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Danish Open: Hoyer Wins Gold After 2 Year Quest

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October 17, 1999 (NEW SHUTTLENWS) - 34-year old Poul-Erik Hoyer of Denmark, the 1996 Olympic Games gold medalist in badminton men's singles, finally won a major international tournament today after going two years without a first place finish. In today's men's singles final at the Danish Open in Vejle, the Olympic champion defeated Wong Choon Hann of Malaysia 17-15 and 15-4. The title is Hoyer's sixth Danish Open crown over a period of twelve years.

Before today, Hoyer's last major international title win was in 1997 at the U.S. Open in the city of Orange, California.

In the women's singles championship match, world champion Camilla Martin of Denmark beat Zhou Mi of China 8-11, 11-4 and 11-1 to win her third Danish Open title.

In the all-Denmark men's doubles final, the 82nd world-ranked pair of Martin Lundgaard Hansen and Lars Paaske completed a sensational tournament by upsetting the fourth seeded combination of Jim Laugesen and Michael Sogaard 15-13 and 15-10.

Gao Ling and Qin Yiyuan took the women's doubles crown. The second-seeded pair from China defeated their teammates Chen Lin and Jiang Xuelian in the title contest this afternoon 15-12 and 15-8.

In the mixed doubles final played yesterday, 1997 world champions (Ms.) Ge Fei and Liu Yong of China beat their fellow Chinese players (Ms.) Gao Ling and Zhang Jun 15-12 and 17-14.

In the men's singles final between Hoyer and Wong, it was the Malaysian player who burst out in front early in the first set. Wong led 2-0, 5-2 and 9-3 as the Dane seemed to be a bit slower than the previous days and a tad out of rhythm.

Hoyer though warmed up to the Malaysian challenge and began a comeback. The Olympic champion pulled even at 13-all and then gained a game point at 14-13.

Wong foiled the Olympic champion on this game point and forced a tiebreak by scoring on his serve. Hoyer regained the serve and once more reached game point at 16-14.

Once more the Malaysian stopped the Olympic champion at game point and then scored on his service turn to inch closer at 15-16. Hoyer again regained the serve and stood at his third game point.

The Olympic champion did not waste his third opportunity. The lefthanded Dane outmaneuvered his opponent in the next rally and then uncorked a round-the-head smash that rocketed to the floor for the game winner.

In the second, Wong again burst out in front 4-1 but the Olympic champion soon had all his weapons working and blanked the Malaysian the rest of the way to win the set 15-4.

In the women's singles final between Martin and Zhou, the world champion from Denmark appeared sluggish early and seemed to have problems with one of her legs. She began to move better later in the set but Zhou nevertheless took the game 11-8.

In the second, Zhou began to fade while Martin's game went into full gear. The Dane easily took the set from the tiring Chinese player 11-4.

The decider was more of the same: Zhou playing tired while the Dane powered on. Martin overwhelmed Zhou 11-1.

(yyn/mg)