Denmark wins mixed doubles title

Olympic bronze medallists Jens Eriksen and Mette Schjoldager of Denmark took the mixed double title at the 250,000 US dollars China Open badminton championships Saturday in Guangzhou.

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, Demark 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 at my home town," 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, "And 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. They won back in the second but lost soon 15-8 in the decisive third.

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

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.