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Korea Open: One more Korean left

Korea Open Review

ITTF Press Releases

One more Korean left

Lausanne, 7 September 2002. Now everything is on the shoulders of RYU Seung Min in Men’s Singles. He is the last Korean “alive” after LEE Chul Seung lost to CHEUNG Yuk (HKG) in the round of the last 16.

RYU beat Dutch Danny HEISTER (nr. 24 in the World) quite easily. HEISTER took the first game but after that RYU was in control and the Korean took the next four games without having any difficulties.

LEE Chul Seung had to surrender to CHEUNG Yuk (HKG). LEE had 1-1, but then he went down 3-1. After coming back to 3-2 the 6th game became a thriller. CHEUNG Yuk took it 13-11 to win 4-2.
The top favourites are still in and until now they haven’t been in serious troubles. Timo BOLL (GER) beat Patrick CHILA (FRA) and Werner SCHLAGER (AUT) overcame the young Chinese SHANG Mingjie.

CHIANG Peng-Lung (TPE) met Swede Jens LUNDQVIST to whom he surprisingly lost at the China Open. This time CHIANG left no doubt. He beat LUNDQVIST 4-0.


Boros survived

Lausanne, 7 September 2002. Top seed Tamara BOROS (CRO) had a hard time in her 2nd round match against SONG Ah Sim (HKG) – but she survived to advance to the round of the quarter finals.

BOROS was down 0-2. Then she evened to 2-2, but she went down again 2-3. Eventually she took the last two games 11-6, 11-8.
Next round won’t be easy either. BOROS is facing TIE Yana (HKG) who last week reached the semi-finals at the Women’s World Cup.

The one who wins that match will have a tough time with the home crowd in the semi-finals since the winner meets the winner of the match between the two Korean hopes RYU Ji-Hae and LEE Eun Sil.

2nd seed LIN Ling (HKG) is still in as well. She overcame Chinese FAN Ying – which means that there is only one Chinese left, JIANG Juahun. She beat Hong Kong based ZHANG Rui, and in the next round she meets Singaporean LI Jia Wei.



Ryu still there

Lausanne, 7 September 2002. The last Korean left in Men’s Singles, RYU Seung Min survived a real cliff hanger of a match against nr. 11 in the World, CHIANG Peng Lung, to go to the semi-finals on Sunday

It was a match between two of the fastest moving players in the World, both pen holders both with good services trying to get into forehand attack. RYU was down 3-1 but in some way – with everything almost lost – he recovered and took the next three games to win the match.

Because of the many difficulties due to the typhoon in Korea the crowd at the korea Open is not as big as last year, but there was a crowd, they did support RYU heavily and they were delighted when he took the last point.
Next obstacle is top seed Werner SCHLAGER (AUT) who overcame CHEUNG Yuk (HKG). SCHLAGER and RYU recently met in the final at the Brazilian Open. At that occasion SCHLAGER won 4-1.

KO Lai Chak (HKG) continued his streak of wins against World class players. After overcoming KIM Taek Soo (KOR) and young upcoming Dane Michael MAZE, KO Lai Chak in the quarter final sent out nr. 16 in the World CHUAN Chih-Yuan (TPE). Timo BOLL (GER) is waiting for him in the semi-finals. BOLL ousted the young promising Chinese Tang Peng in a match which also went to the very end. BOLL was down 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 – but took the victory winning the last two games 12-10, 11-8.

Semi-finals will be played early on Sunday.



Hong Kong is hot

Lausanne, 7 September 2002. Last week the two Hong Kong stars LIN Ling and TIE Yana was making their foot prints seen at the Women’s World Cup in Singapore, both reaching the semi-finals – this week they are on their way again.

LIN Ling is seeded 2nd so it is no surprise that she is now in the semi-finals. TIE Yana however created a major upset when she ousted the top seed Tamara BOROS (CRO).
The match between BOROS and TIE went to the very end. TIE was in charge from the beginning and she had the lead 2-0 and 3-1. BOROS however did not let go, and the Croatian won the next two games to even to 3-3.

In the 7th game however TIE Yana left no doubt. She took it 11-5.

“I did not expect to be able to beat BOROS, but today I think I showed my full potential – and I succeeded”, says TIE Yana.

She is now facing the Korean hero RYU Ji-Hae who overcame her compatriot LEE Eun Sil.

In the other semi-final LIN Ling (HKG) meets Chinese JIANG Juahun.



Pay back time

Lausanne, 7 September 2002. KIM Taek Soo (KOR) has a good chance to “pay back” to KO Lai Chak (HKG) after KIM’s defeat to the Hong Kong player in Men’s Singles – on Sunday they will meet again in the final of the Men’s Doubles.

KIM and his playing partner OH Sang Eun reached the final without any difficulties beating the Austrians Werner SCHLAGER/Karl JINDRAK 4-1.

KO Lai Chak and his partner LI Ching overcame CHIANG Peng-Lung/CHANG Yen-Shu (TPE) – also 4-1.
Women’s Doubles final will be without any Korean participation. Two Korean pairs were in the semi-finals – they both lost.

LEE Eun Sil/HAN Kwang Sun had to surrender to BAI Yang/Guo Yan (CHN) while RYU JI-Hae/KIM Moo Kyo surprisingly lost to the Hong Kong pair JING Jun Hong/LI Jia Wei.


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