Ma Lin is out!!! (Paris 2013)

Who saw that one coming? Three-time World Championships runner-up and 2008 Olympic champion Ma Lin is out of the men’s singles race here in Paris!

The man responsible for Ma’s shock elimination is none other than Japan’s Kenta Matsudaira with the no.40 seed dropping just one game on his way to a simply outstanding 4-1 victory (11-5, 11-7, 11-4, 12-14, 11-7). A repeat fixture of their 2009 World Championships head-to-head, but on this occasion the plaudits go to Matsudaira.

China returns to final (Gothenburg 1993)

After having missed out in 1991, Team China returns to the men’s team final here in Gothenburg two years later, after defeating Team Germany to setup a repeat of the 1989 final from Dortmund.

In a 3-1 win,  Wang Tao first saw off Jörg Rosskopf (21-13, 21-19), before Steffen Fetzner balanced the tie with his win over Ma Wenge (21-12, 21-19). It was all in vain as Wang Hao defeated Peter Franz (21-14, 21-15) and then Ma Wenge finished the match off against Jörg Rosskopf (21-18, 17-21, 21-18).

When in Gothenburg (Gothenburg 1993)

DPR Korea has once again secured its ticket to the women’s team final and, just like in 1985, it has come in the Swedish city of Gothenburg.

As fate would have it the team facing DPR Korea was once again Korea Republic, the same side that was bested in the semi-finals eight years ago. 3-1 was the result in 1985, it is the very same outcome this time out as well, as Li Bun Hui & Yu Sun Bok ‘s combined efforts thwarted Hyun Jung Hwa and Park Hae Jung. that Talk about déjà vu!