Thursday, 11 August 2011
Badminton / World Championships: Awesome Chong Wei
It was an experience that Lang could only savour for 29 minutes as Chong Wei was in inspired form and sauntered to a 21-10, 21-11 win at London's Wembley Arena.
Up next is an old foe in Park Sung Hwan but with Chong Wei displaying great form yesterday, it will take a massive effort from the South Korean to deny the Malaysian a place in the quarter-finals.
"I played much better today (yesterday) compared to the first round. I had a better feel on the conditions and just concentrated on producing my best," said Chong Wei.
Lang had played above expectations in the first round and with nothing to lose, was expected to throw everything at Chong Wei in a bid to make a name for himself.
But other than a slight wobble in the second game, Chong Wei was always on top and made full use of the tie to try out his tactics,
"The shuttles here are very slow and I had to make sure that I got my timing right. Lang tried but I am glad that I was able to vary my tactics to score the win."
Sung Hwan will be a different challenge as not only is he a dangerous player, he has made it a habit of scalping big names -- as was the case in last year's World Championships in Paris when he beat China's Lin Dan.
"Sung Hwan is a stroke player and with the shuttles being slow, the conditions will favour his style of game. However, I am not too worried after today's performance," said Chong Wei.
Coach Tey Seu Bock was also confident that Chong Wei would advance to the quarter-finals.
"There is a marked improvement in Chong Wei's game. His movement was much better and he also looked very comfortable on court. That was crucial ahead of the tougher battles that await," said Seu Bock.
He added Sung Hwan, though a much better player than Chong Wei's first two opponents, would find it hard against Chong Wei if the Malaysian repeats yesterday's performance. Sung Hwan beat teammate Shon Wan Ho 21-14, 21-10 yesterday.
"In this form, it is very hard to beat Chong Wei. If he stays focused and doesn't underestimate Sung Hwan, victory will be his."
The last meeting between the two was in the Sudirman Cup in May which ended in Chong Wei's favour, and Malaysia will be rooting for that to happen again today.
Veteran Wong Choong Hann, the only other Malaysian in singles action, was down to play Thailand's Boonsak Ponsana in a late second round tie yesterday.
RESULTS
Selected, Men's Singles, 2nd rd: Kevin Cordon (Gua) bt Henri Hurskainen (Swe) 21-19, 21-17; Peter Gade (Den) bt Stanislav Pukhov (Rus) 21-5, 21-9; Park Sung Hwan (Kor) bt Shon Wan Ho (Kor) 21-14, 21-10; Lee Chong Wei (Mas) bt Ville Lang (Fin) 21-10, 21-11; Simon Santoso (Ina) bt Dmytro Zavadsky (Ukr) 21-19, 21-8;
Doubles, 2nd rd: Chai Biao-Guo Zhendong (Chn) bt Sam Magee-Tony Stephenson (Irl) 21-11, 21-10; Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong (Mas) bt Liu Xiaolong-Qiu Zihan 21-6, 20-22, 21-15.
Women's Singles, 2nd rd: Saina Nehwal (Ind) bt Chloe Magee (Irl) 21-10, 21-7; Yip Pui Yin (HKg) bt Michelle Li 23-21, 17-21, 21-17;
Doubles, 2nd rd: Selena Piek-Iris Tabeling (Ned) bt Ha Jung Eun-Kim Min Jung (w.o); Mizuki Fujii-Reika Kakiiwa (Jpn) bt Chin Eei Hui- Wong Pei Tty (Mas) 21-16, 22-24, 22-20;
Mixed Doubles, 2nd rd: Chris Adcock (Eng)-Imogen Bankier (Scot) bt Anugritayawon Songphon-Kunchala Voravichitchaikul (Tha) 24-22, 21-19; Diju Valiyaveetil-Jwala Gutta (Ind) bt Ong Jien Guo-Chong Sook Chin (Mas) 21-11, 21-15.
Read more: Badminton / World Championships: Awesome Chong Wei http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/lk2ne213-2/Article/#ixzz1UgLpFStj
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