Choong Hann wants Chong Wei in Paris final
Latest News, News, Top News 2:15 PM
KUALA LUMPUR: Veteran Wong Choong Hann holds the proud record
of being the sole Malaysian to have finished as runner-up in the World
Badminton Championships.
And now he’s hoping that world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei will at least emulate his feat at the world meet, which will be held in Paris from Aug 23-29.
Choong Hann lost to China’s Xia Xuanze in the 2003 world meet final in Birmingham.
Choong Hann, who retired from the national team two years ago to become an independent player, knows that it will be difficult for him to reach the final again and that Chong Wei has the best chance to pull it off.
“Realistically, I am not setting any high expectations on myself. It will be a quite an uphill task for me,” said Choong Hann.
Proud record:
Wong Choong Hann is the only Malaysian shuttler to have played a World
Badminton Championships final.
“Chong Wei is in better
condition and will be the favourite and, hopefully, he will be able to
live up to the tag.”
In order to clear the semi-finals, Chong Wei has to clear several tough obstacles, which may include Denmark’s Jan O Jorgensen, Indonesia’s Taufik Hidayat, Japan’s Tago Kenichi, South Korean Park Sung-hwan and China’s Lin Dan and Bao Chunlai.
Three-time champion Lin Dan will be his major stumbling block.
“It has been too long since we had a Malaysian in the final. I hope the long wait will be over this time,” he said.
Choong Hann, Chong Wei and Mohd Hafiz Hashim are Malaysia’s three representatives for the World Championships and all are currently training at three different places.
Choong Hann trains at Sunsuria Pioneer Badminton Centre at Kota Damansara, which he owns with doubles shuttlers Lee Wan Wah, Chan Chong Ming and Chew Choon Eng.
All-England champion Chong Wei trains at Stadium Juara in Bukit Kiara while Hafiz is with the other World Championships-bound players at Bath University in England.
Although the odds are against Choong Hann in Paris, the player, known for his fight spirit, has promised to give it his all.
“The draw is not too bad for me. I will not give in too easily to anyone. I will give my best in every match,” said Choong Hann.
He has been drawn in the same half as second seed Peter-Gade Christensen of Denmark, China’s Chen Jin and Indonesians Sony Dwi Kuncoro and Simon Santoso.
Choong Hann’s first real test is expected to be against Japan’s Kazushi Yamada. If he makes it, he will most probably take on Sony in the third round.
And now he’s hoping that world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei will at least emulate his feat at the world meet, which will be held in Paris from Aug 23-29.
Choong Hann lost to China’s Xia Xuanze in the 2003 world meet final in Birmingham.
Choong Hann, who retired from the national team two years ago to become an independent player, knows that it will be difficult for him to reach the final again and that Chong Wei has the best chance to pull it off.
“Realistically, I am not setting any high expectations on myself. It will be a quite an uphill task for me,” said Choong Hann.
Proud record:
Wong Choong Hann is the only Malaysian shuttler to have played a World
Badminton Championships final. In order to clear the semi-finals, Chong Wei has to clear several tough obstacles, which may include Denmark’s Jan O Jorgensen, Indonesia’s Taufik Hidayat, Japan’s Tago Kenichi, South Korean Park Sung-hwan and China’s Lin Dan and Bao Chunlai.
Three-time champion Lin Dan will be his major stumbling block.
“It has been too long since we had a Malaysian in the final. I hope the long wait will be over this time,” he said.
Choong Hann, Chong Wei and Mohd Hafiz Hashim are Malaysia’s three representatives for the World Championships and all are currently training at three different places.
Choong Hann trains at Sunsuria Pioneer Badminton Centre at Kota Damansara, which he owns with doubles shuttlers Lee Wan Wah, Chan Chong Ming and Chew Choon Eng.
All-England champion Chong Wei trains at Stadium Juara in Bukit Kiara while Hafiz is with the other World Championships-bound players at Bath University in England.
Although the odds are against Choong Hann in Paris, the player, known for his fight spirit, has promised to give it his all.
“The draw is not too bad for me. I will not give in too easily to anyone. I will give my best in every match,” said Choong Hann.
He has been drawn in the same half as second seed Peter-Gade Christensen of Denmark, China’s Chen Jin and Indonesians Sony Dwi Kuncoro and Simon Santoso.
Choong Hann’s first real test is expected to be against Japan’s Kazushi Yamada. If he makes it, he will most probably take on Sony in the third round.
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 2:15 PM.
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