PETALING JAYA: World number one men’s singles shuttler and defending champion Lee Chong Wei is not the only star attraction in the Kumpoo Macau Open Grand Prix, which began yesterday.
There are two other Lees – Hyun-il and Yong-dae from South Korea, who are making a comeback in an Open tournament after a long hiatus.
Back in the fray: South Korea’s Lee Hyun-il has not played in any Open tournament since retiring two years ago. Yesterday, the cool Malaysian superstar justified his favourite’s tag when he steamrolled past homester Chan Io Chong 21-9, 21-19 in just 19 minutes for a flying start.
Veteran Wong Choong Hann also joined Chong Wei in the second round after an opening 21-10, 21-5 win over Kazakhstan’s Viktor Govenko.
Chong Wei will take on Taiwan’s Hao Hsu-jen, who prevented an all-Malaysian second round match by beating Kedah Open champion Chan Kwong Beng 21-19, 17-21, 21-16.
The other Malaysians who are also into the second round are Beryno Wong and Liew Daren.
Although the top seeded Chong Wei is gunning for his sixth title this year in Macau, all eyes will also be on Hyun-il and Yong-dae – the top and dangerous players from South Korea respectively.
Yesterday, Hyun-il, who has not played in any Open tournament since retiring two years ago, also got off to a splendid start when he tamed Shuhei Hayasaki of Japan 21-9, 21-7 in 21 minutes.
Veteran Hyun-il made his first appearance after his retirement in May but it was in a team event at the Thomas Cup Finals in Kuala Lumpur.
The Korean, who has no world rankings and is aiming to win his first Open title in two years, earned a direct entry into the main draw as a replacement for the absent Peter-Gade Christensen of Denmark.
Barring an upset, and provided he can reproduce his past brilliance, Hyun-il has a good chance of going all the way to the final to set up a probable match-up against Chong Wei.
In the men’s doubles, the microscope will be on Yong-dae, who has not seen action since the Swiss Open in March due to an elbow injury.
He has resumed his partnership with Jung Jae-sung and the duo will open their campaign against Hiroyuki Endo-Kenichi Hayakawa in the first round today.
All the first round matches of the doubles and women’s singles events will only begin today. If Yong-dae-Jae-sung can hit top form again, they have a good chance of reaching the semi-finals and set up a probable meeting with second seeds Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia.
The tournament lost some of its glitter when top seeds Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen withdrew.
Malaysia will be banking on four seasoned campaigners – Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif, Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah, Gan Teik Chai-Tan Bin Shen, Chan Chong Ming-Chew Choon Eng – and three back-up shuttlers – Mak Hee Chun-Tan Wee Kiong, Chan Peng Soon-Lim Khim Wah and Goh Wei Shem-Teo Kok Siang – for honours.
Back in the fray: South Korea’s Lee Hyun-il has not played in any Open tournament since retiring two years ago.Veteran Wong Choong Hann also joined Chong Wei in the second round after an opening 21-10, 21-5 win over Kazakhstan’s Viktor Govenko.
Chong Wei will take on Taiwan’s Hao Hsu-jen, who prevented an all-Malaysian second round match by beating Kedah Open champion Chan Kwong Beng 21-19, 17-21, 21-16.
The other Malaysians who are also into the second round are Beryno Wong and Liew Daren.
Although the top seeded Chong Wei is gunning for his sixth title this year in Macau, all eyes will also be on Hyun-il and Yong-dae – the top and dangerous players from South Korea respectively.
Yesterday, Hyun-il, who has not played in any Open tournament since retiring two years ago, also got off to a splendid start when he tamed Shuhei Hayasaki of Japan 21-9, 21-7 in 21 minutes.
Veteran Hyun-il made his first appearance after his retirement in May but it was in a team event at the Thomas Cup Finals in Kuala Lumpur.
The Korean, who has no world rankings and is aiming to win his first Open title in two years, earned a direct entry into the main draw as a replacement for the absent Peter-Gade Christensen of Denmark.
