yay!! haha Badminton: Chong Wei nets first title as the world number one REPORTS By RAJES PAUL IT turned out to be the perfect end to the season for Malaysia’s world number one men’s singles shuttler Lee Chong Wei. After failures to justify his lofty status as the top player in the world in previous tournaments, Chong Wei got it right with a sensational 21-8, 21-16 win over Denmark’s Peter Gade-Christensen in the final of the Super Series Masters Finals at the Likas Indoor Stadium in Kota Kinabalu yesterday. The win earned him the biggest tournament prize money of his career — US$40,000. Malaysia’s also won the men’s and women’s doubles through Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong and Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty respectively. And the three successes will go into the history books as the country’s best-ever achievement in a major individual championships. Well done: Peter Gade-Christensen congratulating men’s singles champion Lee Chong Wei after the final yesterday Yesterday’s breakthrough was meaningful for Chong Wei and he took his time to savour every moment of it — with over 5,000 passionate fans cheering and chanting his name in the packed stadium. Chong Wei had not won any title since taking the world number one crown from Lin Dan after the loss to the Chinese star in the Beijing Olympics final in August. Yesterday’s win was also his easiest over Gade-Christen*sen. He broke the confidence of the Dane with an explosive start and raced to 12-0 lead in just three minutes. The Dane did his best to recover and give a better fight in the second game but the on-song Chong Wei was not to be denied. For Chong Wei, it was his third Super Series title this year after the Malaysian and Singapore Opens. “Finally, the burden is off my shoulder. I have won a title as world number one. But I am surprised I scored an easy win over Peter,” he said. “I skipped the Hong Kong Open (the last leg of the Super Series) to focus on getting it right here. And I am so happy that it had paid off.” Soon after his win, Chong Wei called up his coach, Misbun Sidek, who is ill, to share the joyful moment. Misbun had been down with fever since returning from Mecca on Friday and was unable to make the trip to Kota Kinabalu. Chong Wei agreed that the victory would have meant more to him if Lin Dan were in the competition. “The competition would have been greater. But I will try my best to maintain this status and hopefully, I will be able to win again when every top player is in the field,” he said. Chong Wei has set his sights on winning his first All-England title and the World Championships next year. He will take a short break before preparing for the defence of the Malaysian Open title in two weeks’ time. World number five Gade-Christensen was a shattered man. “It is not often that I get beaten in this manner. Chong Wei’s performances reminded me of how Lin Dan defeated him to win the Olympic gold medal. Their speed is impressive.” http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2008/12/22/sports/2869638&sec=sports
To be honest, nothing big for Datuk Lee won the title since the CHN players didnt participate. Well, we must accept that DLCW is No. 1, IN CONDITION that LD is missing in action.
Dato Asbullah: How can you say that Lee Chong Wei is still not No.1 ? . Sorry, Dato Asbullah ... You must have missed reading News here at Badminton Central. It has been reported that: 1. Lee Chong Wei was fit and ready to win this 2008 Super Series Finals Singles title. 2. Lin Dan was not fit and ready. He went for training, therefore not participating in this event. So, how can you say that Lee Chong Wei is still not No.1 after winning this event? Are you saying that Lee Chong Wei has to wait for Lin Dan to get fitter first? .
that is quite a derogatory remark. First, BWF had admit they were partly at fault for the bad scheduling. Second, it is noble to serve your country first before money and fame. A quality u may not appreciate Third, TH is injured. TH's chance of beating LCW is quite high if TH isn't injured. TH had already beaten LCW this year and almost last year Japan open (failed due to string snapping at match point) It took 4+ months since being #1 before he win a title says a lot
is hitting your coach a noble act?? throwing racquet at your own nationality noble? TH chance of beating LCW is high, LCW chance of beating TH is quite high also...anyway I do respect TH, but the best man won that day too bad for TH 4 month to win a title, at least he did it...who else in the world can? name me?
