MACAU OPEN: Chong Wei won't go on

World No 1 pulls out due to fatigue

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.

Comments

Ex-coach's jail sentence cut to a year

PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal yesterday sentenced former athletics coach C. Ramanathan to 12 months' jail for molesting two junior athletes 19 years ago. A three-man bench led by Datuk Mohd Hishamudin Mohd Yunus unanimously dismissed Ramanathan's appeal against conviction, but varied the jail sentence of four years to a year, which was to run concurrently. Following yesterday's ruling, Ramanathan, 75, a former teacher, walked out a free man as he had served 10 months in Kajang Prison. Convicts get one-third remission for good behaviour while in prison. However, he will lose his pension. Hishamudin, who sat with Datuk Abdul Wahab Patail and Datuk Linton Albert, said the court found no merit to overturn the conviction. "However, in reducing the sentence, we considered Ramanathan's age and the long years the appeal has taken." Deputy public prosecutor Awang Armadajaya Awang Mahmud submitted that then High Court judge Tan Sri Abdull Hamid E...

Govt Always Gives Emphasis To Sporting Culture, Says PM

KUALA TERENGGANU, May 29 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badaw i said the government always gives emphasis on cultivating a strong sporting culture in achieving excellence at the international level. As such, the Prime Minister said, it was important to scout for young talents in sports. "I observe that the Malaysia Games (Sukma) has become one of the important platforms to do so. "In this arena, the potentials and skills of the youngsters can be identified for development so that they can achieve greater success in sports," he said in his message in the souvenir book of the 12th Sukma from May 31 until June 9. Abdullah said he was aware that competition in sports was very keen and challenging but this did not mean that Malaysian athletes were incapable of competing at the international level. "The fact is that we have all the characteristics required to be excellent. We must inculcate a strong fighting spirit so that we don't easily surrender,...

Chance to catch Messi and company

FAM deputy president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah and vice president Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin with FC Barcelona chief executive officer Antoni Rossich yesterday. Pic by Osman Adnan LIONEL Messi's presence alone could sell half the tickets despite reigning world club champions FC Barcelona's date with a Malaysian XI at the National Stadium on Aug 10 falling on the third day of Hari Raya. The much anticipated visit of the four-time European champions comes with expectations from fans who want a full star-studded line-up. "The summer will be a busy period with a lot of uncertainty with players moving away and coming in. "But yes, our plans are to bring our full team here," said FC Barcelona chief executive officer Antoni Rossich yesterday. Rossich was speaking at the announcement of the friendly match, which is part of the three-match FC Barcelona Asia Tour 2013, which sees the giants also visiting China and Thailand. Also pre...

Malaysian Sports - Today's back pages!

Search This Blog