Chen Hong who makes a comeback from retirement stormed into the Finals of the Yonex-Sunrise Badminton Asia Championship 2007. Joining him in the Final is reigning Olympic and Asian Games gold medalist, Taufik Hidayat. Chen Hong outclassed Malaysia’s remaining hope in the men’s singles event, Yeoh Kay Bin in three games, 21-14, 17-21, 21-17. On the other hand, Taufik defeated India’s Anup Sridhar in straight games of 21-19, 21-14.

China is guaranteed three titles in this championship where it is all Chinese affairs in the women’s singles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles event. In the women’s singles, Jiang Yanjiao (right) halted Wang Chen’s quest for a fourth Asian Championship title by winning it at 21-13, 21-17. Malaysia’s Wong Mew Choo stumbled to second seed Lu Lan in straight games of 21-17, 21-18. In the women’s doubles, Yang Wei & Zhao Tingting easily beat Japanese pair, Kumiko Ogura & Reiko Shiota 21-15, 21-9, while their compatriot Cheng Shu and Zhao Yunlei defeated Aroonkesorn Duang-Anong & Kunchala Voravichitchaikul of Thailand. In the mixed doubles, Mohd. Tazari/ Wong Pei Tty pair is no match for Chinese Xu Chen/ Zhao Tingting (left). The Malaysia fought hard against the Chinese pair but unable to neutralize the powerful baseline smashes and skillful net play, falling in straight games 19-21, 23-21. He Hanbin/ Yu Yang continues China’s domination by ousting Indonesia’s Devin Lahardi/ Lita Nurlita 21-14, 21-12.

It will be a one-two finish for Malaysia in the men’s doubles events, where their top two pairs of Tan Boon Heong/ Koo Kien Keat (right) and Choong Tan Fook/ Lee Wan Wah won their matches against Tsai Chung Hsien/ Hu Chung Hsien (TPE) and Abdul Latif/ Mohd. Tazari respectively.

Attached is the semifinals results