Chong Wei tames homester Tago to reach last eight
News, Top News 9:51 AM
PETALING JAYA: World number one Lee Chong Wei silenced the
home crowd when he stamped his class against Tago Kenichi to reach the
quarter-finals of the Japan Open badminton championships in Tokyo
yesterday.
It was a good day for Malaysia in the men’s doubles as well when current and future stars – Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong and Mak Hee Chun-Tan Wee Kiong – checked into the last eight in convincing styles.
Showing his
class: Lee Chong Wei returning a shot to Japan’s Kenichi Tago during
their Japan Open men’s singles second-round match in Tokyo yesterday. —
AP
Yesterday, Chong Wei showed that he has recovered
from his back injury when he subdued Tago 21-10, 21-10 in just 37
minutes.
Chong Wei had faced a tougher time against Tago in the final of the All-England in March, which made the Japanese an overnight star back home.
Today, Chong Wei will take on China’s Bao Chunlai and national singles coach Misbun Sidek thinks it will be an evenly contested encounter between the two.
“It will be a match to watch out for. Chong Wei is playing well here because there is no pressure on him,” said Misbun in a telephone interview from Tokyo.
“We have not set any medal targets for him here. His job here in Japan is to get the tournament feeling – especially after hurting his back at the World Championships in Paris (last month).
“He is showing great comfort in the way he is playing. There is no restriction in his movements. Most of all, he is more relaxed in his approach.
“Chunlai seems to be moving forward without any pressure too.
“Both have nothing to lose and it will be quite close.”
The Malaysian has an excellent record against Chunlai, having won nine of their 13 meetings.
In the men’s doubles, Hee Chun-Wee Kiong justified their selection into the Asian Games squad when they stormed into their first quarter-final of a Super Series event with a 21-13, 21-19 win over Yoshiteru Hirobe-Kenta Kazuno of Japan.
Hee Chun-Wee Kiong have been selected ahead of several senior players and their strong comeback after losing in the first round of the China Masters last week augurs well for the Asiad.
Today, they will take on China’s rising stars and German Open champions Chai Biao-Zhang Nan.
Kien Keat-Boon Heong came through a tough opening game before prevailing 22-20, 21-18 over Chen Hung-ling-Lin Yu-lang of Taiwan to set up a meeting with Kim Ki-jung-Shin Baek-cheol of South Korea.
World Championships silver medallist Kien Keat-Boon Heong are hoping to go one step better in the Japan Open after losing in their only final appearance of the event in 2006.
Back-up shuttlers Chan Peng Soon-Lim Khim Wah, however, failed to make it a triple joy for Malaysia in the men’s doubles when they went down fighting 21-17, 10-21, 15-21 to Indonesians Luluk Hadiyanto-Candra Wijaya in the second round.
It was a good day for Malaysia in the men’s doubles as well when current and future stars – Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong and Mak Hee Chun-Tan Wee Kiong – checked into the last eight in convincing styles.
Showing his
class: Lee Chong Wei returning a shot to Japan’s Kenichi Tago during
their Japan Open men’s singles second-round match in Tokyo yesterday. —
AP Chong Wei had faced a tougher time against Tago in the final of the All-England in March, which made the Japanese an overnight star back home.
Today, Chong Wei will take on China’s Bao Chunlai and national singles coach Misbun Sidek thinks it will be an evenly contested encounter between the two.
“It will be a match to watch out for. Chong Wei is playing well here because there is no pressure on him,” said Misbun in a telephone interview from Tokyo.
“We have not set any medal targets for him here. His job here in Japan is to get the tournament feeling – especially after hurting his back at the World Championships in Paris (last month).
“He is showing great comfort in the way he is playing. There is no restriction in his movements. Most of all, he is more relaxed in his approach.
“Chunlai seems to be moving forward without any pressure too.
“Both have nothing to lose and it will be quite close.”
The Malaysian has an excellent record against Chunlai, having won nine of their 13 meetings.
In the men’s doubles, Hee Chun-Wee Kiong justified their selection into the Asian Games squad when they stormed into their first quarter-final of a Super Series event with a 21-13, 21-19 win over Yoshiteru Hirobe-Kenta Kazuno of Japan.
Hee Chun-Wee Kiong have been selected ahead of several senior players and their strong comeback after losing in the first round of the China Masters last week augurs well for the Asiad.
Today, they will take on China’s rising stars and German Open champions Chai Biao-Zhang Nan.
Kien Keat-Boon Heong came through a tough opening game before prevailing 22-20, 21-18 over Chen Hung-ling-Lin Yu-lang of Taiwan to set up a meeting with Kim Ki-jung-Shin Baek-cheol of South Korea.
World Championships silver medallist Kien Keat-Boon Heong are hoping to go one step better in the Japan Open after losing in their only final appearance of the event in 2006.
Back-up shuttlers Chan Peng Soon-Lim Khim Wah, however, failed to make it a triple joy for Malaysia in the men’s doubles when they went down fighting 21-17, 10-21, 15-21 to Indonesians Luluk Hadiyanto-Candra Wijaya in the second round.
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 9:51 AM.
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