DUBAI // Ruthless in breaking Indian hearts last night by knocking PV Sindhu out, Sung Ji-hyun will be looking for revenge against No 1 Tai Tzu-ying as they battle for the Dubai World Superseries Finals women’s single title.
Monk-like on the court as she shut out the din created by another huge Indian turnout at the Hamdan Sports Complex, Sung defeated Sindhu 21-15, 18-21, 21-15 to set up a repeat of the 2014 final, which Tai won 21-17, 21-12.
In the men’s singles final, Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen, the world No 4 who defeated Korean Son Wan-ho 21-17, 21-19 in the semis, will lock horns with China’s Tian Houwei, who knocked out Jan O Jorgensen 21-17, 19-21, 21-13.
“There was great support for Sindhu, but sometimes that can be a negative as well and put pressure on the player because so many people are cheering for her,” said Sung. “But for me, I just tried to block all that noise out and just focus on the game. It didn’t really matter much to me.
“Now, I am really looking forward to winning the final tomorrow. I lost the 2014 final against Tai and I am really keen to win this time.”
Meeting Sung for the fifth time this year, Sindhu, who had won three of their previous four duels in 2016, looked a bit out of sorts as she lost the first game. Urged on by the fans, she did bounce back to win the second, but could not keep pace with Sung in the third as the Korean bolted off the blocks for a 4-0 lead and then cruised home comfortably.
“I am a bit disappointed at the moment, but overall, it has been a good year,” said Sindhu, winner of a silver medal at the Rio Olympics. “I think I did well this week as well. Reaching the semis on your first appearance in a Superseries Finals, I think that is always good.”
Earlier, in the first semi-final, world No 1 Tai, up against an opponent she had never beaten before in five matches, finally managed to down Sun Yu 21-19, 21-19 to reach the final for a third time.
A finalist on her Superseries Finals debut in 2013, when she lost to China’s Li Xuerui, Tai, 22, won the title 12 months later in Dubai, defeating Sung.
Like Tai, Tian also had overcome the odds in the first men’s semi-final. Coming to Dubai, he had only one win in seven matches against Jorgensen, and had lost five on the trot.
The world No 7 from China, however, managed to break that disappointing run against the Dane in their final group match on Friday and he carried that confidence into the semis, racing to the finish from 11-11 in the third.
“Tian played well,” said Jorgensen, the world No 3 who made history last month when he became the first non-Asian to win the China Open. “I think he changed the tactics a lot. I really couldn’t cope with the things he came up with. That is one of the reasons I couldn’t get any rhythm and I couldn’t find my shots. Way too many mistakes. Well done to him.
“Sometimes you really need to go in and get physical, and I didn’t really dare to do it. I made too many mistakes and gave away some easy chances.”
Buoyed by his win over Jorgensen, Tian, who lost to Chinese compatriot Lin Dan in the 2016 All England Open final in March, is now looking forward to the final against Axelsen, as he bids for the first Superseries crown of his career, and his first tournament triumph since the 2013 Australian Open Grand Prix Gold.
“Jorgensen had more victories against me in the past, so he was probably favourite coming into this game, but I was prepared,” said Tian, 24. “Now, heading into the final, I feel really confident because of this win and I hope I can play another good match.
“Of course, I have to stay grounded, stay focused and try not to get too excited about all this.”
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The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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'Falling%20for%20Christmas'
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World ranking (at month’s end)
Jan - 257
Feb - 198
Mar - 159
Apr - 161
May - 159
Jun – 162
Currently: 88
Year-end rank since turning pro
2016 - 279
2015 - 185
2014 - 143
2013 - 63
2012 - 384
2011 - 883
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
UAE rugby season
FIXTURES
West Asia Premiership
Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Knights Eagles
Dubai Tigers v Bahrain
Jebel Ali Dragons v Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Division 1
Dubai Sharks v Dubai Hurricanes II
Al Ain Amblers v Dubai Knights Eagles II
Dubai Tigers II v Abu Dhabi Saracens
Jebel Ali Dragons II v Abu Dhabi Harlequins II
Sharjah Wanderers v Dubai Exiles II
LAST SEASON
West Asia Premiership
Winners – Bahrain
Runners-up – Dubai Exiles
UAE Premiership
Winners – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Runners-up – Jebel Ali Dragons
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners – Dubai Hurricanes
Runners-up – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Conference
Winners – Dubai Tigers
Runners-up – Al Ain Amblers
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Company%20profile
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Company profile
Name: Fruitful Day
Founders: Marie-Christine Luijckx, Lyla Dalal AlRawi, Lindsey Fournie
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2015
Number of employees: 30
Sector: F&B
Funding so far: Dh3 million
Future funding plans: None at present
Future markets: Saudi Arabia, potentially Kuwait and other GCC countries
Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush
Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”
A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.
“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Vikram%20Vedha
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THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
The%20specs
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About Proto21
Date started: May 2018
Founder: Pir Arkam
Based: Dubai
Sector: Additive manufacturing (aka, 3D printing)
Staff: 18
Funding: Invested, supported and partnered by Joseph Group
How to get exposure to gold
Although you can buy gold easily on the Dubai markets, the problem with buying physical bars, coins or jewellery is that you then have storage, security and insurance issues.
A far easier option is to invest in a low-cost exchange traded fund (ETF) that invests in the precious metal instead, for example, ETFS Physical Gold (PHAU) and iShares Physical Gold (SGLN) both track physical gold. The VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF invests directly in mining companies.
Alternatively, BlackRock Gold & General seeks to achieve long-term capital growth primarily through an actively managed portfolio of gold mining, commodity and precious-metal related shares. Its largest portfolio holdings include gold miners Newcrest Mining, Barrick Gold Corp, Agnico Eagle Mines and the NewMont Goldcorp.
Brave investors could take on the added risk of buying individual gold mining stocks, many of which have performed wonderfully well lately.
London-listed Centamin is up more than 70 per cent in just three months, although in a sign of its volatility, it is down 5 per cent on two years ago. Trans-Siberian Gold, listed on London's alternative investment market (AIM) for small stocks, has seen its share price almost quadruple from 34p to 124p over the same period, but do not assume this kind of runaway growth can continue for long
However, buying individual equities like these is highly risky, as their share prices can crash just as quickly, which isn't what what you want from a supposedly safe haven.