Chong Wei continues perfect record, ends Chen Long’s streak

Lee Chong Wei kept up his perfect record of reaching the final of every Open tournament he has played in this year when he defeated new world No. 2 Chen Long in three games in the semi-finals of the US$200,000 Yonex French Open on Saturday.

World No. 1 Chong Wei (right), who has won six titles this year, had lost his last two matches to the former world junior champion – in the finals of the Japan and Denmark Opens.
Chen Long, who also won the China Masters last month, was hoping to become the first player – male or female – to win four consecutive OSIM BWF World Superseries tournaments.
Following his win in Odense last Sunday, Chen Long overtook teammate Lin Dan at No. 2 in the world rankings and had set his eyes on Chong Wei’s top spot.
He entered the semi-finals the fresher of the duo, having received a walkover from teammate Wang Zhengming and was buzzing with confidence.
Chong Wei, on the other hand, faced the prospect of going down to the 22-year-old for the third consecutive time.
He survived three game points in the opening game before pulling off a 23-21 victory. Chen Long levelled the match when he took control of the second game to win 21-17.
The decider belonged to Chong Wei, who dominated the front of the court, scoring 13 winners with his neat flicks and drops.
After 77 minutes, the Malaysia emerged with a precious 22-21, 17-21, 21-15 victory which cemented his position as the No. 1 shuttler in the world.
He will meet Japan’s Kenichi Tago, who was the latest lucky recipient of an injury to four-time world champion Lin Dan.
The Chinese ace retired from their semi-final match with another injury despite leading 25-23, 18-15.
In the men’s doubles, four-time world champions Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng (left), will meet archrivals Jung Jae Sung-Lee Yong Dae for the 18^th time in their careers.
The South Koreans have upset the world No. 1s in the finals of the China Masters and Denmark Open and now lead their head-to-heads 9-8.
They booked their place in Sunday’s final by defeating defending champions Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen with identical 21-17 scores in the first and second games.
The Danish pair were the last of the five defending champions still in contention and their defeat means there will be new champions in each of the five categories at the 10^th OSIM BWF World Superseries tournament of the year.
Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng reached the title decider when they overcame a determined Hirokatsu Hashimoto-Noriyasu Hirata in three games.
The unseeded Japanese duo, who won the India Open in May, gave it their best shot against their more fancied opponents but could not last the pace and lost 21-11, 13-21, 21-9.
Denmark Open champions Joachim Fischer Nielsen-Christinna Pedersen (right), of stayed on course to win back-to-back mixed doubles Superseries tournaments when they defeated world champions Zhang Nan-Zhao Yunlei in a nail-biting semi-final.
The Danes, who defeated the world No. 1s in the semi-finals of last week’s Denmark Open, saved a match point before maintaining their unbeaten record against the Chinese in four meetings, winning 21-14, 22-24, 22-20 in 72 minutes.
Waiting for them in the final are world No. 2s Xu Chen-Ma Jin, who edged Indonesia’s Tontowi Ahmad-Liliyana Natsir in three games. It will be a repeat of last week’s final which the Danes won in straight games.
Tontowi-Liliyana have lost their way after a stunning period in May and June which saw them win Superseries titles in India and Singapore as well as a Grand Prix Gold event in Malaysia.
They have yet to reach such highs since then and it was left to the Chinese superstars to end their hopes of another final appearance with a 16-21, 21-14, 21-11 victory

French Open: Chong Wei spoils China’s plan by downing fresher Chen Long to reach the final

A quick tactical change saw World No. 1 singles shuttler Lee Chong Wei regain his supremacy over China’s Chen Long on a day when walkovers and injuries in China camp marred the French Open in Paris yesterday.

Yesterday, Chong Wei was on fire, mixing up his speed and well calculated moves to take down the six-footer Chinese with a 23-21, 17-21, 21-15 win in an energy sapping 77-minute semi-finals to set-up a meeting with Kenichi Tago of Japan.

