REALITY CHECK FOR CHONG WEI

Former World No 1 admits age is catching up with him

LEE Chong Wei admitted that it is getting harder for him to win matches as he gets older. The 35-year-old was made to slog before carving out a 21-11, 1521, 21-19 win over fourth seed Chou Tien Chen of Taiwan in the Japan Open quarter-finals yesterday.

Chong Wei, who recently suffered a shock first round exit at the World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, will play second seed Shi Yuqi of China today.

“The younger players are definitely catching up and it’s getting more difficult for me to win matches,” said the former World No 1 when contacted in Tokyo.

“I’m just happy that I can still play and am slowly improving and regaining my confidence with each match.

“As age catches up, it becomes tougher for me to maintain that high level of badminton. Back then I would be so confident, now I can’t guarantee.

“I’m taking things one step at a time. Hopefully another good match tomorrow and I will be in the final,” added Chong Wei, who is also the defending champion.

In the other semi-final, top seed Son Wan Ho of South Korea is up against reigning world champion Viktor Axelsen of Denmark.

In the men’s doubles, Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi’s partnership came to end with a defeat in the last eight stage.

The Malaysian duo, who will be paired with 2016 Rio Olympic Games silver medallists Tan Wee Kiong and Goh V Shem respectively after this, crashed out of the competition after going down 21-15, 21-18 to Japan’s Takuto Inoue-Yuki Kaneko.