"Indonesia Open Super Series 2011" Sasaki the Sho stealer once again

Japan’s Sho Sasaki finally lived up to his word when he stunned badminton’s most decorated player, Lin Dan (below), 21-12, 21-18 in the second round of the Djarum Indonesia Open Superseries Premier on Thursday.

Lin Dan’s stunning upset continued the wave of bad news for the Chinese camp as women’s world No. 1 Wang Shixian was also shown the door at the Istora Senayan in Jakarta, a day after world No. 2 and Li Ning Singapore Open Superseries champion Wang Xin, was knocked out of the US$600,000 tournament.

Despite Lin Dan’s exit, China still have three players left in the men’s singles with Chen Long, Du Pengyu and world champion Chen Jin still in with a chance of winning the sixth tournament in the lucrative OSIM BWF World Superseries 2011 calendar.

Likewise, there are still three Chinese shuttlers left in the women’s singles draw – Liu Xin, world No. 3 Wang Yihan and Jiang Yanjiao.

Sasaki, who has twice defeated Chen Jin this year, promised in April that he will do everything in his power to close the gap on Lin Dan after suffering four consecutive defeats to the three-time world champion.

And he did just that on Thursday, beating the reigning Olympic and Asian Games gold medallist in 39 minutes.

“I was patient today. We have met twice this year – at the Badminton Asia Championships and Sudirman Cup – but I narrowly lost on both occasions,” said the Australia Open champion. “I’m tried hard against him in the past and I’m glad that I was successful this time.”

Lin Dan, who has been plagued by stomach problems since last week’s Li Ning Singapore Open Superseries, even conceded that final to Chen Jin after being diagnosed with gastroenteritis.

Many had accused him of throwing that match in order to help Chen Jin gain valuable qualifying points for the Olympics, a charge Lin Dan has vehemently denied and his loss yesterday, seemed to confirmed that all is not right with ‘Super Dan’, who would have met Chen Jin if he had won.

“No excuses, Sasaki deserved to win. I didn't deliberately lose,” said a disappointed Lin Dan. “For now, I will have to go and see a doctor when I get back to see what’s wrong with my stomach.

“I need to take a good rest before I decide on the next course of action.”

World No. 9 Cheng Shao Chieh of Taipei (right), celebrated the biggest victory of her career when she took out Wang Shixian 21-15, 21-17 to book a quarter-final date with Liu Xin.

Wang Shixian, who started the year with a bang by bagging the Victor BWF Super Series Finals 2010 and Proton Malaysia Open Superseries in January as well as the Yonex All England Superseries Premier in March, has suffered a dip in form since then.

She had no answer against a determined Shao Chieh, who closed out the match in just 33 minutes.

Shao Chieh will now play Liu Xin, who defeated team mate Li Xuerui 17-21, 21-19, 21-17.

Meanwhile, Taipei’s Tai Tzu Ying, who had knocked out Wang Xin on Wednesday, found local lass Adrianti Firdasari too hot to handle. The Indonesian, who had to come through the qualifying stage, scored a come-from-behind 19-21, 21-14, 21-14 victory.

She will now play Jiang Yanjiao for a place in the semi-finals.