It was a contrasting style of play by Chong Wei yesterday compared to his less aggressive approach against Chen Long at the Denmark Open just a week ago. The Malaysian had also lost narrowly to the Chinese at the preceding Japan Open final too.

The sweet revenge after the two painful defeats within a month also enabled Chong Wei to keep his perfect record of reaching every final in every tournament he had competed so far – which is a total of 11 to be exact.

Chong Wei’s win, however, must have been a bitter pill to swallow by the Chinese camp.

Just a day ago, they had given Chen Long a free ride into the semi-finals by withdrawing his opponent Wang Zhengming, citing injury as the main reason.

And yesterday, four-time world champion Lin Dan pulled off his antics again. He was on the verge of a victory over Japan’s Kenichi Tago after taking a 25-23, 18-15 lead in the semi-finals when he suddenly walked out citing injury, and leaving everyone stunned.

He was in perfect condition when he dumped team-mate Chen Jin in the quarter-finals a day ago.

This is not the first time that Lin Dan had pulled off such a stunt this year. He had also cited injury in ending his campaign prematurely at the Malaysian Open, Singapore Open and Japan Open.

National coach Tey Seu Bock was happy that Chong Wei got his act right in his third attempt against Chen Long.

“Today, Chong Wei was different and was all focused. He was bent on not losing to this player anymore and played with more aggression. It worked well for him,” said Seu Bock in a telephone interview.

“If not for some mistakes in the second game, he could have even won in a straight games. The plan was to take the first game and then wear the opponent down. And it worked.

“I was not surprised when Chen Long got a walkover in the quarter-finals. They had hoped to keep him fresh against Chong Wei and I am glad that their plan backfired. As for Lin Dan, I heard that he has a leg injury. We are used to this.”

On the final today, Seu Bock said: “Tago has been playing well here. The shuttle is really fast in the stadium and the match can be quite unpredictable. But I hope that Chong Wei will still remain steady to nick his seventh title of this year.” he added.

National coach Rashid Sidek let out a cynical laugh when asked about Lin Dan’s exit and Chen Long’s free ride into the semi-finals.

“Lin Dan was in the lead but he allowed Tago to go through. I do not know what to say about Lin Dan anymore. We are not clear about his intentions but this is not doing badminton any good,” said Rashid.

“I would sum up all these as mind games.”

Courtesy of The Star

Early warning for Chong Wei

CHEN Long's second straight win against Lee Chong Wei to secure the Denmark Open title on Sunday underlines the need for the World No 1 to have a longer period to prepare for Super Series events.
Chong Wei's defeat to the rising China player in the Japan Open took place three weeks after the World Championships leaving him only about 10 days to prepare.
Chen Long is just 22 while Chong Wei is 29 and despite the latter's superior skills and experience, he will have to admit that he struggles against younger opponents.
Chen Long is physically stronger and has also learnt well from compatriot Lin Dan on how to neutralise Chong Wei and thorough preparation is needed if he is to sink China's top players.
It didn't help that the BA of Malaysia (BAM) staged the National Grand Prix Finals on Oct 12-15 where Chong Wei secured a 10th national title but had to leave for Denmark that very night. He played his first match on Oct 19.

It is arguable that the field in the local event is too weak and Chong Wei had a stroll but he was also going through his training while the rest just competed in the GP Finals.
BAM's decision to stage the Kedah Open just 10 days before Chong Wei and the other national shuttlers travelled to Bath, England for a one-week training stint before the World Championships in London also left a lot to be desired.

Chong Wei aggravated his back injury in Kedah and only resumed training two weeks later and, not surprisingly, he fell short in the World Championships final against Lin Dan.

National singles coach Tey Seu Bock had said that Chong Wei wasn't comfortable playing Chen Long who outplays his opponents through sheer physical strength rather than skill.
"Chong Wei is not comfortable playing Chen Long because he is physically very tough and a good retriever. His recovery is very good and manages to battle with Chong Wei rally after rally," said Seu Bock in a telephone interview from Odense yesterday.

