Olympic bronze medallist Xia Xuanze took the badminton World Grand
Prix Finals title in Brunei on Sunday, beating Marleve Mainaky to
become the first Chinese men's player to win a major crown this
year.
An
inspired Xia put away some blistering smashes, which left
Indonesian Mainaky floundering and started a run of three titles
for China with Huang Nanyan and Yang Wei taking the women's
doubles, and Zhou Mi the women's singles.
The 29-year-old Mainaky, runner-up in the last Grand Prix final
here two years ago, said his tactic was to start at a fast pace,
but he found Xia's attack too relentless.
After dropping the first two games, Mainaky came back in the third
but it was not enough.
Xia found his second wind and stormed to a 6-2 lead in the fourth
before hitting a nervous patch, and a series of smashes and drives
found the net tape allowing Mainaky to draw level at 6-6.
But the 22-year-old Chinese regained his composure and held on to
win 7-4, 7-5, 2-7, 8-6.
"My shots were sharp and I was able to read my opponent's game.
It's a great pleasure to win and
great motivation for me," Xia said.
The all-Chinese women's finals saw Zhou Mi take a first world title
over Olympic champion Gong Zhichao 7-5, 5-7, 7-1, 7-0.
In
the doubles, Olympic silver medallists Huang Nanyan and Yang Wei
overcame compatriots Chen Lin and Jiang Xuelian 8-6, 7-3, 3-7,
7-3.
The Denmark pair of Jens Eriksen and Mette Schjoldager, the only
European representatives in any of the five finals, had a
comfortable win over Trikus Haryanto and Minarti Timur in the mixed
doubles.
It
was an unexpected loss for the Indonesians, who had looked sharp
and focused throughout the week. Yet Eriksen and Schjoldager would
not be denied, winning in straight games 8-7, 7-4, 7-4.
"This is the greatest win we've ever had," Schjoldager said. "We've
played them twice before and I thought it would be much, much
tougher."
The men's doubles final saw reigning champions Candra Wijaya and
Tony Gunawan conquer fellow Indonesians Halim Haryanto and Sigit
Budiarto in a fast and furious contest 7-5, 8-6, 7-2.
(Xinhua
Agency 08/14/2001)