Barring an upset, and provided he can reproduce his past brilliance, Hyun-il has a good chance of going all the way to the final to set up a probable match-up against Chong Wei.
In the men’s doubles, the microscope will be on Yong-dae, who has not seen action since the Swiss Open in March due to an elbow injury.
He has resumed his partnership with Jung Jae-sung and the duo will open their campaign against Hiroyuki Endo-Kenichi Hayakawa in the first round today.
All the first round matches of the doubles and women’s singles events will only begin today. If Yong-dae-Jae-sung can hit top form again, they have a good chance of reaching the semi-finals and set up a probable meeting with second seeds Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia.
The tournament lost some of its glitter when top seeds Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen withdrew.
Malaysia will be banking on four seasoned campaigners – Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif, Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah, Gan Teik Chai-Tan Bin Shen, Chan Chong Ming-Chew Choon Eng – and three back-up shuttlers – Mak Hee Chun-Tan Wee Kiong, Chan Peng Soon-Lim Khim Wah and Goh Wei Shem-Teo Kok Siang – for honours.
By RAJES PAUL - THE STAR
Chong Wei mudah lepasi halangan
KUALA LUMPUR - Jaguh perseorangan negara, Datuk Lee Chong Wei memulakan kempen mempertahankan kejuaraan badminton Terbuka Macau dengan menang mudah ke atas pemain tuan rumah, Chan lo Chong semalam.Pemain No. 1 dunia itu hanya memerlukan 19 minit untuk membenam cabaran Io Chong 21-9, 21-10, sekali gus mengukuhkan kedudukan sebagai pilihan utama pada kejohanan Grand Prix Emas bernilai AS$120,000 (RM383,000) itu.
Chong Wei, yang turut muncul naib juara Terbuka Macau dua kali pada 2008 dan 2006 kini akan menentang pemenang di antara rakan senegara dan juara Terbuka Kedah, Chan Kwong Beng atau pemain Taiwan, Hao Hsu Jen.
Pemain berusia 27 tahun itu memburu kejuaraan keenamnya tahun ini selepas muncul juara dalam empat kejohanan Siri Super - All England, Terbuka Korea, Terbuka Malaysia dan Terbuka Indonesia, selain gelaran Grand Prix Emas Terbuka Malaysia, dua minggu lalu.
Biarpun Malaysia turut menghantar lima lagi pemain perseorangan lelaki - Wong Choong Hann, Tan Chun Seang, Liew Daren, Mohd. Arif Abdul Latif dan Beryno Wong, namun jaguh Indonesia, Sony Dwi Kuncoro menjadi pilihan untuk bertemu Chong Wei di final, Ahad ini.
Sementara itu cubaan kedua kombinasi baru beregu campuran, Tan Bin Shen-Ng Hui Ern untuk melangkah ke undian utama kejohanan Grand Prix Emas tidak kesampaian apabila tunduk 21-19, 19-21, 19-21 di tangan pasangan Taiwan, Pin Lu Chia-Han Hung Shih di pusingan kelayakan.
Malaysia turut membariskan tujuh beregu lelaki diketuai Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah, Mohd. Fairuzizuan Tazari-Mohd. Zakry Latif, Chan Chong Ming-Chew Choon Eng, Gan Teik Chai-Tan Bin Shen, Goh Wei Shem-Teo Kok Siang, Mak Hee Chun-Tan Wee Kiong dan Chan Peng Soon-Lim Kim Wah, namun semuanya hanya memulakan kempen hari ini.
Cabaran perseorangan wanita pula diketuai Wong Mew Choo dan Lydia Cheah, yang turut turun ke gelanggang hari ini manakala pasangan muda paling menyinar, Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei mengetuai saingan beregu wanita bersama Ng Hui Ern-Ng Hui Lin, selain pasangan senior, Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui.
Utusan
Comments
Post a Comment