In the draw released by the World Badminton Federation (BWF) yesterday, the current champion Chen Jin of China and former winner Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia have been drawn in the same half as the top seed.
Chong Wei is in the same quarter with Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk of Thailand, Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka of Indonesia, Park Sung-hwan of South Korea and two-time world junior champion Chen Long of China.
He is expected to take on Sung-hwan and Chen Long in the second and third rounds respectively and barring any major upsets, an in-form Chong Wei should make it to the semi-finals.
Either 2005 world champion Taufik or Chen Jin should be waiting for him in the last four and both have the potential to spoil the hopes of the Malaysian from making his final breakthrough.
The 29-year-old Chong Wei has only reached the semi-finals once in his debut in the 2005 in Anaheim and it still remains his best result after his four other attempts in 2006 (Madrid), 2007 (Kuala Lumpur), 2009 (Hyderabad) and 2010 (Paris) ended in the early stages.
Chong Wei’s arch rival Lin Dan of China is in the second half with veteran shuttlers Peter-Gade Christensen of Denmark, Lee Hyun-il of South Korea and Malaysia’s Wong Choong Hann; and several darkhorses – Sho Sasaki of Japan, Indonesian Simon Santoso, Thailand’s Boonsak Ponsana and Vietnam’s Nguyen Tien Minh.
Lin Dan, a three-time world champion and the second seed, is expected to meet Hyun-il in the third round. If the Chinese superstar wins, he is set to meet Sasaki, who defeated him in the second round of the Indonesia Open last month.
If Lin Dan goes all the way to the semi-finals, he is likely to meet a resurgent Christensen, who is looking very determined to end his elusive chase for a world title.
Interesting match-ups are certainly in store for the badminton fans but the most awaited clash will probably be a duel between two greatest players of this era – Chong Wei and Lin Dan in the final.
Although Chong Wei had been in blistering form by winning six titles in six months prior to the world meet, national singles chief coach Rashid Sidek chose to be cautious about the Malaysian’s chances.
“It is a tough draw from the first round. Tanongsak and Hayom are upcoming youngsters and we have to be wary of them. Chong Wei lost to Taufik last year (in the quarter-finals of the world meet in Paris) and Sung-hwan is no pushover. The Chinese players – Chen Long and Chen Jin are dangerous,” said Rashid.
“Yes, Chong Wei has beaten all of them in convincing ways in the past but I would rather not underestimate anyone. This is world championships and everyone will be playing at their best.”
Rashid, however, admitted that it was Chong Wei’s best opportunity to nail the country’s first world title.
“He has recovered well from his injury (back muscle spasms).
“He is giving his best in training. This is his ultimate chance to make history for Malaysia and Chong Wei is certainly working hard towards achieving it.”
Dunlop-sponsored Choong Hann, who outdid all the Malaysian youngsters to qualify for his eighth world championships, has a tricky first round opener against Taiwan’s Hsieh Yu-hsing. If he wins, he may take on Boonsak.
Ironically, Choong Hann is Malaysia’s best men singles performer in the world series when he won a silver medal at the 2003 world meet in Birmingham after going down fighting to Xia Xuanze of China.
Courtesy of The Star
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