Skip to main content

Chong Wei eyes Macau Open crown after Lin Dan’s withdrawal


PETALING JAYA: Four-time world champion Lin Dan has withdrawn from tomorrow’s Macau Open, leaving Malaysia’s world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei with the chance to gun down his eighth Open title of the season.

Chong Wei has decided to stick with his plan to compete in his 13th international Open of the year and win the Macau Open crown for the third time in a row.

In Chong Wei’s top half are two youngsters from China – Wang Zhengming and Du Pengyu; three Indonesians – Simon Santoso, Sony Dwi Kuncoro, Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka; South Korean Shon Wan-ho; Hong Kong’s Wong Wing Ki and a host of Malaysians – reigning world junior champion Zulfadli Zulkifli, Beryno Wong, Liew Daren and Goh Soon Huat.

Chong Wei has a tricky first round date with Thailand’s upcoming youngster Suppanyu Avihingsanon but his real threat could be either Simon or Wang.

Without favourite Lin Dan, who won back-to-back titles in the Hong Kong and China Opens, the fight for a ticket to the final from the bottom half of the draw will be among South Korea’s Lee Hyun-il, Indonesia’s Taufik Hidayat and Tommy Sugiarto; Japan’s Kenichi Tago and several Malaysian players led by former international Mohd Hafiz Hashim.

Former All-England champion Hafiz, who is now playing under the KLRC banner, is hoping to turn in a good showing to earn a place in Malaysia’s Thomas Cup Finals squad.
Currently, besides Chong Wei, no other back-up players have proved their worth for a place in the premier world team event.

“Lin Dan will not be around and that is good news.
“He has pocketed two titles in the last two weeks and he can afford to take a rest.
“I will give my best to earn a place in the Thomas Cup squad,” said Hafiz.

Hafiz takes on South Korean Lee Dong-keun in the opening round and victory will pit him against compatriot Chan Kwong Beng, who is in the second round following Lin Dan’s withdrawal. Lin Dan’s absence was confirmed during the team managers’ meeting yesterday.

The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM)’s coaching and training chairman Ng Chin Chai said he had spoken to coach Tey Seu Bock in Macau yesterday on Chong Wei’s condition following his back-to-back defeats to Lin Dan in the semi-finals of the Hong Kong and China Opens.

“Seu Bock gave an assurance that Chong Wei is not suffering from fatigue. The coach should know best about his player’s condition and the green light has been given for Chong Wei to continue playing,” said Chin Chai.

With the turn of events in Macau yesterday, it looks like badminton fans will only get one more chance to witness a clash between Lin Dan and Chong Wei this season when the duo renew their rivalry in the Super Series Masters Finals, which will be held in Liuzhou, China, from Dec 14-18.



By RAJES PAUL - The Star

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Rajagobal Let Off The Hook

PETALING JAYA, April 24 (Bernama) -- National head coach Datuk K. Rajagobal was let off the hook by the Football Association of Malaysia's (FAM) Disciplinary Committee after finding no evidence that he had violated FAM's Article 88, as claimed. FAM Disciplinary Committee chairman Datuk Taufik Abdul Razak said the committee had decided not to charge Rajagobal after carefully analysing the video of the post-match press conference by the 56-year-old coach. "After listening to the recording of the post-match press conference, we decided to drop the charge against Rajagopal as he did not make such a statement. "Maybe his (Rajagobal) assessment and comments of the match was misconstrued by the media. There was no mention of the FAM policy throughout his comments," said Taufik after emerging from a three-hour Disciplinary Committee meeting at Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya, here, Wednesday. Rajagobal who does not mince his words when asked to com...

Atlet Tempuhi Empat Kejohanan Besar Sebelum Olimpik Rio 2016

KUALA LUMPUR, 31 Mei (Bernama) -- Empat temasya sukan penting yang dijadual berlangsung mulai Disember ini hingga 2015 menjadi medan persiapan atlet negara sebelum menghadapi cabaran Sukan Olimpik 2016 di Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, kata Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Khairy Jamaluddin Jumaati. Kejohanan berkenaan ialah Sukan SEA di Myanmar pada Disember, Sukan Asia 2014 di Incheon, Korea Selatan, Sukan Komanwel 2014 di Glasgow, Scotland dan Sukan SEA 2015 di Singapura. Bercakap kepada pemberita selepas melawat Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) di Bukit Jalil di sini, Khairy berkata kesemua temasya sukan itu dilihat amat penting dalam memastikan impian negara untuk membawa pulang pingat emas Olimpik pertama menjadi kenyataan. "Kita di Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS) mahupun MSN akan memastikan semua atlet mendapat bantuan sewajarnya dalam melakukan persiapan ke arah membawa pulang pingat emas pertama negara di Rio de Janeiro, Brazil nanti," katanya. Dalam perkemb...

Uber Cub: Malaysian squad Can Spring A Surprise - Ahmad Shabery

KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 (Bernama) -- Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek remains confident that the national Uber Cup squad can spring a surprise when Malaysia hosts the Thomas and Uber Cup finals at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil from May 9-16. He said despite not being the favourite, the women's team was able to surprise everyone by winning the gold medal at the Laos SEA Games. "I am confident they (Uber Cup team) will be able to produce a similar surprise. Not only are they capable of reaching the semi-final, they can go further," he told reporters after having lunch with national shuttlers here Thursday. National badminton Team manager Datuk Syed Abu Bakar Abdullah who echoed the minister's confidence said: "In Laos, nobody expected the women's team to win the world, so why not the Uber Cup? All they need to do is try their very best." Women's team captain Wong Pei Tty said she and her team-mates have set a target of r...