Heavyweights Chong Wei and Lin Dan score superb wins to enter last eight
Top News 3:04 PM
ARCH-rivals and crowd-pullers Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan of China marched into the men’s singles quarter-finals with superb wins over their South Korean opponents at the Wembley Arena here yesterday.
World No. 1 Chong Wei showed his class by whipping Park Sung-hwan 21-10, 21-5 in just 29 minutes of their World Badminton Championships third round match.
Floating on air: Lee Chong Wei hardly raised a sweat during his 21-10, 21-5 win over South Korea’s Park Sung- hwan in the World Badminton Championships third round match at the Wembley Arena in London Thursday.
Chong Wei will take on the winner of the match between Pablo Abian of Spain and Guatemala’s Kevin Cordon today.
The 29-year-old Chong Wei, eyeing his first world title, was totally taken aback by the lack of sting in Sung-hwan’s game.
“It was my easiest win over Park. I am really surprised by how easily I won as I was expecting a stiffer challenge from him,” said a delighted Chong Wei, who confidently blasted his way to victory and hardly giving Sung-hwan any time to plan his moves.
Most of the points the Korean shuttler picked up were mainly due to Chong Wei’s own unforced errors.
The Malaysian showed greater purpose in the second game as he romped home for a convincing win to leave Sung-hwan in a state of shock.
“Sung-hwan neither attacked nor showed any urgency to get back into the game. He lost his confidence quite early in the game,” said Chong Wei.
Masterclass: Three-time world champion Lin Dan of China celebrating his 21-16, 21-13 third round victory over South Korea’s Lee Hyun-il Thursday.
“I feel good. This is my best game of the tournament so far. I just want to keep this rhythm going.”
Although up next is either a Spain or a Guatemala player, Chong Wei refuses to take it easy, saying “I will be prepared for anyone”.
“Whoever it is, he must have done exceptionally well to come this far. I will just be ready for him,” said Chong Wei.
Cordon had upset China’s Chen Long in the opening round while Abian dumped 14th seed Marc Zwiebler of Germany.
Three-time world champion Lin Dan, meanwhile, had to work a little harder to make the third round, but he was still “satisfied” with his game after beating a stubborn Lee Hyun-il 21-16, 21-13 in 37 minutes.
“Hyun-il is a patient and steady player. He is certainly playing better after coming out of retirement. But I am happy that I stayed calm and did my job well,” said Lin Dan.
“I feel good about my game so far and I will give my best.”
Lin Dan will take on Japan’s Sho Sasaki, who beat China’s Du Pengyu 10-21, 24-22, 21-10.
National coach Tey Seu Bock said that both Chong Wei and Lin Dan were on track for a showdown in Wembley.
“It was a good win for Chong Wei. Park looked so tensed today and did not play his game. On paper, the next round’s match seems easy but we will not take it lightly at all,” he said.
“Lin Dan is also looking good. Usually, he will take the first few rounds to toy with his opponents. He is playing more aggressively here ... but we have not seen his best yet.”
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 3:04 PM.
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