ixory
07-13-2007, 10:51 PM
Malaysian No. 1 downs nemesis Taufik with inspired display
By RAJES PAUL
Star Online (http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2007/7/14/sports/18305514&sec=sports)
PETALING JAYA: A pumped-up Lee Chong Wei broke a two-year winless streak against Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat with a stunning victory over the Indon in the men's singles quarter-finals of the China Masters at Chengdu yesterday.
Veteran singles shuttler Wong Choong Hann and the doubles pair of Tan Bin Shen-Ong Soon Hock made it a great day for Malaysia when they stormed into their first semi-finals in a Super Series event.
The China Masters is the seventh leg of the series.
After coming up short on several occasions since his last win over Taufik in the 2005 Malaysian Open, the 25-year-old Chong Wei battled for 54 minutes to turn the tables on his nemesis with a sensational 22-20, 20-22, 21-17 win in a nerve-wracking and fiery quarter-final match yesterday.
http://thestar.com.my/archives/2007/7/14/sports/s_66chongwei.jpg Lee Chong Wei beat fancied Taufik Hidayat to join compatriot Wong Choong Hann in the semifinals of the China Masters on Friday.
Today, Chong Wei, the national No.1, will take on world number one Lin Dan of China and another world-class encounter is in store for badminton fans.
Lin Dan, who lost to Chong Wei in the Sudirman Cup in Glasgow last month, fought hard for a 19-21, 21-18, 21-12 win over compatriot Bao Chunlai in 71 minutes yesterday.
National coach Misbun Sidek was delighted that the world No. 3 Chong Wei had pulled through during the crucial stage of the rubber game.
“It was one of the closest matches that I have seen. The rubber was a thriller. Both were tied at every point until 15-15,” said Misbun in a telephone interview from Chengdu yesterday.
“But it was Chong Wei's better tactics and strategy that saw him reeled in Taufik for the win. Chong Wei was very fast at the front and it was visible that Taufik was a spent force.
“Chong Wei's first win over Taufik after so long is another breakthrough for him. It should put him in the right frame of mind ahead of the World Championships (Aug 13-19 at Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil).”
Misbun, however, said that Chong Wei and Lin Dan would be under tremendous pressure in today's semi-finals.
“The Chinese came under heavy fire after losing to Chong Wei in the Sudirman Cup and he will want to win today's encounter. As for Chong Wei, he does not want to lose his rhythm after winning the Indonesian Open. I expect a gigantic fight.”
The 30-year-old Choong Hann blew away Kenneth Jonassen of Denmark 21-13, 21-19 yesterday and take on surprise semi-finalist Wacha Przemyslaw of Poland today.
Przemyslaw, the world No.17, continued his superb run in the tournament by beating Thailand's Boonsak Ponsana 21-15, 18-21, 21-16. He had upset Chen Yu of China in the first round.
Said Choong Hann: “I had expected a better fight (against Jonassen). But he could not control the draft in the stadium and was making many mistakes. In the second game, I took it easy after taking a 17-10 lead but he caught up. Fortunately, I had some lucky shots to get through.
“(Today), I will not underestimate Wacha – especially after his good performances here. I have beaten him once (at the 2004 Athens Games) but this time, I will be prepared for a fight,” he added.
In the men's doubles, Bin Shen-Soon Hock continued the good showing by Malaysian doubles pairs in international tournaments when they defeated Denmark's Simon Mollyhus-Anders Kristiansen 21-10, 21-17 to set up a meeting with top seeds and world champions Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng of China in the semi-finals. They had beaten the Chinese pair once en route to reaching the quarter-finals of the Malaysian Open in January.
By RAJES PAUL
Star Online (http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2007/7/14/sports/18305514&sec=sports)
PETALING JAYA: A pumped-up Lee Chong Wei broke a two-year winless streak against Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat with a stunning victory over the Indon in the men's singles quarter-finals of the China Masters at Chengdu yesterday.
Veteran singles shuttler Wong Choong Hann and the doubles pair of Tan Bin Shen-Ong Soon Hock made it a great day for Malaysia when they stormed into their first semi-finals in a Super Series event.
The China Masters is the seventh leg of the series.
After coming up short on several occasions since his last win over Taufik in the 2005 Malaysian Open, the 25-year-old Chong Wei battled for 54 minutes to turn the tables on his nemesis with a sensational 22-20, 20-22, 21-17 win in a nerve-wracking and fiery quarter-final match yesterday.
http://thestar.com.my/archives/2007/7/14/sports/s_66chongwei.jpg Lee Chong Wei beat fancied Taufik Hidayat to join compatriot Wong Choong Hann in the semifinals of the China Masters on Friday.
Today, Chong Wei, the national No.1, will take on world number one Lin Dan of China and another world-class encounter is in store for badminton fans.
Lin Dan, who lost to Chong Wei in the Sudirman Cup in Glasgow last month, fought hard for a 19-21, 21-18, 21-12 win over compatriot Bao Chunlai in 71 minutes yesterday.
National coach Misbun Sidek was delighted that the world No. 3 Chong Wei had pulled through during the crucial stage of the rubber game.
“It was one of the closest matches that I have seen. The rubber was a thriller. Both were tied at every point until 15-15,” said Misbun in a telephone interview from Chengdu yesterday.
“But it was Chong Wei's better tactics and strategy that saw him reeled in Taufik for the win. Chong Wei was very fast at the front and it was visible that Taufik was a spent force.
“Chong Wei's first win over Taufik after so long is another breakthrough for him. It should put him in the right frame of mind ahead of the World Championships (Aug 13-19 at Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil).”
Misbun, however, said that Chong Wei and Lin Dan would be under tremendous pressure in today's semi-finals.
“The Chinese came under heavy fire after losing to Chong Wei in the Sudirman Cup and he will want to win today's encounter. As for Chong Wei, he does not want to lose his rhythm after winning the Indonesian Open. I expect a gigantic fight.”
The 30-year-old Choong Hann blew away Kenneth Jonassen of Denmark 21-13, 21-19 yesterday and take on surprise semi-finalist Wacha Przemyslaw of Poland today.
Przemyslaw, the world No.17, continued his superb run in the tournament by beating Thailand's Boonsak Ponsana 21-15, 18-21, 21-16. He had upset Chen Yu of China in the first round.
Said Choong Hann: “I had expected a better fight (against Jonassen). But he could not control the draft in the stadium and was making many mistakes. In the second game, I took it easy after taking a 17-10 lead but he caught up. Fortunately, I had some lucky shots to get through.
“(Today), I will not underestimate Wacha – especially after his good performances here. I have beaten him once (at the 2004 Athens Games) but this time, I will be prepared for a fight,” he added.
In the men's doubles, Bin Shen-Soon Hock continued the good showing by Malaysian doubles pairs in international tournaments when they defeated Denmark's Simon Mollyhus-Anders Kristiansen 21-10, 21-17 to set up a meeting with top seeds and world champions Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng of China in the semi-finals. They had beaten the Chinese pair once en route to reaching the quarter-finals of the Malaysian Open in January.