Doubles reports: Zhang-Yang triumph

 

Athens, 20 August 2004:

GAO Lin failed to win a golden double, losing in the women's doubles final to compatriots Zhang Jiewen and Yang Wei. Gao and Sui Huang lost in three tough games 7-15, 15-4, 15-8. Incidentally, Zhang Jiewen was the third Zhang to win badmiton gold, after Zhang Jun (mixed doubles) and Zhang Ning (women's singles). In table tennis again, the name Zhang proved lucky as Zhang Yining won both the women's singles and doubles gold.

South Korea took the gold medal in the men's doubles badminton on Friday. In an all-South Korean doubles final, Kim Dong-moon and Ha Tae-kwon steamed past Lee Dong-soo and Yoo Yong-sun 15-11 15-4.
The number three seeds secured the gold medal on their first match point with a backhand winner from Kim.

Although Kim and Ha took the bronze four years ago in Sydney when Lee and Yoo won silver, the result was not a surprise. The new Olympic champions have more of a pedigree in top-level tournaments and had beaten Lee and Yoo in all of their previous 10 meetings in international competition.
"With all these years come ability and experience. We had more experience," said Ha, a 29-year-old veteran who said he would now consider whether to retire from the sport.

Gao and Sui romped through the first game, with Gao pouncing on every opportunity at the net and Sui delivering some big smashes from the back. They were also helped by some inconsistent play from Zhang.

But the second game saw a totally different Zhang and Yang. Zhang returned brilliantly, allowing Gao and Sui to smash, until they had no option but to play soft. Then, suddenly, the defending champions would drive or flick into an open space and kill the weak return. It was beautiful doubles play, trickery at its best. They got the second game when Sui misjudged a line.

And in the third, again, it was Zhang and Yang all the way. The two repeatedly lifted the shuttle high, straight down the middle, so that Sui and Gao would be along the centre, and then suddenly would flick into the open court on either side. The last point told the tale. After a prolonged attack by Gao and Sui, Zhang suddenly converted defence into attack, finally winning with some degree of ease.

Ra Kyung-min and Lee Kyung-won of South Korea won the day's other third-place play-off, beating Zhao Tingting and Wei Yili of China 10-15 15-9 15-7 in the women's doubles.
Indonesians Eng Hian and Flandy Limpele defeated Jens Eriksen and Martin Lundgaard Hansen of Denmark in the men's bronze medal match 15-3 15-7.