Chong Wei, Hafiz ready for the challenge from full-strength China squad
Top News 2:33 PM
KUALA LUMPUR: The presence of players from China do not strike fear on the Malaysians.
Yesterday, the country’s top two men’s singles players, Lee Chong Wei and Mohd Hafiz Hashim, welcomed the challenge of the Chinese in the US$400,000 Malaysia Open, which begins tomorrow with the qualifying tournament at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalail.
China have their full cast in the men’s singles event and the participation of Lin Dan, Chen Long, Bao Chunlai, Chen Jin and Du Pengyu will be a treat to the fans in the season-opening Super Series circuit.
Top seed and defending champion Chong Wei said that the more the merrier on the impressive line-up China would parade in the Malaysia Open.
Daddy’s busy:
Mohamad Hafiz Hashim and daugther Hanna Sofilea after a training
session to prepare for the Malaysia Open at the Bukit Jalil Stadium
Sunday. — GLENN GUAN / The Star
“The China stars have
been missing from the Malaysia Open for the last few edition. Their
presence certainly does a world of good to the tournament,” he said.
“This year’s tournament offers lucrative prize money and it will be very competitive. It will certainly mean more to win it this time.”
On the presence of world champion Lin Dan, Chong Wei said that he would stay focused on the task, whoever is his opponent.
The last time Chong Wei played at home against Lin Dan was in the Thomas Cup semi-final tie in May last year and he suffered a thrashing by the Chinese superstar.
“I choose not to be affected by what people say about my previous encounters with Lin Dan. The most important thing is to stay focused from within. I promise to give my best,” said Chong Wei, who was also beaten by Lin Dan in the final at the Guangzhou Asian Games last November.
Chong Wei, who retained the Super Series Masters Finals crown on Jan 9, is in the same quarter as Nguyen Tien Minh of Vietnam and Japanese Sho Sasaki and Kazushi Yamada. If he makes the semi-finals, he is expected to play against Lin Dan.
Hafiz is determined to clear his opening round match on Wednesday against Chen Long.
“It is an unkind draw but one that I am not too worried about. Chen Long lost to Peter Gade Christensen (of Denmark) in the recent Masters Finals. I have beaten him once at the India Open (2009),” he said.
In the same quarter as Hafiz and Chen Long are Lin Dan, Malaysian veteran Wong Choong Hann and England’s Rajiv Ouseph.
The other half of the draw has second seed Taufik Hidayat and his Indonesian compatriots Sony Dwi Kuncoro, Simon Santoso and Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka; China’s Chen Jin, Chunlai and Pengyu; South Korea’s Park Sung-hwan and Shon Wan-ho; and Thailand’s Boonsak Ponsana.
Yesterday, the country’s top two men’s singles players, Lee Chong Wei and Mohd Hafiz Hashim, welcomed the challenge of the Chinese in the US$400,000 Malaysia Open, which begins tomorrow with the qualifying tournament at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalail.
China have their full cast in the men’s singles event and the participation of Lin Dan, Chen Long, Bao Chunlai, Chen Jin and Du Pengyu will be a treat to the fans in the season-opening Super Series circuit.
Top seed and defending champion Chong Wei said that the more the merrier on the impressive line-up China would parade in the Malaysia Open.
Daddy’s busy:
Mohamad Hafiz Hashim and daugther Hanna Sofilea after a training
session to prepare for the Malaysia Open at the Bukit Jalil Stadium
Sunday. — GLENN GUAN / The Star “This year’s tournament offers lucrative prize money and it will be very competitive. It will certainly mean more to win it this time.”
On the presence of world champion Lin Dan, Chong Wei said that he would stay focused on the task, whoever is his opponent.
The last time Chong Wei played at home against Lin Dan was in the Thomas Cup semi-final tie in May last year and he suffered a thrashing by the Chinese superstar.
“I choose not to be affected by what people say about my previous encounters with Lin Dan. The most important thing is to stay focused from within. I promise to give my best,” said Chong Wei, who was also beaten by Lin Dan in the final at the Guangzhou Asian Games last November.
Chong Wei, who retained the Super Series Masters Finals crown on Jan 9, is in the same quarter as Nguyen Tien Minh of Vietnam and Japanese Sho Sasaki and Kazushi Yamada. If he makes the semi-finals, he is expected to play against Lin Dan.
Hafiz is determined to clear his opening round match on Wednesday against Chen Long.
“It is an unkind draw but one that I am not too worried about. Chen Long lost to Peter Gade Christensen (of Denmark) in the recent Masters Finals. I have beaten him once at the India Open (2009),” he said.
In the same quarter as Hafiz and Chen Long are Lin Dan, Malaysian veteran Wong Choong Hann and England’s Rajiv Ouseph.
The other half of the draw has second seed Taufik Hidayat and his Indonesian compatriots Sony Dwi Kuncoro, Simon Santoso and Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka; China’s Chen Jin, Chunlai and Pengyu; South Korea’s Park Sung-hwan and Shon Wan-ho; and Thailand’s Boonsak Ponsana.
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 2:33 PM.
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