"The best way to beat him (Chen Long) is to be well prepared and I would say he (Chong Wei) did not have much time after the Japan Open.

"The situation now is juggling between Olympic qualification and quality training. At the moment, he needs to collect Olympic points and at the end of the year, we have to put him through a longer period of quality training."

The coach added: "Chong Wei is an excellent shuttler but sometimes we forget that he is already 29 and it might take longer to recover from tough matches compared to players like Chen Long.

"Chen Long had a tough second round but received a walkover from Jan Jorgensen (of Denmark) and this was followed by an easy semi-final win, so he was fresh in the final."

Chong Wei will probably get about four weeks to prepare for the Korea Open (Jan 3-8) and Malaysia Open (Jan 10-15) and about six weeks before the All England in March. The break will be important for his build-up towards the Olympics.

Chong Wei should limit his tournaments after the All England and spend sufficient time on his Olympics preparation.

There will be another opportunity for Chong Wei to avenge his defeat in the French Open where he is likely to play Chen Long in the last four in Paris on Saturday but the Malaysian must be prepared if his young rival has the upper hand again.

It is better to lose the battle but win the war against China in the London Olympics next year.

As for men's doubles Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, only time will tell if they can be transformed into a formidable pair again by new coach Pang Cheh Chang.

The onus, however, will be on Kien Keat-Boon Heong who must play with confidence and work harder to regain their form.
Courtesy of New Straits Times

Homepage | U Mobile

Homepage U Mobile

Chen Long joins the greats

Chen Long joined an elite bunch of shuttlers to win three consecutive OSIM BWF World Superseries crowns when he triumphed at the US$400,000 Yonex Denmark Open on Sunday.

The Chinese ace (right), who is in the form of his life at the moment, grabbed his first ever Superseries Premier title when he defeated world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia 21-15, 21-18 at the Odense Sports Park
By winning his third consecutive OSIM BWF World Superseries crown, Chen Long now joins compatriots Zheng Bo, Gao Ling, Cai Yun, Fu Haifeng, Ma Jin and Yu Yang, South Korea’s Jung Jae Sung-Lee Yong Dae, Indonesia’s Sony Dwi Kuncoro and Chong Wei as the only players to win three Superseries titles on the trot.
A down-to-earth Chen Long, who won back-to-back titles in China and Japan last month, said: “This is just a normal tournament for me. I do my best in each match. It was great (playing in Denmark) and the fans were really enthusiastic.”
The world No. 3 has also outshone four-time world champion Lin Dan, who has only once recorded back-to-back Superseries titles – at the 2007 Korea Open and All England.
In Sunday’s final, Chen Long was determined to prove to the world his victory over Chong Wei in last month’s Japan Open was no fluke.
Chen Long controlled the tempo of the match and never allowed his opponent the time and space to launch many attacks. His victory sent a message to the world that he has indeed broken the Chong Wei-Lin Dan stranglehold and he should now be the player to watch.
His 49-minute victory on Sunday meant Chen Long has narrowed the gap on Chong Wei to 4-3 and closes the gap at the top of the world rankings.
For full results, click here.
Results
Men
Singles: Chen Long (China) bt Lee Chong Wei 21-15, 21-18.
Doubles: Jung Jae Sung-Lee Yong Dae (Korea) bt Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng (China) 21-16, 21-17.
Women
Singles: Wang Xin (China) bt Wang Yihan 21-14, 23-21.
Doubles: Wang Xiaoli-Yu Yang (China) bt Tian Qing-Zhao Yunlei (China) 22-20, 21-16.                   
Mixed doubles: Joachim Fischer Nielsen-Christinna Pedersen (Denmark) bt Xu Chen-Ma Jin (China) 22-20, 21-16

