ants
04-24-2005, 01:47 AM
Thestar
ALOR STAR: Top seeds Lee Chong Wei and Wong Choong Hann set up the expected men's singles final in the Kedah Open Badminton Championship after convincing victories in the semi-finals at the Sultan Abdul Halim Indoor Stadium here last night.
Top seed Chong Wei defeated Kuan Beng Hong 15-7, 15-6 while second seed Choong Hann ended teenager Lim Kenn's fairytale run 15-4, 15-5.
The home support failed to spur Kedahan Beng Hong and he was let down by a nagging back strain throughout his match against Chong Wei.
After surrendering the first game 15-7, Beng Hong kept pace with the national number one until 6-7.
After that, Chong Wei turned on the power to bag nine straight points to finish off the tie in 38 minutes.
“My back strain spread down to my right leg and it affected me very much. I started the second half strongly and managed to keep up with Chong Wei as long as possible. But I could not do anything when he stepped up the pace at 6-7,” said Beng Hong.
For Chong Wei, the final clash with Choong Hann today will be just the third competitive meeting between the two national shuttlers since 2002.
Chong Wei beat Choong Hann in both the previous meetings at the 2002 National Grand Prix final and the 2004 Taiwan Open semi-final.
“I seldom play against Choong Hann in the local circuit because he always ends up in the same half of the draw with Hafiz (Hashim) and gets beaten in the semi-final.
“Although I have beaten him in our two meetings, I will not take anything for granted as we both train together and know each other's playing style well.
“Both our previous meetings were close affairs and Choong Hann will be dangerous tomorrow as he will be looking to get third time lucky against me,” said Choong Hann.
Choong Hann had an easy time against the 19-year-old Lim Kenn, who seemed to be overawed by the occasion of playing in his first semi-final in a senior tournament.
Lim Kenn failed to repeat his courageous performance of Friday when he ousted Lee Tsuen Seng 17-15, 2-15, 17-16 in the quarter-final.
In the women's singles, national number one Wong Mew Choo brushed off the cobwebs to enter her first final in the local circuit for two years.
The SEA Games women's singles champion defeated reigning national champion Anita Raj Kaur 11-4, 11-2 in the last four yesterday.
After winning the 2003 National Grand Prix Finals, Mew Choo missed the entire 2004 season of the local circuit through injury.
“After the long layoff, I feel very rusty and uncomfortable playing in a local tournament again. Although I am in the final, I need more competitive matches to regain my best form,” said Mew Choo.
Her opponent in the final tonight will be M. Sutheaswari, who staged a gallant fightback to down Julia Wong in the second semi-final.
Sutheaswari was trailing 0-6 in the rubber game before rallying to a 9-11, 11-5, 11-9 victory over her opponent.
The women's doubles final will be contested by the top two pairs in the country, Chin Ee Hui-Wong Pei Tty and Ooi Sock Ai-Mooi Ying Hau.
ALOR STAR: Top seeds Lee Chong Wei and Wong Choong Hann set up the expected men's singles final in the Kedah Open Badminton Championship after convincing victories in the semi-finals at the Sultan Abdul Halim Indoor Stadium here last night.
Top seed Chong Wei defeated Kuan Beng Hong 15-7, 15-6 while second seed Choong Hann ended teenager Lim Kenn's fairytale run 15-4, 15-5.
The home support failed to spur Kedahan Beng Hong and he was let down by a nagging back strain throughout his match against Chong Wei.
After surrendering the first game 15-7, Beng Hong kept pace with the national number one until 6-7.
After that, Chong Wei turned on the power to bag nine straight points to finish off the tie in 38 minutes.
“My back strain spread down to my right leg and it affected me very much. I started the second half strongly and managed to keep up with Chong Wei as long as possible. But I could not do anything when he stepped up the pace at 6-7,” said Beng Hong.
For Chong Wei, the final clash with Choong Hann today will be just the third competitive meeting between the two national shuttlers since 2002.
Chong Wei beat Choong Hann in both the previous meetings at the 2002 National Grand Prix final and the 2004 Taiwan Open semi-final.
“I seldom play against Choong Hann in the local circuit because he always ends up in the same half of the draw with Hafiz (Hashim) and gets beaten in the semi-final.
“Although I have beaten him in our two meetings, I will not take anything for granted as we both train together and know each other's playing style well.
“Both our previous meetings were close affairs and Choong Hann will be dangerous tomorrow as he will be looking to get third time lucky against me,” said Choong Hann.
Choong Hann had an easy time against the 19-year-old Lim Kenn, who seemed to be overawed by the occasion of playing in his first semi-final in a senior tournament.
Lim Kenn failed to repeat his courageous performance of Friday when he ousted Lee Tsuen Seng 17-15, 2-15, 17-16 in the quarter-final.
In the women's singles, national number one Wong Mew Choo brushed off the cobwebs to enter her first final in the local circuit for two years.
The SEA Games women's singles champion defeated reigning national champion Anita Raj Kaur 11-4, 11-2 in the last four yesterday.
After winning the 2003 National Grand Prix Finals, Mew Choo missed the entire 2004 season of the local circuit through injury.
“After the long layoff, I feel very rusty and uncomfortable playing in a local tournament again. Although I am in the final, I need more competitive matches to regain my best form,” said Mew Choo.
Her opponent in the final tonight will be M. Sutheaswari, who staged a gallant fightback to down Julia Wong in the second semi-final.
Sutheaswari was trailing 0-6 in the rubber game before rallying to a 9-11, 11-5, 11-9 victory over her opponent.
The women's doubles final will be contested by the top two pairs in the country, Chin Ee Hui-Wong Pei Tty and Ooi Sock Ai-Mooi Ying Hau.