All England Open semi-finalists win big at Denmark Open
Chinese first seeds Feng Yan Zhe and Huang Dong Ping produced a superb comeback to emerge as mixed doubles champions at the Denmark Open.
Feng and Huang, who reached the semi-finals at the YONEX All England Open back in March, had it all to do as they went a game down against compatriots and second seeds Jiang Zhen Bang and Wei Ya Xin, losing the final’s opening game 21-15.
But in a steely show of mental resilience, the pair held their nerve and fought back to earn parity in the second, winning 21-18.
They then snatched gold in a nail-biting deciding game, besting Jiang and Wei 21-17 in the third to top the podium.
Elsewhere, second seed Wang Zhi Yi made quick work of first seed An Se Young in the women’s singles final, defeating the South Korean 21-10 21-12 in just 39 minutes.
An was nevertheless able to better her semi-final finish at the All England Open, securing silver in Odense.
There was an upset in the women’s doubles as Japan’s Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi surged to a straight games victory in the final over Chinese first seeds Liu Sheng Shu and Tan Ning.
Iwanaga and Nakanishi, who were seeded fourth going into the Denmark Open, enjoyed a sensational campaign, having beaten the second and fifth seeds on their way to the final.
And with a spring in their step, they dispatched the competition favourites 21-18 21-14 to seal their place on the top of the podium.
In the men’s singles, second seed Anders Antonsen became the only Dane of this year’s Open to win gold on home soil, impressing to defeat Japan’s Koki Watanabe 21-15 21-16 in the final.
Danish compatriots Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen were unable to follow suit in the men’s doubles final, with the first-seeded Chinese duo of Liang Wei Kang and Wang Chang overcoming the home crowd favourites in straight games.
