The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- Chong Wei faces tough challenge in bid to make history
- Chan-Goh find form in second game to march into final
- Youngster Tzu Ying shows class in women’s badminton
| Chong Wei faces tough challenge in bid to make history Posted: 19 Jan 2013 04:09 PM PST MALAYSIAN OPEN BADMINTON CHAMPIONSHIPS IT is going to be just like the old times. Two seasoned campaigners – Lee Chong Wei versus Sony Dwi Kuncoro. Two rival camps – Malaysia and Indonesia. Welcome to what can be dubbed as an explosive men's singles final in the Maybank Malaysian Open badminton at Putra Stadium today as local hero Chong Wei sets out to carve a piece of history as he bids to become the home champion for a record nine times. Yesterday, Chong Wei fended off a fiery challenge from Jan O Jorgensen of Denmark before pulling off a 21-13, 17-21, 21-12 win in a 56-minute battle. Sony also had to come through a harrowing time as he recovered from a brief spell of inconsistency to beat a gritty Kenichi Tago of Japan 21-12, 19-21, 23-21 in a one-hour and 13 minutes energy-sapping semi-final match. Sony has been a spoiler for Chong Wei before and the Malaysian knows it. In their 12 head-to-head meetings, the Indonesian has beaten Chong Wei five times and his memorable wins over the Malaysian came during major tournaments – the 2007 World Championships in Kuala Lumpur and 2009 World Championships in India. And based on his resurgent form, the 28-year-old Indonesian has the ability to prevent Chong Wei from becoming the most successful player in the Malaysian Open by winning his ninth crown. Last year, Chong Wei had equalled late Wong Peng Soon's feat of winning eight. Chong Wei, who lost focus in the second game against Jorgensen yesterday, acknowledged Sony's revival but did not want to be too worried about it. "Sony came through a great fight against Tago today. He has improved and showed that he has fully recovered from his injuries. I would rather focus on my game right now," said Chong Wei. "Today, Jorgensen really gave me a good fight. He is confident and the top players will have to be wary of him. Fortunately, after trailing 0-4 in the decider, I managed to find my touches again." The 25-year-old Jorgensen said: "Chong Wei is just so good in his attacking game. One has to be in a such a high level all the time to beat him. I am happy with my game though because I managed to steal one game from him at home. Next, my goal is the All-England (March 5-10)." Meanwhile, despite being pushed to all corners by Tago yesterday, the 28-year-old Sony said that he had enough energy in the tank to give Chong Wei a run for his money. "It will be a heavy task against Chong Wei because the Malaysian is really in a good shape now but I promise to play to my maximum ability," said Sony. The world No. 5 and 2007 World Championships runner-up Sony said that his form had been inconsistent due to his back problem but things had turned out to be better since early last year. "I am physically much stronger now and playing with better technique and style. This is my first Malaysian Open final and I am ready to give my best," said Sony, who is expecting his second child soon. |
| Chan-Goh find form in second game to march into final Posted: 19 Jan 2013 04:08 PM PST MALAYSIAN OPEN BADMINTON CHAMPIONSHIPS MIXED doubles top seeds Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying survived a massive scare before progressing into the final of the Maybank Malaysian Open at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday. Peng Soon-Liu Ying struggled initially before overcoming Poland's Robert Mateusiak-Nadiezda Zieba 12-21, 21-18, 21-16 in the semi-finals. They will now bid to become the first pair in 50 years to win a home mixed doubles title in the Malaysian Open since its inception in 1937 when they take on Denmark's Joachim Fischer Nielsen-Christinna Pedersen in the final. The last mixed doubles pair to win the title was Tan Aik Huang-Teoh Siew Yong in 1963. No pair has ever came close to that feat since and it is certainly a breakthrough for Peng Soon-Liu Ying, who felled in the semi-finals last year. They have previously won a title in Malaysia – the Malaysian Open GP Gold last year in Johor but it was a smaller scale tournament. Yesterday, despite being cheered on by a vociferous home crowd, Peng Soon-Liu