Bang Gets a Break and Chance for Gold

A string broke on the racket of Susi Susanti, the defending women’s gold medalist, and that break helped Bang Soo-hyun get another chance at an Olympic title.

Bang, of South Korea and the 1992 women’s silver medalist, beat Susanti of Indonesia, 11-9, 11-8, in the women’s semifinals and will play another Indonesian, Mia Audina, in the final.

Audina beat South Korea’s Kim Ji-hyun in the other semifinal, 11-8, 9-11, 11-1.

Susanti was going for an easy shot and an 8-5 lead when her racket string broke against Bang. Instead, it became 7-6, and Bang finished with a 5-1 run to wrap up the match.

S Antonius and Denny Kantono of Indonesia defeated Beng Kiang Soo and Kim Her Tan of Malaysia, 15-4, 12-15, 15-8, for the men’s doubles bronze medal.

Yongshu Tang and Yiyuan Qin of China downed Rikke Olsen and Helene Kirkgaard of Denmark, 7-15, 15-4, 15-8 in the women’s bronze match.

Gold and silver matches are today.