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COPENHAGEN MASTERS: CAMILLA, MIA SHOCKED

** This NEW SHUTTLENWS report is presented by YANG YANG Badminton Products and their Western USA agents BADMINTON ALLEY. **

December 29, 1998 (NEW SHUTTLENWS) - The two top-seeds in the women's singles event at the all-star Copenhagen Masters both went down in shock defeats yesterday. Camilla Martin of Denmark, the world number one and the top pick in Pool 1, was beaten by the world number 120 Zeng Yaqiong of China 6-11 and 8-11 while Mia Audina of Indonesia, world ranked number three and the seed in Pool 2, lost to Mette Sorensen of Denmark 11-13 and 3-11.

Martin, a four-time Copenhagen Masters champion, did not display any fire in her play during the opening game and was error-prone. She only started to bear down when she was behind 0-4 in the second stanza and played more like a world number one as she caught up to the Chinese player at 6-6. Zeng though was able to defend well against the Danish shotmaking and frustrated Martin's fightback to come out the winner.

With her victory yesterday and her win over Kelly Morgan on Sunday, Zeng who should be rated higher in the world rankings but sits at number 120 due to a lack of international competition assured herself of a spot in today's championship match.

In the Audina-Sorensen match, the Indonesian player held a commanding lead 9-4 in the first game but ran out of energy in the face of determined play from Sorensen. The Dane managed to pull even at 9-all and gained set point at 10-9. Audina forced setting at 10-all but could not pull out the win, losing to Sorensen 11-13.

In the second set, it was all Sorensen as the Indonesian player whose staying power has been suspect had not much left in her game.

Audina though still has a chance to go through to the final. She must beat Zhang Ning of China, winner over Sorensen on Sunday, decisively in two games early today. If Zhang wins one set or scores a total of 13 points, Zhang will go through to the championship match via a tiebreaking procedure.

In the men's singles, top seeds Peter Gade of Denmark and Sun Jun of China both won yesterday to set up a clash of the world's best players in this evening's final. Gade used a very fast and aggressive style of play to overwhelm Yong Hock Kin of Malaysia 15-4 and 15-3. Sun beat Poul-Erik Hoyer of Denmark 15-3 and 15-11.

In men's doubles, Olympic champion Ricky Subagja and Olympic bronze medalist Antonius Iriantho, both of Indonesia, booked a place in the final by winning both of their Pool 1 matches yesterday. Subagja and Antonius first beat Jim Laugessen and Michael Sogaard of Denmark 15-10, 6-15 and 15-7. Later on, they defeated top seeds Simon Archer and Chris Hunt of England 16-17, 15-5 and 15-9.

In Pool 2, Jens Eriksen and Jesper Larsen of Denmark whipped Cheah Soon Thoe and Pang Cheh Chang of Malaysia 15-11 and 15-4. Eriksen and Larsen will play Zhang Jun and Zhang Wei of China early this afternoon to decide the finalist from Pool 2. The Zhangs had beaten Cheah and Pang on Sunday.

(es/ds)

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