NEW CHAMP: Chen Long (left) from China poses with the trophy after winning against Chong Wei from Malaysia in the final man single’s match of the Danish open Badminton in Odense. Chong Wei lost 22-24, 19-21 in straight sets. — AFP photo
KUALA LUMPUR: Defending champion and World number one Datuk Lee Chong Wei failed in his bid to retain the Denmark Open title in Odense, Denmark after losing to China’s Chen Long in the final, Sunday night.
Chong Wei lost 22-24, 19-21 in straight sets to Chen Long who has been his nemesis in a number of tournaments.
With the win Chen Long took home US$30,000 (RM94,710) while Chong Wei pocketed US$15,200 (RM47,986.40).
According to the tournament website www.badmintondenmark.com, the match lasted 68 minutes.
In earlier matches Lee Yong Dae/Yoo Yeon Seong from South Korea beat Mohammad Ahsan/Hendra Setiawan from Indonesia 21-19, 21-16 to capture the men’s doubles title while Wang Yihan took the women’s singles title
after edging South Korea’s Sung Jiyun 16-21, 21-18, 22-20 in three sets.
In the mixed doubles final, China’s Zhang Nan/Zhao Yunlei beat Tontowi Ahmad/Liliyana Natsir of Indonesia 21-11, 22-20 in straight sets to win the title while Bao Yixin/Tang Jinhua broke the hearts of Denmark’s home fans by overcoming Christina Pedersen/Kamilia Rytter Juhl 21-16, 21-13 to win the women’s doubles title. — Bernama