Chong Wei’s star power in Macau rivalled by two Korean veterans
News, Top News 4:49 PM
PETALING JAYA: World number one men’s singles shuttler and
defending champion Lee Chong Wei is not the only star attraction in the
Kumpoo Macau Open Grand Prix, which began yesterday.
There are two other Lees – Hyun-il and Yong-dae from South Korea, who are making a comeback in an Open tournament after a long hiatus.
Back in the fray: South
Korea’s Lee Hyun-il has not played in any Open tournament since
retiring two years ago.
Yesterday, the cool Malaysian
superstar justified his favourite’s tag when he steamrolled past
homester Chan Io Chong 21-9, 21-19 in just 19 minutes for a flying
start.
Veteran Wong Choong Hann also joined Chong Wei in the second round after an opening 21-10, 21-5 win over Kazakhstan’s Viktor Govenko.
Chong Wei will take on Taiwan’s Hao Hsu-jen, who prevented an all-Malaysian second round match by beating Kedah Open champion Chan Kwong Beng 21-19, 17-21, 21-16.
The other Malaysians who are also into the second round are Beryno Wong and Liew Daren.
Although the top seeded Chong Wei is gunning for his sixth title this year in Macau, all eyes will also be on Hyun-il and Yong-dae – the top and dangerous players from South Korea respectively.
Yesterday, Hyun-il, who has not played in any Open tournament since retiring two years ago, also got off to a splendid start when he tamed Shuhei Hayasaki of Japan 21-9, 21-7 in 21 minutes.
Veteran Hyun-il made his first appearance after his retirement in May but it was in a team event at the Thomas Cup Finals in Kuala Lumpur.
The Korean, who has no world rankings and is aiming to win his first Open title in two years, earned a direct entry into the main draw as a replacement for the absent Peter-Gade Christensen of Denmark.
Barring an upset, and provided he can reproduce his past brilliance, Hyun-il has a good chance of going all the way to the final to set up a probable match-up against Chong Wei.
In the men’s doubles, the microscope will be on Yong-dae, who has not seen action since the Swiss Open in March due to an elbow injury.
He has resumed his partnership with Jung Jae-sung and the duo will open their campaign against Hiroyuki Endo-Kenichi Hayakawa in the first round today.
All the first round matches of the doubles and women’s singles events will only begin today. If Yong-dae-Jae-sung can hit top form again, they have a good chance of reaching the semi-finals and set up a probable meeting with second seeds Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia.
The tournament lost some of its glitter when top seeds Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen withdrew.
Malaysia will be banking on four seasoned campaigners – Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif, Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah, Gan Teik Chai-Tan Bin Shen, Chan Chong Ming-Chew Choon Eng – and three back-up shuttlers – Mak Hee Chun-Tan Wee Kiong, Chan Peng Soon-Lim Khim Wah and Goh Wei Shem-Teo Kok Siang – for honours.
There are two other Lees – Hyun-il and Yong-dae from South Korea, who are making a comeback in an Open tournament after a long hiatus.
Back in the fray: South
Korea’s Lee Hyun-il has not played in any Open tournament since
retiring two years ago. Veteran Wong Choong Hann also joined Chong Wei in the second round after an opening 21-10, 21-5 win over Kazakhstan’s Viktor Govenko.
Chong Wei will take on Taiwan’s Hao Hsu-jen, who prevented an all-Malaysian second round match by beating Kedah Open champion Chan Kwong Beng 21-19, 17-21, 21-16.
The other Malaysians who are also into the second round are Beryno Wong and Liew Daren.
Although the top seeded Chong Wei is gunning for his sixth title this year in Macau, all eyes will also be on Hyun-il and Yong-dae – the top and dangerous players from South Korea respectively.
Yesterday, Hyun-il, who has not played in any Open tournament since retiring two years ago, also got off to a splendid start when he tamed Shuhei Hayasaki of Japan 21-9, 21-7 in 21 minutes.
Veteran Hyun-il made his first appearance after his retirement in May but it was in a team event at the Thomas Cup Finals in Kuala Lumpur.
The Korean, who has no world rankings and is aiming to win his first Open title in two years, earned a direct entry into the main draw as a replacement for the absent Peter-Gade Christensen of Denmark.
Barring an upset, and provided he can reproduce his past brilliance, Hyun-il has a good chance of going all the way to the final to set up a probable match-up against Chong Wei.
In the men’s doubles, the microscope will be on Yong-dae, who has not seen action since the Swiss Open in March due to an elbow injury.
He has resumed his partnership with Jung Jae-sung and the duo will open their campaign against Hiroyuki Endo-Kenichi Hayakawa in the first round today.
All the first round matches of the doubles and women’s singles events will only begin today. If Yong-dae-Jae-sung can hit top form again, they have a good chance of reaching the semi-finals and set up a probable meeting with second seeds Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia.
The tournament lost some of its glitter when top seeds Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen withdrew.
Malaysia will be banking on four seasoned campaigners – Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif, Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah, Gan Teik Chai-Tan Bin Shen, Chan Chong Ming-Chew Choon Eng – and three back-up shuttlers – Mak Hee Chun-Tan Wee Kiong, Chan Peng Soon-Lim Khim Wah and Goh Wei Shem-Teo Kok Siang – for honours.
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 4:49 PM.
Filed under
