Chong Wei back in business with Jakarta win but men’s doubles lack quality
News 2:25 PM
PETALING JAYA: World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei (pic) showed that he is back in business with a successful defence of the Indonesian Open title. But Malaysia continued to be plagued with a lack of quality in the men’s doubles.
The outcome in the back-to-back Super Series tournaments in Singapore and Indonesia indicated that Malaysia can only count on Chong Wei to win a first world championship title for the country in Paris in August.
Chong Wei defeated home favourite Taufik Hidayat to claim the Indonesian Open title last Sunday and his determination to win it showed that his mind is still set on nailing an elusive world championship title.
Just a week before, he had lost to Sony Dwi Kuncoro of Indonesia in the quarter-finals of the Singapore Open.
Chong Wei: ‘The success in Jakarta has given me the confidence again to think big’ Chong Wei said that the win in Indonesia was important to boost his confidence ahead of the world championships scheduled for Aug 23-28.
“The success in Jakarta after the setback at the Thomas Cup Finals and Singapore Open has given me the confidence again to think big of my chances in the world championships,” he said.
“It’s never easy to win in Indonesia and I am happy that I have achieved it three times thus far. I beat three Indonesians (Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka, Sony and Taufik) in front of their home crowd and that means a lot to me.”
Chong Wei added that the challenge would be greater in the world championships, especially when it will see the return to the big stage of China hopefuls Lin Dan, Bao Chunlai and Chen Jin.
National singles chief coach Rashid Sidek said that Chong Wei took another big step in his career as far as improving on his mental strength.
“So much is expected out of Chong Wei and he continues to deliver. He lost in Singapore but he put the defeat behind him and showed what he is capable of in Jakarta. He is stronger in the mind and was not even shaken by bad line calls,” he said.
“Currently, he is not only the sole hope for Malaysia in the singles but he also has to cover up for the doubles players when they do not do well. It’s a big burden and I hope the fans understand if he loses once in a while.”
But for the defeat in the Singapore Open, Chong Wei has won in every Super Series tournaments he has competed in this year – in Malaysia, South Korea and England.
In the Singapore and Indonesian Opens, much was expected from Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, who were the top seeds, and Ong Soon Hock-Hoon Thien How. But they turned out to be big disappointments.
While players from Japan and Taiwan continued to show improvement to ruffle the feathers of the regular doubles powerhouses from Indonesia, South Korea and Denmark, it appeared as though the Malaysian pair had either stagnated or taken a step backwards.
And national doubles chief coach Rexy Mainaky will have to take ownership in stopping the slide.
Taiwan’s Fang Chieh-min-Lee Sheng-mu were outstanding in winning both the Singapore and Indonesian Open titles.
Kien Keat hoped that Malaysian fans had not lost faith in them.
“We know where we stand. We will work on our game to give strong challenges in the world championships. That is, for now, our immediate goal,” he said.
Kien Keat-Boon Heong will be defending the Malaysian Open Grand Prix Gold title in the tournament which will be held in Johor Baru from July 6-11. But whether Chong Wei wants to do the same is in doubt.
The outcome in the back-to-back Super Series tournaments in Singapore and Indonesia indicated that Malaysia can only count on Chong Wei to win a first world championship title for the country in Paris in August.
Chong Wei defeated home favourite Taufik Hidayat to claim the Indonesian Open title last Sunday and his determination to win it showed that his mind is still set on nailing an elusive world championship title.
Just a week before, he had lost to Sony Dwi Kuncoro of Indonesia in the quarter-finals of the Singapore Open.
Chong Wei: ‘The success in Jakarta has given me the confidence again to think big’ “The success in Jakarta after the setback at the Thomas Cup Finals and Singapore Open has given me the confidence again to think big of my chances in the world championships,” he said.
“It’s never easy to win in Indonesia and I am happy that I have achieved it three times thus far. I beat three Indonesians (Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka, Sony and Taufik) in front of their home crowd and that means a lot to me.”
Chong Wei added that the challenge would be greater in the world championships, especially when it will see the return to the big stage of China hopefuls Lin Dan, Bao Chunlai and Chen Jin.
National singles chief coach Rashid Sidek said that Chong Wei took another big step in his career as far as improving on his mental strength.
“So much is expected out of Chong Wei and he continues to deliver. He lost in Singapore but he put the defeat behind him and showed what he is capable of in Jakarta. He is stronger in the mind and was not even shaken by bad line calls,” he said.
“Currently, he is not only the sole hope for Malaysia in the singles but he also has to cover up for the doubles players when they do not do well. It’s a big burden and I hope the fans understand if he loses once in a while.”
But for the defeat in the Singapore Open, Chong Wei has won in every Super Series tournaments he has competed in this year – in Malaysia, South Korea and England.
In the Singapore and Indonesian Opens, much was expected from Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, who were the top seeds, and Ong Soon Hock-Hoon Thien How. But they turned out to be big disappointments.
While players from Japan and Taiwan continued to show improvement to ruffle the feathers of the regular doubles powerhouses from Indonesia, South Korea and Denmark, it appeared as though the Malaysian pair had either stagnated or taken a step backwards.
And national doubles chief coach Rexy Mainaky will have to take ownership in stopping the slide.
Taiwan’s Fang Chieh-min-Lee Sheng-mu were outstanding in winning both the Singapore and Indonesian Open titles.
Kien Keat hoped that Malaysian fans had not lost faith in them.
“We know where we stand. We will work on our game to give strong challenges in the world championships. That is, for now, our immediate goal,” he said.
Kien Keat-Boon Heong will be defending the Malaysian Open Grand Prix Gold title in the tournament which will be held in Johor Baru from July 6-11. But whether Chong Wei wants to do the same is in doubt.
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 2:25 PM.
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