World Champions Make Semifinals

Rexy Mainaky and Ricky Subagja, the world doubles champions from Indonesia and favorites for the men’s badminton gold medal, had little trouble beating Huang Zhanzhong and Jiang Xin of China, 15-7, 15-7, in the semifinals.

Ahead lies a potential match against highly regarded Kit Cheah and Kim Hock Yap of Malaysia, who defeated Ha Tae-kwon and Kang Kyung-jin of South Korea, 18-17, 15-8. But first comes a match against Beng Kiang Soo and Kim Her Tan of Malaysia, who defeated Simon Archer and Chris Hunt of Britain, 15-5, 15-12.

In women’s doubles, top-ranked Ge Fei and Gu Jun of China defeated sisters Eliza and Rosiana Zelin of Indonesia, 15-7, 15-3, and Gil Young-ah and Jang Hye-ock of South Korea defeated Denmark’s Ann Jorgensen and Lotte Olsen, 15-9, 15-9.

Indonesia’s Joko Suprianto was upset, 15-5, 15-12, in men’s singles by Malaysia’s Rashid Sidek, who advanced to a match against China’s Jiong Dong, a 15-6, 15-6 winner over South Korea’s Park Sung-Woo.

Top-ranked women’s player Zhaoying Ye of China was eliminated by South Korea’s Kim Ji-Hyun, 11-5, 12-11. Kim will play in the semifinals against Indonesia’s Mia Audina, who beat Denmark’s Camilla Martin, 11-6, 8-11, 11-5.

The other women’s semifinal will be a rematch of the 1992 gold-medal match between Indonesia’s Susi Sasanti and South Korea’s Bang Soo-Hyun.