Ying was all jitters in the first game and made a string of unforced errors as the Poles took the initiative. They were then staring at defeat after trailing 14-16 in the second game. Fortunately, they woke up from their slumber to turn the game around before taking charge in the rubber game to seal a historic win. Liu Ying later admitted that the huge home support initially got to them causing them to lose the first game. "While it was really nice to see the crowd, I was really caught by surprise at the number of people who were cheering us on. Its something we're not used to," said Liu Ying. "Thus in the first game, I was simply too nervous and was making a lot of unnecessary mistakes. It didn't help that our opponents got comfortable playing against us. "But I'm really happy that we managed to pull through because we badly want to win this tournament. It will definitely be a better feeling than winning the Japan Open last year," added Liu Ying. Meanwhile, Peng Soon added that they will have to be extra careful against Nielsen-Pedersen who play well in big matches and will be a tough opponent. The Danes who appeared lethargic throughout the tournament finally found their form to end the fine run of Indonesian qualifiers Praveen Jordan-Vita Marissa, winning 21-14, 21-17. "It was a tough match nonetheless. The Indonesians are a good pair and we had to rely on all our experience to pull through," said Nielsen. Pedersen, meanwhile, added that it will be tough playing Peng Soon-Liu Ying in front of their home crowd and they will need to be at their best. "Well I thought the crowd love us don't they?" jested Pedersen. "Either way, we'll have to find the extra energy for the final," she added. In women's doubles, second seeds, Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi of Japan powered past Shinta Mulia Sari-Yao Lei of Singapore 22-20, 21-14 to set up a showdown with China's Bao Yixin-Tian Qing. |
| Youngster Tzu Ying shows class in women’s badminton Posted: 19 Jan 2013 03:17 PM PST MALAYSIAN OPEN BADMINTON CHAMPIONSHIPS TAIWANESE youngster Tai Tzu Ying has enjoyed a stellar rise in the rankings since making a breakthrough three years ago. Then, as a 16-year-old barely out of high school, Tzu Ying announced her presence to the world when she reached the final of the Singapore Open, before losing to India's Saina Nehwal. She then went to become the youngest national champion in Taiwan before winning her first international title – the US Open GP Gold a year later. Now at 19, the daughter of a firefighter has grown so much in stature and has already become a regular in the upper echelons of women's badminton. Playing with a cool and composed style, together with a variety of strokes and excellent footwork, Tzu Ying has already beaten several top stars such as China's Wang Yihan and Wang Xin, India's Saina Nehwal and Thailand's Inthanon Ratchanok. Tzu Ying, currently ranked No, 12 in the world, also captured the Japan Open last year making her the first Taiwanese to win a Super Series title. Despite her achievements, the Kaohsiung native remains very much down-to-earth and prefers to enjoy her time on court especially when she engages in long gruelling matches. "I try not to think too much about my achievements and the breakthroughs I have made because I just love getting on court," said Tzu Ying. "Playing on court is the best time of my life and it really makes me feel alive. In fact I'm most happy when I'm involved in a long taxing match." Meanwhile, the teen sensation, has been in sparkling form in the Malaysian Open after dishing out several impressive performances including knocking out two-time champion Tine Baun of Denmark in the quarter-finals. "It is quite surprising that I've done so well here, especially against Tine because I was expecting her to beat me flat," said Tzu Ying. Yesterday, the fearless Tzu Ying once again put up another impressive performance to beat top seed Saina Nehwal of India 22-20, 21-14. She faces Chinese qualifier Yao Xue, who overcame South Korea's Bae Youn-joo 21-15, 21-18, in today's final. "In fact I've never really done well in Malaysia in the past as it has always been first round exits for me. By reaching the final here I'm actually very happy because I do not need to rush back to Taiwan for the national tournament." |
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