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Japan Open: Gade Conquers Sun

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

April 10, 1999 (NEW SHUTTLENWS) - Peter Gade of Denmark today confirmed his standing as the current best badminton men's singles player in the world when he defeated Sun Jun of China in the championships match of the Japan Open tournament at Yoyogi Stadium in Tokyo. In their previous two meetings, Gade had not played his best against the speedy Sun and had lost both in two setters, first in the finals of the Copenhagen Masters in late December and then in the championship match of the World Grand Prix Finals in February. Those two losses had tarnished Gade's reputation as the best of the best and today's two-game conquest of Sun has removed most, if not all, of that blemish.

Gade, ranked world number one and recently selected as the sport's player of the year, demolished Sun Jun in the first set 15-3. Sun had problems all game with the length of his shots, striking the shuttle long and out-of-play or short and smashable. Gade took full advantage of Sun's short shots and either pounded the shuttle with leaping smashes or just brushed the featherball over the net with deceptively struck, delicate dropshots for many scores.

In the second set, Sun continued to have problems adjusting the strength of his shots in the early going and Gade pulled away to an 11-4 advantage before the Chinese player finally made the adjustment to the drift and staged a comeback. Gade's lead though was too much, even for Sun, and the Dane won the game 15-12.

In the women's singles final, world champion Ye Zhaoying of China was also troubled by the drift. She played a mistake-filled first game and was only able to score one point before her opponent and teammate, Gong Zhichao, ended the set 11-1. In the second game, Ye found the drift to her liking and she won 11-5 to take the match into a deciding third set.

Ye again had problems with the drift early in the decider and was down 1-6. The change of ends again seemed to benefit the world champion as she clawed her way back and scored 10 unanswered points to win at 11-6.

In the mixed doubles title match, world champions Liu Yong and Ge Fei of China easily defeated Ha Tae Kwon and Chung Jae Hee of Korea 15-1 and 15-3.

Ge Fei won a second crown today with partner Gu Jun. The pair who are the current world champions in women's doubles took the 1999 Japan Open title in the event when they beat fellow Chinese Huang Nanyan and Yang Wei in a closely contested final 12-15, 17-16 and 15-5.

In the all-Korean men's doubles final, Kim Dong Moon and Ha Tae Kwon defeated Lee Dong Soo and Yoo Yong Sung 15-6 and 15-4.

(apl/ds)

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