CHONG WEI CLEARS FIRST ROUND TO FACE BOGEYMAN LEVERDEZ

Chong Wei clears first round to face bogeyman Leverdez

PETALING JAYA: Lee Chong Wei oozed class in his first-round win but crowd favourite Lin Dan fell to a shock defeat at the China Open in Fuzhou.

The 35-year-old Chong Wei needed just 26 minutes to blow away Hsu Jen-hao of Taiwan 21-5, 21-7 in the men’s singles at the Haixia Olympic Sports Centre yesterday.

He will take on Brice Leverdez (pic) of France in the second round today.

Chong Wei suffered a demoralising firstround loss to the Frenchman at the World Championships in Glasgow in August. The Malaysian also lost to Leverdez at the Denmark Open last year.

National coach Tey Seu Bock hopes that Chong Wei won’t let those two results affect him.

“Chong Wei must put the past behind him. I hope he will play with renewed confidence and motivation,” said Seu Bock.

“It’s good to see some of his old touches in his opening round win today. Hopefully, he will keep it up and give the Frenchman a good fight.”

Three-time Olympic silver medallist Chong Wei suffered early exits at the Denmark Open and French Open last week, but he hopes to change all that in China.

“I won my first match but I’m still not at my best. I don’t want to look too far ahead. I just want to focus on tomorrow’s (today’s) match,” said Chong Wei.

Two-time Olympic champion Lin Dan went down 21-19, 21-16 in 42 minutes to reigning Kuala Lumpur SEA Games men’s singles champion Jonatan Christie of Indonesia.

It was the 20-year-old Jonatan’s second win over Lin Dan, having beaten the China ace at the Indonesian Open last year.