Chong Wei battles on

> Malaysian moves into quarterfinals in ‘last All-England’ championship

MALAYSIAN badminton star Datuk Lee Chong Wei (pix) is through to the quarterfinals of All England after securing an edgy two-set win over Taiwan’s Wang Tzu-wei.

Chong Wei did not show any sign of him struggling with knee injury, as he exhibited an excellent performance by beating Taiwan’s Wang Tzu Wei 21-18, 21-18 in the second round at Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham.

For the record, Chong Wei won the All England title in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

The three-time former champion, Malaysia’s most successful Olympian knows he may have to finish the tournament without ever being at his best.

Chong Wei played with heavy strapping over the knee he injured training a month ago and had little idea how or even whether he would be able to perform in Birmingham.

Chong Wei would face China’s Tian Houwei in today’s quarterfinal.

Seventh seed Houwei defeated India’s HS Prannoy 13-21, 5-21, effectively ending the latter’s campaign in the men’s singles category.

Houwei looked composed and outplayed his opponent without really getting out of second gear.

Despite the Indian getting off to a solid start in the first game, the Chinese took control of the contest by reeling off eight straight points, which would prove to be significant in the way the match shaped up.

The second game was a lopsided affair, as Houwei crushed Prannoy by not allowing him to settle into the contest. From 14-5, Houwei picked up seven straight points to race away to victory.

Some now consider Olympic champion Chen Long, a potential semifinal obstacle for Chong Wei, the favourite despite being seeded down at five.

Chen has competed little since his Rio triumph, though yesterday’s 21-17, 21-7 win over Marc Zwiebler, a former semifinalist from Germany, suggested Chen may recover full match fitness quickly.

Chen may have been aided by the departure from his quarter of the draw of Son Wan-Ho, the fourth-seeded South Korean, who withdrew with an ankle injury after only five points, allowing Sony Dwi Kuncoro from Indonesia a shortcut into the second round.

The women’s top seed, Tai Tzu Ying, who still denies that the world No. 1 ranking means much to her, made a start which suggested that the world’s oldest title may mean a great deal.

The World Super Series champion from Taiwan came from 18-16 down against Nitchaon Jindapol, the world No. 16 from Thailand, to deliver a professionally taken 21-18, 21-14 win.

Quizzed about the reported quote that the world No. 1 ranking didn’t mean much to her but might mean a lot to her family, Tzu Ying answered: “Maybe not so much to them either,” before adding: “But perhaps to the people of Taiwan.”

In the same half of the draw Saina Nehwal, the eighth-seeded former world No. 1 from India, won one of the most improbable first-round matches the tournament has ever contrived, overcoming Nozomi Okuhara, the defending champion from Japan, 21-15, 21-14.

Okuhara was unseeded after being sidelined for seven months with injury, though Nehwal too is only just beginning to find her way back after a knee injury and surgery.

“I won’t know how the knee is until tomorrow,” Nehwal said. “I’m just happy to be playing again. But it was a very surprising match.” – AFP