Denmart Open: Thien How-Wee Kiong storm into quarter-finals

Doubles shuttlers Hoon Thien How and Tan Wee Kiong are enjoying a dream run in the Denmark Open in only their first outing as a pair.
Thien How-Wee Kiong continued their fairytale run by storming into the quarter-finals with a sensational 21-18, 21-17 win over Indonesians Alven Yulianto-Hendra Gunawan in 37 minutes.
A day earlier, the Malaysian qualifiers got their new partnership off to a flying start with a superb 16-21, 21-19, 21-11 win over China’s second pair Guo Zhengdong-Chai Biao in the first round.
Today, they will take on the winners of the match between top seeds Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng of China and Taiwan’s Fang Chieh-min-Lee Sheng-mu for a place in the semi-finals.
Their good run has certainly lifted the gloom in the men’s doubles department following the shock loss of Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong to South Korea’s Kwon Yi-goo-Cho Gun-woo in the opening round.
Thien How was delighted to have made the breakthrough, especially after picking up a slight injury to his knee on Tuesday.
“I hurt my knee during the qualifying tournament. It hurts when I lunge forward ... but it won’t stop me from giving my best here,” said Thien How, who had a strap on his knee.
Wee Kiong said their good run thus far has helped erase any doubts he had about their future as a pair.
“I am confident we can take this partnership further now. There is better understanding between us.”
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei, who will turn 29 today, took down two players from India en route to checking into the quarter-finals.
Yesterday, he disposed of Anand Pawar with a 21-14, 21-13 win in the second round. On Wednesday, he had beaten P. Kashyap 21-11, 21-13.
Chong Wei will take on former world champion Chen Jin of China for a place in the semi-final.
Earlier, back-up shuttler Mohd Arif Abdul Latif, playing in only his second Super Series tournament, gave a good fight before going down 16-21, 10-21 to Jan O Jorgensen of Denmark in the first round.
It was a great day for world junior champion and local star Viktor Axelsen when he knocked out fifth seed Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia 16-21, 21-9, 21-14.
He will take on the winner of the match between Peter-Gade Christ-ensen and Germany’s Marc Zwiebler.
Malaysia’s challenge in the mixed doubles event also ended when Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying went down 16-21, 15-21 to top seeds Zhang Nan-Zhao Yunlei of China.
Courtesy of The Star

Chong Wei Belum Ada Pengganti

CHONG WEI pemain terhebat pernah dilahirkan oleh negara yang telah banyak mengecapi kejayaan pada peringkat kebangsaan mahupun antarabangsa.

