CHINA OPEN: LEFTY DAI UPSETS WORLD CHAMPION

** 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 **

November 9, 1997 (NEW SHUTTLENWS) - Ye Zhaoying, the badminton world champion in women's singles, was upset by teammate Dai Yun in yesterday's semifinals at the China Open championships in Shanghai. Ye, seeded first at the tournament, lost to the left-handed Dai 8-11, 11-3 and 7-11.

Dai, the fourth seed, will face world championships silver medalist Gong Zhichao, another of the seemingly endless top-caliber Chinese women's singles players, in today's final. In her half of the semifinals, Gong, seeded third, defeated Zeng Yaqiong, still another high-quality entry from the host nation, 11-3, 1-11 and 11-3.

In men's singles, the fourth seeded Sun Jun of China was upended by teammate Luo Yigang. Luo, the seventh pick, beat Sun 15-5 and 15-13 to set up another one of four all-Chinese finals today. He will battle Dong Jiong, the Chinese number one.

Dong, seeded third, gained his spot in the final with a 15-13 and 15-9 win over eighth pick Budi Santoso of Indonesia. Dong played a very patient style against Santoso, using clears and drops to move the Indonesian around the court and then blasting the occasional smash.

Santoso countered with the same patient style. The two played many punishing rallies, but, in the end, the Chinese number one's speciality, highly disguised shots that he would launch after leaping into the air and suspending his body and racket for a split second, was the difference as the deceptive motion would wrongfoot Santoso and slow him down at the crucial moments.

In the men's doubles semifinals, second seeds Liu Yong and Zhang Wei of China defeated Malaysians Lee Wan Wah and Choong Tan Fook, the third picks, 15-9 and 15-6, while the sixth-seeded Chinese pair of Ge Cheng and Tao Xiaoqiang beat compatriots Yang Ming and Zhang Jun 15-3, 12-15 and 15-11.

Second-seeds Qin Yiyuan and Tang Yongshu of China set up a rematch of the world championships women's doubles final with world champions and teammates Ge Fei and Gu Jun. Qin and Tang defeated sixth seeds Huang Nanyan and Liu Zhong, also from China, 15-6 and 15-5. Top picks Ge and Gu beat compatriots Yang Ming and Gao Ling 18-15 and 15-3 in their semifinal match.

In mixed doubles, world champions Liu Yong and Ge Fei of China put out fellow Chinese Yang Ming and Qiang Hong 15-4 and 15-5 to move into today's final. Kim Dong Moon and Ra Kyung Min of Korea took the other final spot, beating Simon Archer of England and Catrine Bengtsson of Sweden 15-12 and 15-10.

(wangc/dsimmons)