Chong Wei signals intent with devastating first round win

COPENHAGEN: World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei got off to a cracking start in the World Championships to show his clear intention of ending the country’s elusive chase for a world title.
On Monday, he went on a ferocious mode to break apart Lee Dong-keun of South Korea 21-11, 21-12 in 45 minutes at Ballerup Super Arena in Copenhagen.
And the Malaysian was simply overjoyed with his performances after having had to take a break for almost two months due to an inner thigh injury.
“This is my first tournament after two months and I am quite happy with my performances. Despite not being 100 percent at my best, I was able to play a good attacking game,” said the 31-year-old Chong Wei.

Chong Wei’s last tournament was the Indonesian Open in June. He lost to Kenichi Tago of the Japan in the semi-finals.
“This is the World Championships and not a Superseries event and I did not want to take it easy in the first round. I attacked at every opportunity and it worked for me.
“But credit should be given to Dong-keun. He did well in the opening game to stay close to me. His defensive game was good as he was able to retrieve some of my shots.”
Asked whether he had any pain on his leg, he said in a jest: “I did not think of it at all during the match but now, I am feeling it…just kidding. I am good.”
Despite getting off a to a good start, Chong Wei said that he would remain focused on his task at hand.
In the second round on Wednesday, he will take on Germany’s Dieter Domke.
The lanky Germany produced a magnificent effort to beat Glasgow Commonwealth Games gold medallist P. Kashyap of India 26-24, 13-21, 21-18.

 http://www.thestar.com.my/Sport/Badminton/2014/08/26/Chong-Wei-signals-intent-with-devastating-win/

 

Towering German won’t be looking down on Chong Weii

GERMAN Dieter Domke’s game plan against world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei in the men’s singles second round at the World Championships on Wednesday is quite simple – to just survive!
On Monday, the 27-year-old towering German pulled off a surprise when he sent reigning Commonwealth Games champion P. Kashyap of India packing 26-24, 13-21, 21-18 at the Ballerup Super Arena.
He admitted that it would be tough against Chong Wei, who got off to a brilliant start in the world meet with a stunning 21-11, 21-12 win over youngster Lee Dong-keun of South Korea.
After a two-month layoff to recover from a thigh injury, Chong Wei was hardly bothered by it as he went on the offensive from the start.

Seven-footer Domke has no intention of looking down on Chong Wei – especially after losing in straight games to the Malaysian in the 2013 Sudirman Cup and 2009 World Championships in Hyderabad.
“Chong Wei and Lin Dan are the best players ever ... I’m just thrilled to have the opportunity to play against him,” said Domke.
“My game plan against him is ... to survive,” he laughed.
Chong Wei, while ecstatic with his opening victory over Dong-keun, does not plan to take his German opponent lightly.
“Every player hopes to make an impression in a big tournament like this. I’ve beaten him before but I will not brush him off as a non-threat,” said Chong Wei.
If Chong Wei wins, he is likely to meet Ireland’s Scott Evans in the third round on Thursday.

 http://www.thestar.com.my/Sport/Badminton/2014/08/26/Towering-Domke-wont-be-looking-down-on-Chong-Wei/

 

Zhengming desperate to step out of Lin Dan’s shadow

COPENHAGEN: In a country where five-time world champion Lin Dan is the king of badminton, it is easy to overlook the others.
Just ask former world junior champion Wang Zhengming.
Although the 25-year-old Zhengming has been in the shadows of two-time Olympic champion Lin Dan, he is not blaming anyone but himself for not stepping up to the plate.
That’s why Zhengming has pledged to reach the semi-finals of the ongoing World Championships – although it means he will have to beat top seed Lee Chong Wei, who is in his same quarter, along the way.

“How many times do I have to keep losing to Chong Wei ... I’m just so frustrated. I’m no longer a junior and I do not see many more years ahead of me,” he said.
Zhengming, who won the world junior title in 2008, has lost to Chong Wei 11 times since the first round of the 2009 Macau Open.
Zhengming also said that he is not ready to follow compatriot Du Pengyu, who quit the national team just before the World Championships.

more information； http://www.thestar.com.my/Sport/Badminton/2014/08/26/Zhengming-desperate-to-step-put-of-Lin-Dans-shadow/

No payback for Pei Jing in Copenhagen

COPENHAGEN: Revenge was not meant to be for mixed doubles shuttler Lai Pei Jing at the World Championships.
On Tuesday, the unseeded Pei Jing-Tan Aik Quan got off to a great start but poor finish saw them losing 16-21, 9-21 in 33 minutes to reigning Glasgow Commonwealth Games champion Chris Adcock-Gabrielle Adcock of England.
Pei Jing had lost to the husband and wife partnership during Games with Chan Peng Soon at the semi-final stage and was bent on turning the table.
She did well to spark a great promise for an upset together with Aik Quan, as they combined superbly to race to a 8-1 lead in the opening game.

But once the Adcocks turned the tempo of the game and constantly piled the pressure on Aik Quan at the baseline, the duo just crumbled.
The second game was a total disaster. Their games were strewn with errors and they could not handle the barrage of attacks from their opponents too.
The 22-year-old Pei Jing admitted they were at a lost after the English pair switched their game plan after trailing 1-8.
“Aik Quan and I started well but we could not keep it going. When the English pair turned the pace of the game, we got stuck and our game fell apart,” said Pei Jing.
“I wanted badly to beat them but they played intelligently. I guess, we lost because we were not as experienced as them to switch our game plan when we knew we were in danger of losing control.”


more information:   http://www.thestar.com.my/Sport/Badminton/2014/08/26/No-payback-for-Pei-jing-in-Copenhagen/

KKK: Learn from my mistakes

COPENHAGEN: Doubles shuttler Koo Kien Keat has one final advice for all his men’s doubles team-mates: “Don’t make the mistakes I had done as a player”.
His career as a player will officially come to an end at the ongoing World Championships, where he is partnering Tan Boon Heong.
Kien Keat-Boon Heong, the former All-England champions, had a first round bye and will play against the first-round winners of the match between Li Junhui-Liu Yuchen of China and Martin Campbell-Patrick Machugh of Scotland in Tuesday’s second round.
Kien Keat admitted that if he could turn back the clock, he would have dealt with some of the problems differently.

“I’ve been there a long time and I’m sharing what I know. I’m sure some of the players have seen some of my mistakes and will not repeat them,” he said.
“There have been times when I lacked passion. Instead of looking from within and working on certain issues, I was more focused on outside factors.
“A player can be his own worst enemy. All that desire to work hard ... to make a difference, must come from within.”
Kien Keat had a special advice for reigning Commonwealth Games gold medallist Tan Wee Kiong-Goh V Shem.

more information: http://www.thestar.com.my/Sport/Badminton/2014/08/26/KKK-Learn-from-my-mistakes/