Asia blanks Europe, 3-0, in MVP Cup 2 opener

MANILA – Asia, behind fancied Lin Dan and Zhang Ning, drew first blood in the MVP Cup Asia vs Europe 2 badminton challenge as the two Chinese aces scored contrasting victories over their respective rivals to key a 3-0 win over Europe at the start of the event at the Araneta Coliseum Friday. Lin, currently No. 2 in the world ranking, overcame a lethargic start with a pretty solid performance in the second and three sets which he dominated en route to posting a 19-21, 21-14, 21-10 victory over Niels Christian Kaldau of Denmark in the first singles match of the three-day $100,000 event pitting the best of Asia against some of Europe’s finest shuttlers. “I was quite reluctant in the first set because I tried to get a feel of the court. But there was no problem after that,” said Lin, winner of the Chinese-Taipei and All-England Opens this years, who closed out the match with a forehand smash that caught the 6-foot Kaldau, last year’s Spanish Open champion, dumbfounded. Zhang, the world No. 1 in ladies singles, rallied from as many as six points down in the first set to turn back No. 7 Yao Jie and complete a 21-17, 21-19, triumph in their own side of the duel behind a fine display of shotmaking she spiked with power smashes and superb drop shots. “I’m very happy to win because Yao is such a great competitor,” said the 5-foot-8 Zhang through an interpreter. She did sound happy despite the fact that Yao, according to available records, has never beaten her since 1999. After the quick win, Zhang kept waving to the crowd, shaking hands with Yao then slapping high fives with the other Asian players seated at courtside. The Malaysian tandem of Lee Wan Wah and Choong Tan Fook capped Asia’s first day romp with a 23-21, 21-18 victory over Robert Blair and Robert Mateusiak in the men’s doubles. Those victories duplicated Asia’s 3-0 start on its way to scoring an 11-8 victory over its continental rival in last year’s inaugurals of the event held in honor of Manny Pangilinan, chairman of PLDT and Smart Communications, Inc. and sponsored by PLDTmyDSL and Smart and patterned after the Ryder Cup of golf.

The Europeans, meanwhile, try to bounce back today (Saturday) with the second matches in the men’s and ladies singles and the ladies doubles with each victory now worth two points. The final day on Sunday will have the mixed doubles and the third men’s singles and ladies singles wherein the winners of each match will earn three points. The winning team will get $60,000 and the loser $40,000. For details, visit www.mypad.net/mvpcup2006

Lin, who has won seven of the last 12 IBF Grand Prix events, appeared on his way to a trouble-free match against the No. 13 player in the world when he seized a 10-6 advantage. But he suddenly turned cold, yielding the next eight points, the lead and eventually the set.

But Lin, who has never lost a match to Kaldau in their four meetings, picked himself up in the second set, scoring on booming smashes while keeping his rival at bay with his near-flawless crosscourt and drop shots to even things up at 1-1.

The wiry Chinese, who has been the vital cog in China’s victories in the Thomas Cup and the Sudirman Cup, was simply unstoppable in the deciding set, picking up points on long rallies to the delight of the fans before completely controlling the match with is power, speed and spunk.

Like Lin, Zhang, who has reigned supreme in her division the last two years, fell by as many as six in the opening set but the four-time winner of the Singapore Open flashed some kind of resiliency to outplay Yao towards the end and snatch a 21-17 win before outlasting the No. 7 rival in the second set with a couple of solid crosscourt smashes to complete the straight-set victory. Hostilities in the second day of action start at 4 p.m. with ticket prices pegged at P300, P500, P750 and P1,000. Tickets are available at all Ticketnet outlets and at the Araneta Coliseum ticket booth. The event is backed by JVC, Nokia, Snickers Chocolates, Information Gateway, The Philippine Star, Toby’s Sports, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Yonex-Sunrise, Discovery Suites, California Pizza Kitchen and Gatorade.