TIDAK keterlaluan jika kita dikatakan bahawa Malaysia kini mempunyai satu masalah besar dalam arena sukan badminton.
Ini kerana, sehingga kini masih belum ada calon yang dilihat benar-benar berkemampuan untuk menggantikan tempat jaguh perseorangan negara, Datuk Lee Chong Wei.
Siapa selepas Chong Wei? Persoalan yang sering kali meniti di bibir peminat-peminat sukan badminton tanah air.
Namun, persoalan tersebut sehingga kini masih belum boleh untuk dijawab.
Malah, ketua jurulatih perseorangan negara, Rashid Sidek sendiri tidak mampu untuk memberikan jawapannya.
Rashid berkata, masih belum ada bayangan yang jelas terha- dap pengganti yang boleh mengambil alih tempat Chong Wei yang dijangka akan menggantung raketnya sebaik tamat temasya Sukan Olimpik 2012 di London.
“Kalau kita mahu mencari pengganti kepada Chong Wei sekurang-kurangnya pemain itu perlulah menjuarai sesuatu kejoha- nan terlebih dahulu.
“Cuba kamu lihat sendiri adakah pemain- pemain perseorangan yang lain selain Chong Wei bergelar juara pada mana-mana kejohanan?
“Tidak ada. Sebab itu, susah untuk kita bercakap mengenai perkara ini. Buat masa ini memang belum nampak lagi mana-mana pemain yang benar-benar boleh mengganti- kan tempat Chong Wei,” kata Rashid ketika dihubungi Kosmo! kelmarin.
Berdasarkan kenyataan Rashid itu, sedi- kit sebanyak pasti telah memberikan jawa- pan terhadap persoalan yang ditimbulkan oleh peminat-peminat sukan badminton negara.
Mahu ataupun tidak, peminat sukan badminton tempatan perlu berpijak di bumi yang nyata.
Harus bersedia untuk menerima hakikat bahawa selain Chong Wei, tidak ada mana- mana pemain perseorangan yang mencipta kejayaan di pentas antarabangsa.
Paling bagus pun sekadar mara ke pering- kat separuh akhir, itupun kejohanan bertaraf tiga bintang.
Jika diikutkan, Malaysia sebenarnya memiliki beberapa pemain berbakat yang kini sudah berada dalam skuad elit seperti Liew Darren, Mohd. Arif Abdul Latif, Chan Kwong Beng dan Chong Wei Feng.
Malah, beberapa pemain remaja seperti Misbun Ramdan Misbun, Goh Soon Huat, Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainudin, Zulfadli Zulkifli turut berpotensi untuk diketengahkan ke peringkat lebih tinggi.
Namun entah apa silapnya, setiap kali Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM) menghantar mereka beraksi di pentas antarabangsa, keputusan yang dilakarkan tidak seperti diharapkan, malah lebih buruk.
Tatkala pemain-pemain seusia mereka dari negara-negara lain sudah mampu untuk bermegah dengan kejayaan yang dilakarkan, pemain negara pula masih ditakuk yang lama.
Masih dilabel sebagai jaguh kampung sahaja.
“Dahulu, mungkin pemain-pemain ini boleh cakap mereka tidak diberi banyak pendedahan tetapi kini BAM sudah menghantar mereka beraksi dalam banyak kejohanan di pentas antarabangsa, malah ada yang menyertai kejohanan Super Siri sekali.
“Namun, tetap gagal mencatatkan kepu- tusan yang baik.
“Seperti Darren, dia pernah tewaskan Si- mon Santoso (perseorangan Indonesia) tetapi selepas itu prestasinya menjadi tidak menentu. Sekejap okey, sekejap tidak okey.
“Begitu juga dengan pemain-pemain yang lain. Apa yang saya lihat, mereka ini gagal mengekalkan konsistensi mereka," jelas Ra- shid.
Tambah Rashid, dari aspek skil dan kualiti, ia tidak menjadi masalah buat pemain- pemain muda negara.
Namun, apa yang menjadi masalah adalah diri mereka sendiri.
“Saya sebagai jurulatih hanya boleh memberikan tunjuk ajar dan kata-kata semangat kepada pemain tetapi apabila berada di atas gelanggang pemain itu yang menentukan corak permainan serta hala tuju mereka.
“Pemain-pemain ini tidak memiliki kesungguhan untuk berjaya. Jika hendak menjadi seperti Chong Wei mereka perlu mele- takkan sasaran yang tinggi.
“Macam Chong Wei sasaran dia tinggi. Contohnya, dalam setahun berapa kejoha- nan yang dia mahu menang. Begitupun, ia tidak berlaku kepada pemain-pemain lain ini kerana mereka ambil sambil lewa.
“Menyertai mana-mana kejohanan sekadar bermain sahaja tanpa ada sasaran. Bagi saya, apa yang penting adalah sasaran pemain itu sendiri.
“Biarpun gagal mencapai sasaran terse- but tetapi tunjuk yang kita ada usaha untuk mendapatkannya. Kalau cakap sahaja pun tidak guna,” tambah Rashid.
Secara matematiknya, jika benar Chong Wei akan bersara sebaik Sukan Olimpik 2012 melabuhkan tirainya, maka BAM perlulah mencari formula terbaik untuk mempersiapkan pemain-pemain yang ada ketika ini untuk menggalas tugas selaku jaguh No. 1 negara.
Bak kata pepatah Melayu, ‘sediakan payung sebelum hujan’. Buatlah persiapan le- bih awal kerana ramai yang sedar bahawa badminton merupakan salah satu sukan yang sentiasa mengharumkan nama Malay- sia di pentas antarabangsa menerusi Chong Wei.

Kosmo