ants
08-05-2005, 09:48 PM
TheStar
PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Lee Chong Wei can start planning his assault on the men's singles crown in the World Championships in Anaheim, California.
Compared to his teammates Wong Choong Hann and Mohd Hafiz Hashim, Chong Wei received a relatively kind draw last night.
Chong Wei, who will make his debut in the world meet from Aug 15-21 as the fifth seed, found himself in the lower half of the draw together with second seed Kenneth Jonassen of Denmark and fourth seed Bao Chunlai.
The reigning Malaysian Open champion, however, will likely have to play 10th seed Choong Hann or Chunlai for a place in the semi-finals.
But based on his current form, the young Malaysian has the edge over the more experienced Choong Hann, who was the finalist in the previous world meet in Birmingham two years ago.
Chong Wei certainly has the edge over Chunlai, having beaten the Chinese in all meetings thus far this year. Chong Wei, who begins his campaign against Jens Frohlich of Germany, should cruise through to the quarter-finals.
Hafiz, however, has the unluckiest of draw. He has been placed in the same half with top seed and world number one Lin Dan of China.
The two are likely to face each other in the quarter-finals. Hafiz will certainly have an uphill task of unseating the speedy Chinese player, having yet to beat him in all meetings so far.
Even then, the Malaysian, who received news that his visa application has been approved yesterday, will have no comfort in the early rounds.
Eighth seeded Hafiz has a tricky second round match against Ronald Susilo of Singapore.
If he clears his second round hurdle, Hafiz will meet South Korean Lee Hyun-il next.
Hafiz, who was a second round casualty to his elder brother Roslin in Birmingham two years ago, do not have a good record against these two players. He has only won once out of four previous meetings against Susilo and Hyun-il respectively.
In the men's doubles, veterans Choong Tan Fook-Chew Choon Eng have surprisingly been tagged as the eight seeded pair. But there is no joy for Tan Fook-Choon Eng, as they will face China's second pair Sang Yang-Zheng Bo in the second round. The Malaysian pair secured a bye in the first round.
Chan Chong Ming-Koo Kien Keat were also unlucky as they face third seed Fu Haifeng-Cai Yun of China in the third round.
Young pairs Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Lin Woon Fui and Tan Bin Shen-Ong Soon Hock will find it hard getting far either.
Fairuzizuan-Woon Fui could find themselves against second seed and 2003 runners-up Candra Wijaya-Sigit Budiarto in the third round while Bin Shen-Soon Hock may meet fourth seeded Indonesian pair of Hadiyanto Luluk-Alven Yulianto.
PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Lee Chong Wei can start planning his assault on the men's singles crown in the World Championships in Anaheim, California.
Compared to his teammates Wong Choong Hann and Mohd Hafiz Hashim, Chong Wei received a relatively kind draw last night.
Chong Wei, who will make his debut in the world meet from Aug 15-21 as the fifth seed, found himself in the lower half of the draw together with second seed Kenneth Jonassen of Denmark and fourth seed Bao Chunlai.
The reigning Malaysian Open champion, however, will likely have to play 10th seed Choong Hann or Chunlai for a place in the semi-finals.
But based on his current form, the young Malaysian has the edge over the more experienced Choong Hann, who was the finalist in the previous world meet in Birmingham two years ago.
Chong Wei certainly has the edge over Chunlai, having beaten the Chinese in all meetings thus far this year. Chong Wei, who begins his campaign against Jens Frohlich of Germany, should cruise through to the quarter-finals.
Hafiz, however, has the unluckiest of draw. He has been placed in the same half with top seed and world number one Lin Dan of China.
The two are likely to face each other in the quarter-finals. Hafiz will certainly have an uphill task of unseating the speedy Chinese player, having yet to beat him in all meetings so far.
Even then, the Malaysian, who received news that his visa application has been approved yesterday, will have no comfort in the early rounds.
Eighth seeded Hafiz has a tricky second round match against Ronald Susilo of Singapore.
If he clears his second round hurdle, Hafiz will meet South Korean Lee Hyun-il next.
Hafiz, who was a second round casualty to his elder brother Roslin in Birmingham two years ago, do not have a good record against these two players. He has only won once out of four previous meetings against Susilo and Hyun-il respectively.
In the men's doubles, veterans Choong Tan Fook-Chew Choon Eng have surprisingly been tagged as the eight seeded pair. But there is no joy for Tan Fook-Choon Eng, as they will face China's second pair Sang Yang-Zheng Bo in the second round. The Malaysian pair secured a bye in the first round.
Chan Chong Ming-Koo Kien Keat were also unlucky as they face third seed Fu Haifeng-Cai Yun of China in the third round.
Young pairs Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Lin Woon Fui and Tan Bin Shen-Ong Soon Hock will find it hard getting far either.
Fairuzizuan-Woon Fui could find themselves against second seed and 2003 runners-up Candra Wijaya-Sigit Budiarto in the third round while Bin Shen-Soon Hock may meet fourth seeded Indonesian pair of Hadiyanto Luluk-Alven Yulianto.