CHONG WEI STOPS SRIKANTH TO REACH ABC SEMIS
Chong Wei braces for stern test against Momota in semis
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei will face Kento Momota of Japan for the first time in four years at the Asian Badminton Championships (ABC).
But this time, the 35-year-old Malaysian can forget about having it easy against a fired-up 23-year-old Momota.
Chong Wei and Momota have set up an intriguing men’s singles semi-final battle in the ABC meet after winning their quarter- final matches in convincing fashion in Wuhan, China, yesterday.
Three-time Olympic Games silver medallist Chong Wei blew away top seed K. Srikanth of India 21-12, 21-15 in 31 minutes to prove that his recent gold-medal victory over the Indian at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast was no fluke.
Momota, making a sensational comeback after serving a one-year ban for gambling in 2016, continued his dominant form when he tore apart Chou Tien-chen of Taiwan 21-5, 21-13 in 37 minutes.
The Japanese dumped All-England champion
Shi Yuqi of China a day ago.
Chong Wei knows he won’t be facing the same Momota he upstaged in straight games at the 2014 All-England.
The world No. 17 Momota is now wiser and more determined to prove himself.
Japan’s former No. 1 is also extra motivated when he qualified yesterday for this year’s World Championships in China in August after missing the action last year.
“I’ve played against him a long time ago ... I’ll give my best,” said Chong Wei.
The Malaysian will be banking on “home”
support to turn the tables on the younger and physically stronger Momota.
“Playing in Wuhan is like playing at home. I’ve many fans here,” he said.
The other semi-final will be between Chen Long of China and H.S. Prannoy of India, who did exceptionally well to stun Son Wan-ho of South Korea.
Meanwhile, it was all over for Rio Olympic Games silver medallists Goh V Shem and Tan Wee Kiong yesterday after they went down 18-21, 17-21 to Japan’s Takeshi Kamura-Keigo Sonoda in the men’s doubles quarter-finals.