Chong Wei skips KL Open but eyes glory at India Open

Posted by Lucas Liau Lee Chong Wei, Top News 4:05 PM

PETALING JAYA: Lee Chong Wei is not playing in the Kuala Lumpur Open next week but the world No. 1 is committed to taking part in the India Open from April 26-May 1.

Chong Wei has opted out of the first of the two-leg national badminton circuit from April 7-10 and his absence paves the way for back-up shuttlers Tan Chun Seang, Liew Daren, Mohd Arif Abdul Latif and Chan Kwong Beng to seize the glory.

But Chong Wei will not be so gracious when it comes to the India Open, which will be a world Super Series event for the first time. China are the notable absentees from the tournament in India when entries closed on Monday.

Tan Chun Seang: Has chance to seize glory in KL Open.

With the likes of Olympic champion Lin Dan and world champion Chen Jin not competing, the stage is set for Chong Wei to live up to his top billing.

Former Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat, top Dane Peter-Gade Christensen, Thai Boonsak Ponsana and South Korea’s Park Sung-hwan are among the world’s top 10 shuttlers in the fray but they are unlikely to pose any serious trouble to Chong Wei if he plays true to his form.

Chong Wei has not failed to reach the final in all the international tournaments he has played in since a quarter-final exit at the world championships in Paris last August.

In total, he captured six titles, including at the Delhi Commonwealth Games last October and in the recent All-England.

“Chong Wei has been the most consistent player on the international stage thus far and we will help him to maintain it,” said national singles coach Rashid Sidek.

“He is more confident with his game after beating Lin Dan at the All-England final. He will go for the India Open and immediately after that the Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold (in Alor Setar from May 3-8). The preparations are tuned towards these back-to-back competitions.”

Rashid has been guiding Chong Wei together with Tey Seu Bock for the last two months since Misbun Sidek quit the national coaching set-up.

The other Malaysian men’s singles entries for the India Open are Chun Seang and Liew Daren.

But they have been listed as reserves and will have to play in the qualifying rounds.

The men’s doubles entries are All-England runners-up Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif-Hoon Thien How and Tan Wee Kiong-Chan Peng Soon.