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Badminton: Chong Wei On Track For Greater Achievements, Says Ahmad Shabery

MELAKA, June 27 (Bernama) -- Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek today hailed Datuk Lee Chong Wei for his excellent performance at the Indonesian Open badminton championship which ended yesterday.

He said the World Number One's consistent superlative performance now put Chong Wei on track to reach even greater heights, particularly with the World Championship and the Olympics coming up.

"I am very proud of his performance (in winning the Indonesian Open men's singles title), more so he did it in style," he told reporters after opening the 11th International Youth Dialogue organised by the World Assembly of Youth (WAY) here Monday.

He was commenting on Chong Wei's 21-11, 21-7 victory over Demark's Peter Gade in the final of the Indonesian Open at the Istora Senayan Stadium in Jakarta yesterday.

It was Chong Wei's fourth win in the championship, and his third consecutive victory this year, earning himself a place in the all time greats of the Indonesian Open along with local heroes like Ardy Wiranata and Taufik Hidayat.

Commenting on the poor performance by the rest of the Malaysian players at the Indonesian Open, Ahmad Shabery said it could be due to "form'.

"There are times when they are in good form and times when their form is not so good," he said.

Malaysia's men's doubles pairs Mohamad Fairuzizuan Tazari/Ong Soon Hock and Hoon Tien How/Zakri Latiff were knocked out in the first round while 2007 All-England men's doubles champions Tan Boon Heong/Koo Kien Keat were shown the exit by unknown Indonesian pair Mohd Ahsan/Bona Septano in the quarter-finals.

-- BERNAMA

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