Hosts lost the mixed title to Demark but secured a one-two in men's singles as Chinese Lin Dan and Bao Chunlai set up the final showdown at the China Open badminton Saturday in Guangzhou.

Lin, current world No.1, downed seventh-seeded Kenneth Jonassen of Denmark 15-1, 14-17, 15-6 and his teammate Bao also survived a close game 10-15, 15-3, 15-12, beating Olympic Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia.

The two semifinals, which started simultaneously, provided the appreciative Guangzhou spectators with thrills and dramas amongst cheers from the stands for both sides.

Lin was fabulous in the first set and won 15-1. He followed the momentum into the second and led 14-9.

His tenacious opponent, however, fought back from the behind and played an incredible run of 8-0 to seal a 17-14 victory.

"Lin played very well," Jonassen said, "He slid fast and didn't give me chances in the third set."

"But I haven't played on that court this week but I won the very tough second set anyway," he said.

Lin left the Athens Olympic Games empty-handed as he was ousted in the first-round, but Jonassen thought highly of the 21-year-old and his future.

"That's his first Olymics and I see no problems (in his future) as long as he keeps the motivation into 2008," the Danish veteran said.

Former world No. 1 Bao was happy to win over Hidayat.

"Some people said I'm the bar of Taufik, but I don't think so. He is very experienced and it's not easy for me to win," he said.

Hidayat received instant medical treatment at the courtside on his foot during the second set. He had a blister on his sole right below his toes, according a doctor on site.

Olympic bronze medallists Jens Eriksen and Mette Schjoldager took the mixed double title for Denmark.

The third-seeded Danes overthrew Chinese Chen Qiqiu and Zhao Tingting in full sets 15-13, 13-15, and 15-8 in a marathon battle which lasted one hour and forty-two minutes.

Chen and Zhao, Denmark Open winners in October, were the third-time finallists in the International Badminton Federation's six-star tournament, but never won the title.

"I was a bit disappointed that I never won the tournament in front of home funs," said Chen, who was born in the southern province in 1978.

"I don't know why but I was short of strength in the third set. I think it's the turning point that we lost the first set," Chen said.

The Chinese duet started well and led the first set 11-6 only to surrender to their tenacious opponents 15-13.

"We beat them here last year and they revenge the defeat," Zhao said, "They did better tonight."

The two Indonesian pairs Nova Widianto/Lilyana Natsir and Anggun Nugroho/Tetty took the bronze medals.

Chinese Olympic champions Zhang Jun/Gao Ling were ousted in the quarterfinals by Indonesian Nova Widianto/Lilyana Natsir. They were the previous two-time champions here in a row, beating teammates Chen and Zhao.

Xie Xingfang, the sole Chinese semifinalist in women's singles, outshone her overseas compatriot Pi Hongyan of France 11-1, 3-11, and 11-7.

She will clash with Wang Chen from Chinese Hong Kong in the final, who defeated Danish Tine Rasmussen 11-9, 11-5.

In men's doubles, Indonesia's reunited world champions eased through top-seeded Jens Eriksen/Martin Lundgaard Hansen of Denmark and booked the final showdown with Chew Choon-Eng/Choong Tan-Fook of Malaysia.

The Malaysian couple managed a narrow win over hosts Sang Yang/Zheng Bo 17-16, 13-15, 15-13.

Women's doubles semifinals were played between four Chinese pairs and Yang Wei/Zhang Jiewen surged into final first, overcoming their teammates Du Jing/Yuyang.

The other semifinal is still going on between Wei Yili/Zhao Tingting and Olympic champions Gao Ling/Huang Sui.