Bad scheduling??? What is wrong with BWFs scheduling? Why is it more wrong for China than for any other nation players?? I don't follow your reasoning.. /Twobeer
first u blame the whole china team and now u change your focus on one player. 1. jxp isn't his coach beside, l'm still waiting for your proof. 2. You have alot to learn boy. Allegiance and loyalty is far more admirable quality than just nationality. Maybe why canada doesn't have a problem like your (if u still dont know what i mean, go read some of pemuda's posts, it's a good intro for you.) Since no disciplinary action taken by BWF or china, nor the incident occurred on your soil and nor involved any of your nationals, why are u as a malaysian so eager to seek your kind of justice on this matter? Are u related to Li Mao? http://www.badmintoncentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=781027&postcount=103 3. the last title won by lcw was SG open ~june 15, that was 6 months ago. Are u joking? u don't know who won MS titles since June 15?? Let me list them for u... SK won 3(IO,JO,CM), PG won two (FO, DO), LD won two (TO, CO), even Chen Jin, Tedjono and Nguyen Tien Minh had won 1 each too. That is more than 1 i hope
oops, TH won the 2008 macau open title by beating LCW. Sorry, honest mistake, really not intentional It was an important one too
NST Online » Sport 2008/12/22 Super Series Masters Final: Superb Chong Wei stamps his mark By : K. M. Boopathy Lee Chong Wei celebrates after winning the Super Series Masters Finals in Kota Kinabalu yesterday. Chong Wei beat Denmark’s Peter Gade Christensen 21-8, 21-16. Pic: DATU RUSLAN SULAI THE jinx was finally over as Lee Chong Wei captured his first international crown as the World No 1 by crushing Peter Gade Christensen of Denmark in the Super Series Masters Finals in Kota Kinabalu yesterday. Chong Wei, the top seed, was in smashing form and won 21-8, 21-16 in 33 minutes. It was also his first international title since winning the Singapore Open in June and the Malaysian admitted he was under some pressure to end the drought. However, it was hardly seen in the first game as Chong Wei set a ferocious pace and took a runaway 12-0 lead to give a clear indication that he will not leave Kota Kinabalu empty-handed. Chong Wei was more relieved than happy as his decision to skip the Hong Kong Open last month paid dividends in the biggest prize money in a single tournament of his career at US$40,000 (RM138,000) while Christensen settled for US$20,000. "Winning titles as World No 1 is what I always wanted," said Chong Wei. "However, I was under some pressure going into the match as I was the top seed and I haven't won for some time. But a fast start helped to settle my nerves. "I gave up one Super Series (Hong Kong Open) and it ended in good result. "I expected a fight from Christensen but my speed probably made it difficult but he played better in the second game. "My target next year is the All England and the World Championships and this victory will give me confidence." In the women's singles, World No 1 Zhou Mi of Hong Kong completed her brilliant year by beating compatriot Wang Chen 21-14, 21-18 in 32 minutes. It was Zhou Mi's fourth title of the year after having won the Korea Open, China Masters, Macau and India Opens earlier. http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Monday/Sport/2434067/Article/index_html
http://www.badmintoncentral.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1055923&postcount=48 i didnt say or meant it was more wrong for china, that is for the china team executives to judge. The task of organizing the entire china team for a 4 week off site training is almost as difficult, if not more difficult, then for BWF organizing a 4 day SS final event. If BWF is late with their tournament itinerary, the team can't sit around and twiddle their thumbs. I don't blame if u don't know but in china, the chinese new year (Jan 26, 2009) is more important than christmas and the julian calendar new year. Delaying the winter military training program means a real logistic mess for the coming chinese new year pilgrimage. If u haven't seen pictures of cars on highway or the train stations, u have no idea of the scale of this holiday.
here is a photo of a crowd scene of people ( est. 1/2 million) waiting at the Guangzhou Train Station in 2008 chinese new year due to a snowstorm. I think chinese people there is taking extra preparation for this coming CNY.
mod, please move post #748 to 757 to this thread http://www.badmintoncentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=64030
If LD had turned up for SSF,it would be like the Thomas Cup match for him.Unless LD can bring his Beijing crowd of 7000 with him as well. Really, you should come and watch LCW courtside some time instead of imagining.You didn't see how TH and PG looked in G1 when LCW's back to his 'normal' speed.LCW was so fast both were left wondering and wandering.LCW was scary. Don't be such a CHN worshipper.You've seen how far CJ had gone in DO08 and FO08 without any escorts.CHN need the herd confidence to win.Also they need the right tournament format.The SSF is an untested format for them.CHN knew they would lose face if they cannot win in SSF,that's why they dared not turn up.By boycotting, they know a lot of fans will think like you;the SSF is not that great and the CHN aura of superiority is perpetuated.But I wonder for how long? But the most important, Dato, is to learn to give credit where credit is due.LCW played spectacular;some of his shots were unreturnable and has nothing to do with speed.You gotta be there to catch it and the crowd was really thrilled and exceptionally lucky to see such exquisite display. LCW is a deserving SSF champion.Be proud of and be happy for your Datuk.
I think it is stretching it that 4 days over in Malaysia would make or brake the logistics of their training camp and new years celebration at end of january.. I guess most Danes etc. wants to be home at christmas and new years eve the 31st of dec!! as well.. (christmas and new years eve is quite big hollidays in christian countries as well...if you haven't noticed ) I can understand if they feel their players would maybe not performe optimal, that it is better to withdraw than to "loose face"... Or if they want to make a mark against BWF and are unhappy in general with how BWF runs things.. These are reasons i think would make sense.. blaming "planning" and training/scheduling is pretty lame excuses in my opinion though /Twobeer