Badminton: Doubles pairs guarantee China gold

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CHEERS IN JOY: Jin Ma (R) and Chen Xu (L) of China celebrate beating Tontowi Ahmad and Lilyana Natsir of Indonesia in their Mixed Doubles Badminton semi-final on day 6. –Photo by london2012.com

China are guaranteed at least one Badminton gold medal at London 2012 after their leading Mixed Doubles pairs reached the final, london2012.com reported.

Top seeds and world champions Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei will take on number two pair Xu Chen and Ma Jin for the title at Wembley Arena on Friday after hard-fought semi-final wins.

Both pairs needed to come from behind with Zhang and Zhao extended by Denmark’s Joachim Fischer and Christinna Pedersen before prevailing 17-21 21-17 21-19 in 82 gruelling minutes.

Xu and Ma needed to hold out in a nervy second game after losing a tight opener against All England champions Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir before winning 21-23 21-18 21-13 in 75 minutes.

The defeat for Ahmad and Natsir means that for the first time in Olympic history Indonesia will not claim at least one Badminton gold. They were the country’s last representatives after defeat for men’s pair Mohammad Ashan and Bona Septano earlier in the day.

The semi-final line-up for the women’s Singles competitions was completed on Day 6.

Europe’s top player, fifth seed Tine Baun, lost to India’s fourth-seeded Saina Nehwal.

The other three players in the last four are all Chinese.

Top seed Wang Yihan brushed off Cheng Shiao Chieh 21-14 21-11, Wang Xin avoided an upset to beat Thai Intanon Ratchanok 17-21 21- 17 21-14 and Li Xuerui overcame Hong Kong’s Yip Pui Yin 21-12 22-20.