It’s time for Viktor-y
Chong Wei gets chance to end losing streak against Axelsen
PETALING JAYA: Lee Chong Wei has a chance to snap his losing streak against reigning world champion Viktor Axelsen of Denmark in the semi-finals of the World Superseries Finals in Dubai.
The world No. 2 Chong Wei lost 21-13, 20-22, 15-21 to world No. 5 Son Wan-ho of South Korea in his final Group A match but still emerged as the group champion on game difference at the Hamdan Sports Complex.
Chong Wei just needed a game off Wan-ho to confirm his last four spot.
Defending champion Axelsen did enough to save himself from being shown the exit when he defeated Chou Tienchen of Taiwan 21-16, 14-21, 21-15 yesterday to sneak in as Group B runner-up.
In the cross-over semi-finals today, Chong Wei takes on Axelsen while Group B champion Shi Yuqi of China will take on Group A runner-up Wan-ho.
The high-riding Axelsen has defeated Chong Wei twice over the last one year. He defeated the Malaysian for the first time in his career at the group stage in the World Superseries Finals in Dubai last December. The Dane scored another win at the Japan Open final in September.
Prior to that, Chong Wei had won all his nine matches against Axelsen.
The three-time Olympic silver medallists has won the Finals four times in 2008 (Kota Kinabalu), 2009 (Johor Baru), 2010 (New Taipei City, Taiwan) and 2013 (Kuala Lumpur).
Meanwhile, the campaign is over for debutants Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing after they ended their Group B fixtures without a win in the mixed doubles.
Yesterday, the went down tamely 13-21, 16-21 to Chris Adcock-Gabrille Adcock of England.