Rashid tells Chong Wei to capitalise on Lin Dan’s absence
News 4:06 PM
PETALING JAYA: Olympic champion Lin Dan may not be in action but Malaysia’s top shuttler Lee Chong Wei still has his work cut out for him in this week’s Hong Kong Open.
The top seeded Malaysian, who is coming back after a month’s lay-off to recover from a knee injury, opens his campaign against Hong Kong’s Ng Wei in the first round today and needs to reach the final if he hopes to finish the year as the world No. 1.
Lin Dan has committed to playing fewer tournaments this year but it has not prevented him from bridging the gap on Chong Wei.
The Chinese world champion lifted the French Open crown two weeks ago for his third Super Series title out of only five he participated so far this year and has moved to second in the latest world rankings.
Lin Dan may have skipped the Hong Kong Open but he is sure to feature in the China Open next week.
Lin Dan will be gunning for success in his own backyard and it will be hard for Chong Wei, who is also entered for the tournament, to stop the Chinese.
National singles coach Rashid Sidek hoped Chong Wei, who has reigned as the world No. 1 for more than a year, would be able to capitalise on Lin Dan’s absence this week.
“Chong Wei did not compete in the two European Super Series tournaments and Lin Dan has manage to reduce the gap,” said Rashid.
“Chong Wei has been training without problems and I hope he can perform well this week to stretch his lead before heading to the China Open.”
Barring any big upsets, Chong Wei should clear the early rounds.
He is likely to face China’s Du Pengyu in the second round and will have Nguyen Tien Minh of Vietnam, Andre Kurniawan Tedjono of Indonesia and compatriot Muhd Hafiz Hashim in his path to the semi-finals.
The semi-finals should be a big test for Chong Wei as he is likely to run into either China’s Chen Jin or Bao Chunlai.
Hafiz meets Sho Sasaki of Japan in the first round while former national shuttler Lee Tsuen Seng, promoted from the qualifying draw, takes on Simon Santoso of Indonesia.
Wong Choong Hann, who is the lower half of the draw, meets Japan’s Kenichi Tago and a win will likely see him facing Sony Dwi Kuncoro of Indonesia in the second round.
Meanwhile, the mixed doubles pair Koo Kien Keat-Wong Pei Tty fought bravely for 46 minutes before going down 18-21, 21-17, 19-21 to South Korea’s Ko Sung-hyun-Ha Jung-eun in a first round match yesterday.
Kien Keat and Pei Tty will now concentrate on the men’s and women’s doubles events respectively.
The women’s doubles first round started yesterday but Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui, who have received a bye, will only be in action today.
Pei Tty-Eei Hui, who have dropped to fifth in the latest world rankings, take on Cheng Shao-chieh-Hsu Ya-ching of Taiwan for a place in the last eight.
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 4:06 PM.
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