NO PROBLEM FOR CHONG WEI

Not hampered by knee as World No 1 makes last eight stage in Birmingham

ARECENT knee injury did not seem to bother Lee Chong Wei yesterday as he reached the quarter-finals of the All England.

Playing in his first tournament since the World Super Series Finals last year, Chong Wei, who suffered a torn medial collateral ligament (MCL) last month, notched a comfortable 21-18, 2118 win over Taiwan’s Wang Tzu Wei in the second round at the Barclaycard Arena.

The 35-year-old World No 1 will face the winner of a late match yesterday between China’s Tian Houwei and India’s H.S. Prannoy, in today’s last eight.

Chong Wei, a three-time winner in Birmingham, last clinched the title in 2014.

Meanwhile, men’s doubles Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi learnt a valuable lesson despite crashing out early in the opening round on Wednesday.

The national No 2, playing in their first All England, went down fighting 21-14, 13-21, 21-18 to Taiwan’s Lu Ching Yao-Yang Po Han.

Yew Sin, when contacted said: “We were rushing through our game and failed to adapt to the conditions on court.

“That allowed our opponents to take the first game.

“We could have played it simple but we couldn't bring out our best form.”

Yew Sin added that both he and his partner would use the experience to improve in future tournaments.

Just last month, Yew Sin bagged the National Championships crown in Ulu Kinta, Perak when he partnered Tan Wee Kiong.

Meanwhile, another Malaysian, independent shuttler Zulfadli Zulkiffli also fell short in the first round of the men’s singles when he lost 21-11, 21-12 to five-time world champion Lin Dan of China.