In the semi-finals of the Indian Open 2013, the ROK’s doubles maestro Ko Sung Hyun and his partners saw off their opponents in the men’s doubles and mixed doubles semi-finals to go through to the final in both disciplines. He is now on course to follow his win at the Badminton Asia Championship last week with another double title win. 

 

Ko Sung Hyun/ Lee Yong Dae will face Liu Xiao Long/Qiu Zi Han

 

The men’s doubles semi-finals was a repeat of the last week’s Badminton Asia Championship final, with Ko/Lee up against their younger teammates Kim Ki Jung/Kim Sa Rang, the two pairs knowing each other’s styles very well. This time Ko/Lee didn’t stand on ceremony, dominating their opponents in every way from the start, taking the match surprisingly easily in just 28 minutes;their opponents in the final will be China’s Liu Xiao Long/Qiu Zi Han. The two pairs have played each other three times before and Ko/Lee have two victories to one loss against the Chinese pair; the last meeting at the German Open 2013 ended in a straight game loss for the ROK pair, however, so they will know that their final opponents can’t be underestimated and that they need to be at the top of their game to win.  

 

In the mixed doubles semi-final, “Indonesian lightning”  TONTOWI/LILIYANA were up against Poland’s MATEUSIAK/ZIEBA; they were never under threat, taking the match in just 20 minutes in straight games, 21-5,21-10.