But even the sore shoulder could not stop the defending champion from bouncing back from a first game setback to dispose of local star Kenichi Tago 21-23, 21-7, 21-18 and storm into the semi-finals of the Japan Open in Tokyo yesterday.
The 29-year-old Chong Wei will seek to get the better of Denmark’s Peter-Gade Christensen today to maintain his perfect record of having reached the final in every individual tournament he has competed in this year.
Except for the defeats in the recent World Championships and South Korea Open, Chong Wei has won all the other finals he has played in – the Super Series Masters Finals, Malaysia Open, All-England, India Open, Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold, Indonesia Open.
In fact, Chong Wei has only dropped a game to three other players beside Kenichi this season. He lost one game to Jan O Jorgensen of Denmark in the first round of the Malaysia Open; to Christensen in the final of the India Open and, of course, to China’s Lin Dan.
National coach Tey Seu Bock brushed aside Chong Wei’s shoulder pain as “nothing serious” while giving due credit to Tago for his spirited display yesterday.“Chong Wei was leading 16-11 in the opening game but lost focus towards the end of that game. I am glad he got back into the groove after that. He felt some pain on his shoulder yesterday (Thursday) but it is not serious and there is nothing to worry about,” said Seu Bock.
“Kenichi played much better. I guess he did not have any pressure and playing in front of his home fans surely gave him a huge lift.”
Seu Bock said that Chong Wei would not have it easy against Christensen although the Malaysian holds an impressive 13-1 record against the Dane. The only blemish came in his defeat at the 2009 Korea Open final.
“Peter has been playing well of late and is looking good in this tournament. It is important for Chong Wei to stay focused on his mission to reach the final.”
The other men’s singles semi-final will be an all-China affair between Lin Dan and Chen Long.
On Lin Dan’s hard-fought 20-22, 21-14, 22-20 win over Chen Jin, Seu Bock said: “Lin Dan lost to Chen Jin last week, but this time he won. I feel that it was an easy workout for him although the score says otherwise. Lin Dan looked relaxed.”
In the all-Malaysian men’s doubles quarter-final yesterday, top pair Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong checked into the semi-finals after a hard-fought 21-16, 19-21, 21-17 win over younger compatriots Goh V Sham-Lim Khim Wah in a 44-minute match.
Kien Keat-Boon Heong will take on four-time world champions Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng of China today and a win will certainly boost their morale as they seek to restore their battered pride after their quarter-final exit at the world meet in Wembley last month.
The Malaysians had beaten Cai Yun-Haifeng in the semi-finals of the All-England this year.
National doubles chief coach Tan Kim Her said: “Our back-up pair went down fighting to Koo and Tan. They are playing better in every tournament and that is good for our men doubles department.
“Koo and Tan look determined and stand a chance if they go all out against Cai Yun-Haifeng, who have not been in top form after the world meet.”
Indonesia have secured a place in the final when former Olympic and world champions Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan and younger compatriots Mohd Ahsan-Bona Septano won their semi-final matches in straight games.
Courtesy of The Sta
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