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Chong Wei to play in India

TOP SEED: Withdrawal could see the Malaysian lose his World No 1 ranking

LEE Chong Wei has decided to compete in the India Open which begins in New Delhi tomorrow as withdrawing from the super series event will see China's Chen Long overtake him as the World No 1.
Chong Wei, the top seed, reached the final of the India Open last year and needs to at least reach the semi-finals to maintain his World No 1 ranking.

Although Chong Wei was mulling his decision to compete in the India Open after BA of Malaysia (BAM) secretary Ng Chin Chai had advised him to skip the event as he had not been able to focus on training since his return from the All England in March.

The arrival of Chong Wei's son, Kingston, born two weeks ago was another reason for Chin Chai asking the shuttler to reconsider his decision to compete in India.

However, Chong Wei has declared that he is in condition to play in India and will face mediocre opposition as the tournament has not attracted big names.

Chong Wei opens his campaign against Scott Evans of Wales before a meeting with Hong Kong's Wong Wing Ki. His quarter-final opponent is expected to be either P. Kashyap of India or Indonesian veteran Taufik Hidayat.

Assuming he advances, the World No 1 could then face fourth seeded Dane Jan Jorgensen in the last four and if he progresses, will find Kenichi Tago of Japan awaiting him in the final.

Men's doubles Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, the second seeds, have a tougher task as they face the danger of a quarter-final exit in a possible meeting against Kim Ki Jung-Kim Sa Rang of South Korea.
However, national doubles chief coach Tan Kim Her expects Kien Keat-Boon Heong, who have been focusing on their fitness in an effort to regain their form, to do better and should they clear the last eight, will come up against another Korean pair Ko Sung Hyun-Lee Yong Dae in the semis.

World No 7 Tan Wee Kiong-Hoon Thien How will also be hoping to end their semi-final jinx in super series events but face some huge challenges to achieve their goal.

Wee Kiong-Thien How, who face little trouble against India's Khetal Chahal-Deepak Khatri in the opening round, will be up against Australia Open champions Ryan Agung Saputra-Angga Pratama of Indonesia in the second round.

This is likely to be followed by another difficult clash against Japan's Hiroyuki Endo-Kenichi Hayakawa in the last eight and they must then beat either World No 1 Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen of Denmark or China's All England champions Liu Xiaolong-Qiu Zihan to make their first final in a super series event.

Lee Chong Wei will face Scott Evans of Wales in the first round of the India Open in New Delhi tomorrow.

Read more: Chong Wei to play in India - Badminton - New Straits Times

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