KUALA LUMPUR: The absence of defending champion and two-time Olympic gold medallist Lin Dan from China in the BWF World Super Series Final in Shenzhen, China from Dec 12-16, will not mean an easy passage to the title for Datuk Lee Chong Wei.
The Malaysian ace who recently wed his long time girlfriend and shuttler Wong Mew Choo recently, will have to overcome his nemesis Chen Long, the world number three, in the absence of his arch-rival Lin Dan.
Though the head-to-head record between Chong Wei and Chen Long stands at 7-5 in favour of the Malaysian after 12 meetings, but the latest loss suffered by Chong Wei in the Hong Open Open last month is cause for concern.
Chong Wei who played nine tournaments this year, however, has a unique record of reaching the final in every one of them although he managed to win only five tournaments.
The grand final in Shenzhen, apart from giving Chong Wei, 30, an opportunity to wrest the title that he had won in 2008, 2009 and 2010, will also give the Penangtite a chance to add another feather to his already impressive cap by making it to his 10th final in 10 outings.
In 2011, Chong Wei did not compete in the grand final due to a shoulder injury, allowing Lin Dan to claim his first grand final title.
The BWF Super Series Final, the climax of the 12-leg BWF Super Series circuit, will end the year with the best eight men’s and women’s singles and doubles players, as well as mixed doubles players battling it out for a slice of the USD500,000 (RM1.55 million) prize money.
The qualification for the final is based on ranking points accumulated by players throughout the series and since Lin Dan had only played in Korea Open, Malaysian Open and All England, he failed to accumulate enough points.
Apart from Chong Wei and Chen Long, China’s rising star Du Pengyu and Japan’s Kenichi Tago, Liew Daren (Malaysia), Denmark’s Hans-Kristian Vittinghus, Hu Yun from Hong Kong and Thailand’s Boonsak Ponsana are in the list.
In the doubles competition, national doubles pair Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong and Tan Wee Kiong/Hoon Thien How will see action while Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying will be featuring in the mixed doubles competition. —Bernama