Zheng and Gao take first in mixed doubles

(BEIJING, June 23) -- World No. 2 Zheng Bo and Gao Ling from China beat Thomas Laybourn and Kamilla Rytter Juhl from Denmark 21-14, 21-8 to win the Mixed Doubles title at the Djarum Indonesia Open Badminton Series 2008 on June 22. The Danes, ranked No. 9 in the world, had upset world No. 1 Liliyana Natsir and Nova Widianto from Indonesia in the semifinals.

Laybourn and Rytter Juhl had leads in the first game at 3-0 and 11-9 but the Chinese team outscored them 11-3 in the second half of the game to take a 1-0 lead in the match.

Zheng and Gao carried their momentum into the second game. China held a 11-7 at the halfway point of the game then gave up only one more point to their opponent the rest of the way.

This was Zheng and Gao's second championship since they won the All-England Open Badminton Championships in March.