Chinese Olympic champions Zhang Jun and Gao Ling lost to Indonesian Nova Widianto and Lilyana Natsir 17-14, 4-15 and 15-6 in the mixed doubles quarterfinals at the China Open badminton championships in Guangzhou on Thursday.
The newly-paired Indonesians will next play Olympic semifinalists Jens Eriksen and Mette Shojoldager of Denmark, who beat Koo Kien-Keat and Wong Pei Tty of Malaysia 15-10, 15-2.
"We are not shocked at all and had thought about it before the match," Gao said, "We have been short of regular training after the Athens Olympic Games."
Zhang and Gao had a tough beginning when they trailed 4-0 in the first set.
They saved two game points at 14-12 and leveled 14-14. But the Indonesians scored three points in a row on their serve and finally survive a close first set 17-14.
Although resurging to take the second set, the Chinese duo lost momentum in the decisive third.
They just restored training weeks ago, according to their coach Chen Xingdong.
"They are not in the form, especially Zhang Jun. He has been gaining weights due to the lack of training," Chen said.
"Widianto's new parnter did quite well. She's young and responds quickly," he added.
Widianto used to be paired with Rita Marissa and they made the quarterfinals in Athens.
The other Chinese duet Chen Qiqiu and Zhao Tingting, seeded No.2, became China's only hope for the mixed title on their own turf.
They overcame fifth-seeded Kim Yong Hyun and Lee Hyo Jung of South Korea 15-11 and 15-7 later in another quarterfinal.
Indonesians Anggun Nugroho and Tetty Yunita, also a new pair, produced a second surprise.
They booked the last semifinal berth, beating Carsten Mogensen and veteran Rikke Olsen of Denmark.
Olsen split with Jonas Rasmusen after the Athens Games where they entered the semifinals, allowing Rasmusen to concentrate on men's doubles.
(Xinhua News Agency November 12, 2004)
