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China, Denmark set for Uber Cup showdown

It will be a China-Denmark final in the Uber Cup badminton championship in Kuala Lumpur on May 20.

For holders China, it is their ninth consecutive entry to the final since they started competing in the championship in 1984.

Prior to that China did not play in Uber Cup as it was not a member of the IBF till 1981. If China lift the cup again, it will be for a record seventh time. No other country has won as many times.

For Denmark, it is their maiden entry to the final since 1960, when they lost to the United States in Philadelphia.

Both Denmark and China had easy victories in the semi-finals, with Denmark defeating South Korea 3-0 and China edging out Indonesia by an identical margin. As per the recent rules of the IBF, which will also apply for the next Sudirman Cup in Spain in 2001, the tie has to stop as soon as any country has taken an unbeatable lead in the best of five matches.

Denmark won the first three matches without losing even one game. Supremely confident World champion Camilla Martin was in great form as she bundled out Kim Jee Hyun, world's 10th-ranked player, 11-5, 11-7 in 21 minutes. The winning match for the Danes came through Mette Sorenson yet again, in the second singles, with the Danish shuttler winning 11-8, 11-3 against Lee Kyung Won.

The world no. 5 Danish pair of Helen Kirkegaard/Rikke Olsen then went on to stun a higher ranked Korean pair of Lee Hyo Jung/Chung Jae Hee 15-5, 15-6.

In a post-match press conference, Danish team manager Kenneth Larsen said, ''We prepared well for this year's Uber and Thomas Cup and I think that we are on target. In the men's we will reach the final and in the ladies we have already done so. I can say that it a tremendous achievement for my players, considering that we come from a nation of only some five million people.

''That the Danish girls defeated such powers as Korea and Indonesia is a story of fortitude and hard work.''

''I have played in five Uber Cups now and this is going to be my first final. We go as underdogs against China, the best team in history, but if they underestimate us they will be making a mistake,'' says team captain Camilla Martin, who has led her country by example, winning all her matches in style.

The highlight of the final should be her clash against World No. 2 Gong Zhaichao, who Camilla defeated two years back, 12-11, 12-10, in the final of the Copenhagen Masters.

In their last clash, a group match of the World Grand Prix finals in Brunei, Gong prevailed 11-6, 11-7. Thus, a clash between two of the top ranked world singles players, who play with contrasting styles, is eagerly awaited.

Chinese coach Li Yong Bo is more than satisfied with his team's performance in the Uber Cup. ''We have not even lost one game. What more can I ask of them? They are all in terrfic form and it cannot come as any surprise to any badminton fan when China lifts the Uber Cup again.''

In the Thomas Cup semi-finals tomorrow, the Chinese men take on South Korea, while on the 19th, Indonesia will play Denmark.

UNI