Chong Wei wins Ninth Malaysian Badminton Open Title in style *new!
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DATUK LEE CHONG WEI –Bernama photo
KUALA LUMPUR: World number one men’s singles shuttler Datuk Lee Chong Wei has carved his name as the most successful player in the country after he clinched his ninth Malaysian Open title in style at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil, here, Sunday.
In the final match, the 30-year-old shuttler who is the top seed and defending champion, easily disposed of a challenge from eighth seed, Sony Dwi Kuncoro of Indonesia with a 21-7 and 21-8 win in just 32 minutes.
The Penangite had prior to this, won the Malaysian Open title eight times, in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.
The win saw Chong Wei break the current winning record held by Wong Peng Soon who won the men’s singles category of the same tournament eight times – in 1940, 1941, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952 and 1953.
Earlier, the 6,000-strong crowd at the stadium was frustrated after the nation’s top mixed doubles pair, Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying, lost 13-21 and 18-21 against second seed, Joachim Fischer Nielsen and Christinna Pedersen of Denmark.
In the men’s doubles, unseeded Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia pulled up an upset against sixth seed, Ko Sung Hyun and Lee Yong Dae of South Korea with a 21-15 and 21-13 win.
Chinese Taipei teen sensation, Tai Tzu Ying, continued her impressive performance as she bagged the women’s singles title after defeating Yao Xue of China, 21-17 and 21-14.
Fifth seed, Bao Yixin and Tian Qian of China also pulled up an upset after they stunned second seed, Misaki Matsutomo and Ayaka Takahashi of Japan, 21-16 and 21-14 in the women’s doubles category.
All the winners in the doubles category pocketed US$31,600 (RM95,211) each, singles category US$30,000 (RM90,390) while the runners-up in all categories received US$15,200 (RM45,797).
Maybank Group president and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar presented the trophies and cheques to the winners.
Also present at the finals of the tournament were Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president Datuk Seri Mohd Nadzmi Mohd Salleh, National Sports Council director-general Datuk Seri Zolkples Embong and Badminton World Federation (BWF) deputy president Paisan Rangsikitpho. – Bernama
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