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MACAU OPEN: Chong Wei won't go on

World No 1 pulls out due to fatigue

Lee Chong Wei
Lee Chong Wei

LEE Chong Wei, stung by two consecutive defeats to nemesis Lin Dan of China in as many weeks, withdrew from the Macau Open yesterday. 

The Malaysian World No 1, who lost to Lin Dan in the semi-finals of the Hong Kong and China Opens over the fortnight, is mentally and physically exhausted.

   BA of Malaysia (BAM) secretary Ng Chin Chai, who is also the chairman of the coaching and training conmittee, said Chong Wei didn't want to risk injury by competing in Macau.

   "Chong Wei said he was lethargic after the Hong Kong and China Opens and decided to withdraw from the Macau Open," said Chin Chai yesterday.

   "It is a long season and Chong Wei didn't want to risk suffering an injury.

   "In fact, we (the coaching committee) were not too keen in him competing in Macau but he wanted to see how his condition is after the first two events.

"I had a lengthy discussion with his coach Tey Seu Bock and Chong Wei also felt it would be best not to compete."

   Chong Wei was due to play Suppanyu Avihingsanon and the Thai will play Chou Tien Chen of Taiwan in the second round today.

   Chong Wei's withdrawal appeared to have a chain reaction as the Malaysian back-up players didn't fare well in the men's singles first round yesterday.

   Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin managed to get past the first round after an easy 21-9, 21-15 win over Jarolim Vicem of Slovakia while former national player Hafiz Hashim also secured a 21-13 18-21 21-10 win over Lee Dong Kuen of South Korea.

  However, Liew Daren failed to overcome China's Wang Zhengming when he lost 15-21, 21-17, 21-14 while Chong Wei Feng fell 19-21, 21-16, 21-14 to another China player Chen Yuekun.

   Arif Latif was also sent packing after a 19-21, 21-16, 21-13 loss to Taiwan's Hsueh Hsuan Yi while Goh Soon Huat was stopped 21-13, 21-17 by Taiwan's Teng Shih Hua.

Read more: NST

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