Just Lee-ave it to them
Onus on Chong Wei and Mei Kuan-Vivian to meet or better six-gold target
IT’S up to badminton to help Malaysia reach a six-gold medal target or even go one step better at the 28th Commonwealth Games.
But can veteran Lee Chong Wei and scratch pair Chow Mei Kuan-Vivian Hoo deliver at the Carrara Sports and Leisure Centre today?
Chong Wei has set up a mouth-watering clash against K. Srikanth of India in the men’s singles final.
Mei Kuan-Vivian will take on England’s Lauren Smith and Sarah Walker in the women’s doubles final.
Malaysia are only involved in two finals following the shocking defeats of Goh V ShemTan Wee Kiong in the men’s doubles and Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying in the mixed doubles yesterday.
If Chong Wei and Mei Kuan-Vivian fail, Malaysia will be without gold medals in badminton at the Commonwealth Games for the first time.
The Malaysian contingent have won five gold medals so far and Chong Wei hopes to increase the tally today.
“I know where Malaysia stand. I will not put undue pressure on myself but I’ll go all out for the gold,” said the 35-year-old Chong Wei after defeating H.S. Prannoy 21-16, 9-21, 21-14 in the semi-finals.
Chong Wei lost to the 25-year-old Prannoy in their last two meetings but yesterday, the Malaysian stepped on the gas to outplay the Indian.
Srikanth oozed class in his 21-10, 21-17 win over Rajiv Ouspeh of England in the other semi-final.
Chong Wei, who lost to the 25-year-old Srikanth in the mixed team final tie on Sunday, said the reigning World No. 1 was the favourite.
“Srikanth is the world No. 1 and riding high but I’ll give him a good fight,” said Chong Wei.
“It’s great to be in my third final and I want to bow out of my last Games with a good showing,” said the former world No. 1 Chong Wei, who won the men’s singles gold in 2006 in Mebourne and in 2010 in New Delhi.
Vivian-Mei Kuan are relieved to be in the final after battling past India’s Ashwini Ponnappa-Sikki N. Reddy 17-21, 21-15, 21-4 in a 68-minute semi-final yesterday.
“We’ve not played Lauren and Sarah. It can be anyone’s game tomorrow. It depends on the form of the players and I hope that Mei Kuan and I will rise to the occasion,” said Vivian.
“The women’s doubles is the last final of the Games. I know the country has high expectations ... we’ll try,” added Vivian, who won the women’s doubles gold with Woon Khe Wei at the Glasgow Games four years ago.