WANG Yue Gu and JIANG Hua Jun end young Korean and Japanese dreams

Korea's CHO Ha Ra and the young sensation from Japan ISHIKAWA Kazumi had caused the two big surprises of the 2007 HTV Asia Cup. CHO had defeated LI Jia Wei from Singapore in the Quarter FInals, while ISHIKAWA had defeated WANG Yue Gu also from Singapore in the qualification rounds to give herself a dream run to the semi finals. Both teenagers would no doubt have been surprised with themselves to be playing for a finals birth in the Asia Cup. However, the experience of WANG Yue Gu and JIANG Hua Jun proved to be a little too much for the two young stars, playing in perhaps on the biggests stage to their careers to date.

WANG Yue Gu, who obviously knew she needed to be on her best game to defeat the young Korean. Having lost in the qualifications to ISHIKAWA and having watched the Korean knock out her compatriot WANG was in an invincible mood giving the Korean absolutely no chance. WANG won the match very comforatbly four games to zero.

In the second semi final, it was no run away, in fact it was a very tight afair with many chances for the young japanese ISHIKAWA. Having taking the first game JIANG had to dig deep to win the 2nd. In the 3rd and 4th games ISHIKAWA had many chances as refelected by the results. However, experience in the big games and the important stages was enought to see JIANG win the important points when they counted and she went on to win the match four games to one.

GAO Ning through to Final and KIM Jung Hoon continues Giant Killing run

Sinagpores GAO Ning defeated his collegue YANG Zi this morning the 25th of November in Quan Ngua Stadium, Hanoi, Vietnam. However it was the Korean KIM Jung Hoon who continued to impress here in Hanoi defeating the number two seed JUN Mizutani from Japan.

MIZUTANI had started the match in great form racing to a two games to zero lead. However, what sometimes seems to be a common trait of the young Japanese star there seemed to be a slight lapse in concentration. With the form KIM had been in this was all that he needed to get back into the match and slowly the Korean gained in cofidence, while Mizutani fought hard to regain his composure. In an up and down encounter it wasnt until the last game at 6 all when the Korean with some tight serves and tight return of service managed to make a break and took the match 4 games to 3.

The final will be played at 8pm local Vietnam tim.