Chong Wei crushes Chen Long for explosive final date with Taufik

Posted by Lucas Liau Latest News, Top News 9:47 AM

IT was a fun day for shuttler Lee Chong Wei when he checked into the Malaysia Open final in ruthless fashion to keep alive the hope of becoming home champion for the seventh time.
Yesterday, the world number one crushed Chen Long of China 21-9, 21-9 in a lop-sided 39-minute semi-final match in front of vociferous home fans at the Putra Stadium.
He will play against an on-fire Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia in today’s final and based on the current form of these two players, an explosive match is on the cards.
Yesterday, Chong Wei, boosted again by the presence of his coach Misbun Sidek, who was smartly dressed in a chequered shirt, showed no mercy to Chen Long.

And Chen Long, despite an extra day’s rest after enjoying a walkover from injured compatriot Lin Dan in the quarter-finals on Friday, was unable to keep up with the fiery pace.
The Malaysian never took his feet off the pedal although he had a big lead over Chen Long throughout the match.
And at one stage, he even did a little jig after saving an almost impossible deep baseline return from Chen Long and it brought out a big uproar from the delirious fans.
Chong Wei said he went into the match with the intention of crushing Chen Long’s spirit from the start. “He is China’s upcoming youngster and it is dangerous to give him room to build up his confidence. I just went all out,” said Chong Wei.
“I was very confident after taking the first game. All my strokes and counter attacks worked well for me and I just continued to enjoy myself. It felt really good.”
On his match against Taufik today, he said: “It is a familiar face but his condition seems to be better here. I will be ready. This is my homeground and I am determined to go out there and win my seventh Malaysia Open title.”
Chong Wei is the winner of the editions from 2004-2006 and 2008-2010.
Taufik, who won the 2000 Malaysia Open, is hoping to turn back the clock.
“I wish that I can go back several years. It will put me in a better position to challenge Chong Wei,” said the 30-year-old Taufik, who is one year older than the Malaysian.
“He is on top of his game as I was at one point of time. I have lost to him many times over the last two years but I beat him at the last World Championships.
“I feel good right now and I am hoping to get off to a great start this year. I will give my best against him and see what happens.”
Taufik was pleased with his superb 21-15, 21-19 win over compatriot Simon Santoso yesterday.
“I was a class above him in the opening game. I had a good lead in the second but I took it easy and Simon caught up. Fortunately, I made up for my hastiness to end the match early,” he said.
“It will be a different ball game against Chong Wei tomorrow and hopefully, I will be able to raise my game even higher,” added Taufik.
Despite the disappointment over Chen Long’s meek defeat yesterday, China can still afford a big smile. They are assured of three titles today as it will be all-China finals in the women’s singles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles events.
Semi-final results
Men
Single: Taufik Hidayat (Ina) bt Simon Santoso (Ina) 21-15, 21-19; Lee Chong Wei (Mas) bt Chen Long (Chn) 21-9, 21-9.
Doubles: Mads Conrad-Petersen-Jonas Rasmussen (Den) bt Naoki Kawamae-Shoji Sato (Jpn) 21-17, 22-20; Chai Biao-Guo Zhengdong (Chn) bt Mohd Ahsan-Bona Septano (Ina) 21-15, 21-14.
Women
Singles: Wang Yihan (Chn) bt Wang Xin (Chn) 21-18, 21-18; Wang Shixian (Chn) bt Jiang Yanjiao (Chn) 21-19, 21-17.
Doubles: Wang Xiaoli-Yu Yang (Chn) bt Cheng Shu-Ma Jin (Chn) 22-20, 21-19; Zhao Yunlei-Tian Qing (Chn) bt Du Jing-Pan Pan (Chn) 23-21, 21-18.
Mixed doubles: He Hanbin-Ma Jin (Chn) bt Joachim Fischer Nielsen-Christinna Pedersen (Den) 21-17, 17-14 (rtd); Tao Jiaming-Tian Qing (Chn) bt Robert Blair-Gabrielle White (Sco-Eng) 21-11, 21-15.