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China Open: DJ Powers To Singles Crown

** This NEW SHUTTLENWS report is presented by YANG YANG Badminton Products and their Western Canada agents - MAAKL Corporation, Saint Albert, Alberta (Tel 780-458-2026/ Fax 780-459-8891) **

November 21, 1999 (NEW SHUTTLENWS) - China's Dong Jiong powered his way to the men's singles title yesterday at the five-star China Open badminton tournament in Beijing to break an almost year-long slump. Dong displayed many flashes of the talent and form that made him the hero of China's Sudirman Cup (world team championship) victory in 1997 and that took him to an Olympic silver medal in 1996 as he demolished Fung Permadi of Taiwan in yesterday's final.

Dong controlled the play from the outset. Combining swift movement around his end of the court with tight net tumblers, powerful jumpsmashes and deceptive leaping pause-and-strike overhead shots, the Chinese player zoomed to an easy first 15-2 game win.

Permadi fared a little better in the second as Dong went through a slight dip in form. The Taiwanese player though could not consistently counter Dong's shotmaking and Dong stroked on to a 15-7 victory.

Dong, considered by many experts as one of the most talented badminton players today, last won a major title at the Asian Games in December 1998. Since then, he had not contended for a top finish at any major tournament and had been in the proverbial doghouse of the Chinese coaching staff. He had also fallen in the world rankings and is currently at number 29.

Dong's title was one of four won by players from the host country.

Zhou Mi took the women's singles crown. She defeated current world number two Gong Ruina in a matchup of two of the seemingly endless troop of superb Chinese women players. Zhou went on the attack early against her teammate and her tactics took her to a relatively easy 11-6 and 11-5 victory.

Women's doubles world champions Ge Fei and Gu Jun also notched an easy title victory. They defeated their teammates Gao Ling and Qin Yiyuan 15-5 and 15-6.

Ge captured a second 1999 China Open title. She combined with Liu Yong to take the mixed doubles championship. In yesterday's final, they beat Gao Ling and Zhang Jun 15-8 and 15-5.

In the men's doubles final, an all-Korea contest, world champions Ha Tae Kwon and Kim Dong Moon survived a first set battle of lightning-fast smashes and drives and defeated the combination of Lee Dong Soo and Yoo Yong Sung in a tiebreak 17-16. Ha and Kim then went on to take the second set 15-8.

(yyna/ds)