GURI - The main stage at the World championschip for ladies is reserved for the reigning champion Therese Klompenhouwer, Orie Hida, the triple champion, Yuko Nishimoto, also from Japan and the young, talented Mee Rae Lee from Korea. Two Japanese players who sailed all seas, one Dutch player who already dominates three cushion for some years and the rising star in this field, the 21-year-old Korean student will battle it out for the title. The royal clash between Therese Klompenhouwer and Orie Hida will open the gala on Saturday at 11.00. Yuko Nishimoto and Mee Rae Lee meet two hours later for the other spot in the World champion final.
Two Japanese players enter the arena with the world title in sight, one Dutch and one young Korean. Orie Hida says that she's better at 40 years of age than she was in the years that she won and was the queen of three cushion. Therese Klompenhouwer realizes that from now on the tension is on, Yuko Nishimoto is chasing her first world title and Mee Rae Lee was overjoyed after her victory in the quarterfinals that she's among the best in the fight for the medals.
The Guri Gymnasium is preparing the great final day of the ladies World championship and after the last matches the World Cup which starts on Monday. The first famous players, like Dani Sánchez, Frédéric Caudron and Roland Forthomme showed up already to watch the climax of the ladies tournament.
Who will be awarded by UMB president Farouk Barki with the gold medal? Therese Klompenhouwer is still the big favorite with the highest average in the preliminaries and the quarterfinals. The Dutch knows like nobody else that the Japanese sometimes stay under the radar, but are always strong in the final of a World championship. The Korean Mee Rae Lee, who couldn't speak for minutes after the nerve-racking match in the quarters against Min A Kim (30-26 in 35) is a feared outsider on the final day.
Therese Klompenhouwer played the best match in the quarterfinals, beating Namiko Hayashi (30-17 in 29). ,,I made the gap with her so quick, that I lost my focus for a while'', she said after the match. ,,That should not happen tomorrow, for sure I will remain concentrated.''
Orie Hida also started well against Shin Young Lee (7-0 and 19-12), but faltered in the final stage of the match and only finished it of after 41 innings (30-23). Yuko Nishimoto was too strong for Ester Park, who was in the knockouts for the first time, but has to leave the tournament after ending her winning streak (30-17 in 32).
Mee Rae Lee and Min A Kim struggled in the Korean bump for each point. The match was in balance until the break. The very nervous Lee gave up a 21-14 lead, but showed her strength and fighting spirit again at the end: 30-26 in 35.
The semi-finals for Saturday:
11.00: Klompenhouwer-Hida
13.00: Nishimoto-Lee.
The Japanese Orie Hida, watching the shot of her opponent
The second Japanese Yuko Nishimoto, chasing her first world title
Therese Klompenhouwer, the best in the preliminaries, the best in the quarters, now Orie Hida is waiting in the semis