Chong Wei up against China’s rising stars in Indonesia Open
Top News 9:15 AM
PETALING JAYA: World No. 1 singles shuttler Lee Chong Wei may find China’s new talents more challenging than some of their old stars at the Indonesia Open which begins in Jakarta tomorrow.
The top seeded Chong Wei may meet one of China’s younger generation of players – Chen Long, Wang Zhengming and Du Pengyu – in his path of the Premier Super Series event.
And Chong Wei admits that out of the three, the 2008 world junior champion Zhengming has some special strokes that puts him way ahead of the other emerging stars in China.
Danger man: Lee Chong Wei said that Wang Zhengming has some special strokes that puts him way ahead of the other emerging players from China.
In the Singapore Open, which ended on Sunday, the 21-year-old Zhengming defeated Olympic and world champion Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia in the second round before bowing out to compatriot and eventual champion Chen Jin in the semi-finals.
Chong Wei said that the lanky Zhengming has spiced up the competition in the men’s singles event.
“I have never lost to him before but he has some special strokes. He is even better than his senior player Chen Jin as far as being deceptive is concerned. One has to be wary if they are to play Zhengming,” said Chong Wei.
The Malaysian has played Zhengming three times but the toughest was at the South Korea Open this year when Chong Wei had to slogged for his 21-14, 21-19 win in the quarter-finals.
In Indonesia, Chong Wei is in the same half with Indonesian Tommy Sugiarto, Zhengming, Chen Long, Du Pengyu, Japan’s Tago Kenichi, South Korean Lee Hyun-il, Jan O Jorgensen of Denmark and Vietnam’s Nguyen Tien Minh.
Barring any upsets, Chong Wei may meet Zhengming, Hyun-il or Tien Minh in the last eight.
Only second seed Lin Dan pose a real big problem for Chong Wei from the lower half, which also consist of South Korea’s Park Sung-hwan, Denmark’s Peter-Gade Christensen, Chen Jin, Bao Chunlai and Indonesian Simon Santoso.
However, it all depends on Lin Dan’s condition especially when he had conceded a walkover to Chen Jin in the final of Singapore Open on Sunday due to a stomach ailment.
Chong Wei, however, is not bothered whether Lin Dan competes or not but would rather focus on his mission to win the Indonesia Open for the third time.
“The Indonesia Open is an important tournament for me because of the Olympic Games qualifying points. I intend to do well. A good outing will also put me in good position ahead of the World Championships (which will be held in London from Aug 8-14),” he added.
Meanwhile, Liew Daren and Mohd Hafiz Hashim will begin their campaign in the qualifying tournament of the Indonesia Open today. If they make it to the main draw, Liew will take on Taufik while Hafiz will face Kasuzhi Yamada of Japan in the first round.
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 9:15 AM.
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