole van Hoorn of the host country, 15-10, 12-15 and 15-9 in their half of the semifinals.

In the men's singles semifinals, top-seeds Jens Eriksen and Jesper Larsen of Denmark blasted Aussies David Bamford and Peter Blackburn 15-1 and 15-8, while second-seeds Nick Ponting and John Quinn of England beat another pair from the land Down-Under, Mark Nichols and Murray Hocking, 15-7 and 15-9.

Erica van den Heuvel and Monique Hoogland of the Netherlands defeated Ann Lou Jorgensen and Jane Bramsen of Denmark 15-9 and 15-13 in one of the women's doubles semifinals. In the finals, the top-seeded Dutch pair will face the scratch team of Kelly Morgan of Wales and Pernille Harder of Denmark, 15-7 and 15-12 winners over Scotswomen Elinor Middlemiss and Sandra Watt in the other women's doubles semifinal.

(dsimmons)