Calgary: After the reigning SEA Games men’s singles champion, Chong Wei Feng of Malaysia slumped to a stunning straight-set defeat against Denmark’s Christian Lind Thomsen in the first round of Canada Open yesterday, losing 15-21, 20-22, Malaysia’s fortune in men’s singles was once again had to rely on Lee Chong Wei.
Badminton men’s singles superstar Lee Chong Wei who ended his one year title drought after winning the US Open last week, had a speedy dispatch of Canadian Antonio Li yesterday, winning 21-6, 21-9 in just 20 minutes. Lee withstood a challenge from the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympic Games gold medalist Shi Yuqi in the men’s singles second round, and posted a 21-14, 21-15 straight-set victory on Wednesday. Lee will next face the fifth seed Vincent Wong Wing Ki in the third round.
Men’s singles top seed Marc Zwiebler survived a close call in his second round match, needing three sets on Wednesday to hold off Yang Chih Chieh of Taiwan 21-19, 19-21, 21-17 to reach the third round of Canada Open.
Shrugging off their shock first round exit at last week’s US Open, Hoon Thien How/Lim Khim Wah of Malaysia barely snuck out their first-round men’s doubles win on Wednesday. The Malaysian pair rebounded from a first-set loss as they escaped with a 9-21, 21-13, 21-14 triumph in 47 minutes over their Chinese Taipei opponents Lin Chia Yu/Wu Hsiao-Lin. They are going to take on third seeds Michael Fuchs/Johannes Schoettler in the men’s doubles second round on Thursday.
