Chong Wei eyes elusive title in absence of nemesis Lin

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COPENHAGEN: World number one Datuk Lee Chong Wei hopes to capitalise on the absence of leading rival and five-time world champion Lin Dan of China as he pursues a first world championship crown in Copenhagen.

Malaysia’s Lee, runner-up to Lin at the past two world events as well the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games, will have the chance to emerge from the shadow of his Chinese counterpart who failed to qualify after taking an eight-month sabbatical following last year’s showdown with Lee in Guangzhou.

However, the Malaysian shuttler’s preparations have been far from smooth after Lee was forced out of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with an ongoing thigh problem.

Unable to defend his titles from 2006 and 2010, Lee lost his Commonwealth crown in Glasgow to India’s Kashyap Parupalli, who is a likely second-round opponent for the top seed in Denmark.

First though Lee must navigate his way past South Korea’s 32nd-ranked Lee Dong-keun in the opening round, his first match since losing in the semi-finals of June’s Indonesian Open.

“I have not played in a competitive match for nearly two months, so my first-round match will be very important. I hope to make a good start,” Lee, 31, was quoted as saying by Malaysian media.  “My condition may not be 100 per cent yet, but my target of winning my first world title hasn’t changed.

“This is my best opportunity…I will try my best,” added Lee.

China’s Chen Long is viewed as the greatest threat to Lee’s title ambitions but it’s largely been a year to forget for the second seed. — AFP