CHONG WEI RUNS OUT OF LUCK IN CHINA OPEN
Chong Wei claims he was just unlucky after defeat to Angus
PETALING JAYA: “I was just unlucky.” That was national shuttler Lee Chong Wei’s explanation for his men’s singles quarter-final loss at the China Open in Fuzhou.
The Malaysian went down 12-21, 21-15, 19-21 to Angus Ng Ka Long of Hong Kong at the Haixia Olympic Centre yesterday.
Chong Wei got off to a slow start. He could not keep pace with the 23-year-old and surrendered the first game meekly.
But Chong Wei stepped up a notch to take the second game.
Even when he was left behind 1-6 in the decider, Chong Wei kept piling the pressure but Ka Long’s patience paid off.
In the decider, Chong Wei found himself trailing 6-1 but he never gave up. But neither did Angus, who kept snapping away at the heels of Chong Wei. They were tied at 19-19 before Angus romped home for victory.
“I just got unlucky in the end. I came from behind but could not finish it. It’s a pity,” said Chong Wei.
“Overall, I’m good. This is certainly a better showing than my outings in Europe. I feel more confident. I hope to put up a better showing at the Hong Kong Open (in Kowloon) next week.”
Chong Wei had suffered early exits in the Denmark Open and French Open last month.
National coach Datuk Tey Seu Bock said that the 35-year-old Chong Wei was slow off the starting block.
“He’s still not consistent but he has regained some confidence. His morale was low before coming here but he’s now on the up after putting in a stronger performance here. That’s the positive we can take from
this defeat here,” said Seu Bock.
“Let’s hope that he will ride on this at the Hong Kong Open next week.”
Angus will face reigning world champion Viktor Axelsen of Denmark in the semi-finals today.