Badminton, Sarawak News - Sunday, October 5, 2008 10:00 - 0 Comments

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Chong Wei, Julia, Kien Keat-Boon Heong in Macau Open finals

KUALA LUMPUR: Men’s singles world number one Datuk Lee Chong Wei and Julia Wong Pei Xian stormed into the men’s and women’s singles finals of the Macau Open after beating their respective opponents in the semi-finals yesterday.

Chong Wei, runner-up at the Japan Open last week and the top seed here, swept aside unseeded Alamsyah Yunus of Indonesia 21-13, 21-14 in straight sets to set up an exciting final against Athens Olympics gold medallist Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia.

Taufik on the other hand booked his berth in the final with a 21-11, 21-12 win that ended the fairy-tale run of Malaysia’s Kuan Beng Hong.

In final today, Chong Wei, who lost to Lin Dan of China in the Beijing Olympics final, is still looking for his first title as the world number one since taking over the top spot from Lin after the Olympics.

But while Chong Wei had an easy path to the final, Julia, the eighth seed, had to dig deep into her reserves to continue her superb performance in the tournament, coming back from a set down to outlast fourth-seed Yip Pui Yin of Hong Kong, 17-21, 23-21, 21-17.

The 21-year-old, who hails from Melaka, had pulled off a giant-killing act in the quarter-finals on Friday when she ousted world junior champion Wang Lin of China.

Still looking for her first major international title, Julia faces third-seeded Zhou Mi of Hong Kong who defeated Zhu Jingjing of China 20-22, 21-18, 21-16, in the other semi-final.

In the men’s doubles, defending champions and top seeds here, Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong, crushed fourth-seeded Indonesian pair Fernando Kurniawan/Lingga Lie in straight sets 21-14, 25-23 to make the final.

Kien Keat-Boon Heong meet second seeds Fang Chieh Min/Lee Sheng Mu of Taiwan who prevented an all-Malaysian final by edging Chan Chong Ming/Chew Choon Eng 21-18, 14-21, 21-11 in the second semi-final.

In the women’s doubles, Malaysian pair Ng Hui Lin/Woon Khe Wei suffered a crushing blow to their hopes of making the final when Chinese pair Ma Jin/Wang Xiaoli ruled supreme, winning 21-12, 21-12 in straight sets.

— Bernama