Datuk Lee Chong Wei
KUALA LUMPUR: Former world number one men’s singles shuttler Datuk Lee Chong Wei finally broke his losing jinx against his arch rival Lin Dan of China after edging the world number three in a semi-final thriller in the China Open Super Series Premier Badminton Tournament yesterday.
In the match held at the fully-packed Haixia Olympic Sports Centre in Fuzhou, China, the Malaysian ace went down against the former Olympic and Asian Games champion in the first set before stepping up his tempo to chalk up a 17-21, 21-19, 21-19 victory in 92 minutes, thus reducing his meeting record against Lin Dan to 10-25.
It was sweet victory for Chong Wei who last defeated the seasoned Chinese shuttler and five-time winner of the tournament at the 2012 KoreaOpen Super Series Premier Tournament. However, the 33-year-old Penangite who is vying for his fourth title this season, will face another mammoth task against the top seed and world number one Chen Long of China in the final today.
Chong Wei has won back-to back the US Open and Canadian Open in June and also the French Open Super Series last month, after serving an eight-month suspension for a doping offence. Chen Long, the winner of the tournament thrice – 2010, 2012 and 2013 – defeated South Korean Son Wan Ho 21-11, 21-17 in the other last four match. — Bernama