Dato’ Lee Chong Wei got himself his 9th home ground title to make up for Chan/Goh’s loss to Joachim Fischer Nielsen / Christinna Pedersen. Earlier in the day, Tai Tzu Ying earned her second Superseries crown by silencing Yao Xue of China, while Mohammad Ahsan got his first as he and Hendra Setiawan stopped Ko Sung Hyun / Lee Yong Dae from reaching the throne.
By Ooi Ee Lyn, Badzine Correspondent live in Kuala Lumpur. Photos: Yves Lacroix for Badmintonphoto (live)
By owning the match against Sony Dwi Kuncoro (photo) of Malaysia, Juara Kampung Lee Chong Wei claimed his sixth consecutive title at home, and carved his name for the ninth time on the hall of fame of the Malaysia Open, breaking Wong Peng Soon’s record of eight Malaysia Open victories. Lee was Malaysian champion for three straight years starting in year 2004, and the string broke when he lost to Bao Chunlai of China in the quarter-finals in 2007, allowing Peter Gade to receive his second title in Malaysia. Since 2008, the Malaysian has been unbeatable and has managed to keep the crown at home.
Failing to stop Lee Chong Wei (photo) after a 32-minute battle, Sony Dwi Kuncoro said, “I tried extraordinarily my best to enter the finals. It’s a good start for me although I lost. Lee Chong Wei is good, and I have to improve the quality of my games. For whatever that I am lacking, I will correct them and continue to work harder.”
The Malaysian, on the other hand, showed his gratitude for the home crowd the moment he sat down on the chair at the press conference. “Thanks to all the Malaysian fans for coming to support me in the stadium,” he began. “Although Peng Soon and Liu Ying lost, I’m glad to see a full stadium. I think it’s the fullest I’ve seen throughout the whole week. I’m very happy that I got my ninth win, as winning nine times is not easy, and the pressure is very high on me to reach this far,” said Lee.
Having hammered his victory in 21-7, 21-8, the champion said, “The scoreline may make it look easy, but I can say it was tough. Sony was relentless on defence. He kept returning most of my shots, and I had to lift all his shots and read his game before finding the open areas to exploit. This win gives me the right confidence to face the challenges at the coming All England.”
As his supporters may be getting concerned of his age and condition, Chong Wei, who turned 30 three months ago, explained, “It is a question of mental strength, not physical. As long as I think of winning, I will try, and try again.” When asked whether he would attempt for a tenth Malaysian title, he said, “It’s a solid target, but my priority still lies on international meets.”
Chan/Goh halted a step away from the summit
Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying (photo) were a mere step away from receiving the historical mixed doubles title at home as they were defeated by Olympic bronze medallists and 2011 Malaysia Open semi-finalists Joachim Fischer Nielsen / Christinna Pedersen in the stadium occupied by supporters roaring for them despite their falling short. Goh’s return of a shot landed out and fixed the victory for the Danes, but the spectators continued to cheer as if the local pair had won.
At the post-match press conference, Chan said, “It is fine to have entered the finals without being able to win the tournament, but it’s not satisfying. We hoped to win.” The first seeds and world #3 made it to the semi-finals last year before losing to eventual champions, Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei.
In reply to a question whether they look at themselves as a top pair in mixed doubles, Chan stated, “We may be the world number three, but we still have much to learn from the top players. We’re not experienced enough.”
Meanwhile, Christinna Pedersen, who was women’s doubles champion in Malaysia last year, was glad to be able to clinch a title in the mixed this time around. Her partner, Joachim Fischer Nielsen (photo) commented about the deafening cheer from the crowd, saying, “Almost all the match, the crowd was loud. There was so much noise and we couldn’t hear anything. Our coach was trying to tell us to stay calm, but we couldn’t hear that.”
However, the pair was really happy to have won the Malaysians in Kuala Lumpur, as Fischer Nielsen said, “Two years ago, I said to my partner that we have to come back to win. I wasn’t here last year because I was injured, but I’m here now.”
Tzu Ying’s smooth sail
She may be young and not as nicely decorated as some of her opponents in the previous rounds, but she’s had a smooth sail in Kuala Lumpur. Tai Tzu Ying’s (photo) little boat went with the flow and ended smoothly at the best port of the stream. The teen “Taitan” has made herself known this week as a carefree and optimistic lady, especially with her infamous saying, “Just go with the flow.”
The young lady seemed to have noticed while playing her match that the crowd at the stadium were mostly cheering for her. About that, she smiled widely, and showed her thumb up as she exclaimed, “EXCELLENT!”
Tai, who claims to be an admirer of Peter Gade, flashed a wide grin post-match, saying, “I’m happy, but it seems Yao Xue wasn’t in her best form.” When asked how it feels to have received the prize money, she paused for a moment before replying, “Actually, I don’t know how much it is. I forgot to look!” She grinned, and was told that the price money was US$30,000, to which the 18-year-old hesitated and said, “Is that a lot? I don’t know either,” causing a burst of laughter in the hall.
Ahsan’s first title
Title favourites Lee Yong Dae and Ko Sung Hyun lost to 2008 Olympic gold medallist Hendra Setiawan and his new partner, Mohammad Ahsan (photo), and failed to grab their second title in two weeks after naming themselves champions in Seoul last week. About the loss, Lee Yong Dae explained, “We did not underestimate our opponents. We know they’re strong. They played well and were good at the net. We were leading at first, and it was our mistake that we couldn’t keep that up.”
Hendra Setiawan, the senior of the Indonesian pair, said, “It was a good win. It gave us more confidence, especially for the upcoming All England and German Open.” He also gave an advice to his new partner who had split from the pairing with Bona Septano. “Don’t let this momentum of our good partnership stop.”
In reply, Mohammad Ahsan, who had just won his first Superseries title, answered, “I tried my best with my previous partner, but there was no achievement so we had to split. Hopefully these good results will last.”
In the women’s doubles final, Bao Yixin, semi-finalist with Zhong Qianxin in 2012, returned to the Putra Stadium with Tian Qing to earn their first title as a pair, as they steamrolled past second seeds Misaki Matsutomo / Ayaka Takahashi of Japan in straight games of 21-16, 21-14.
Final results
WS: Tai Tzu Ying (TPE) [6] bt Yao Xue (CHN) 21-17, 21-14
XD: Joachim Fischer Nielsen / Christinna Pedersen (DEN) [2] bt Chan Peng Soon / Goh Liu Ying (MAS) [1] 21-13, 21-18
WD: Bao Yixin / Tian Qing (CHN) [5] bt Misaki Matsutomo / Ayaka Takahashi (JPN) [2] 21-16, 21-14
MD: Mohammad Ahsan / Hendra Setiawan (INA) bt Ko Sung Hyun / Lee Yong Dae (KOR) [6] 21-15, 21-13
MS: Lee Chong Wei (MAS) [1] bt Sony Dwi Kuncoro (INA) [8] 21-7 21-8
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Congratulations!! Datuk Lee, you will be blessed with Lee junior soon. It is a triple happiness for you and your family. First you received the biggest ang bao in Korea, second the arrival of additional member to your family and 9th victory at the Putra Stadium last night. The triple joys will be felt not only by your family but all Malaysians as well. Thanks for all you have done for the country. We are proud of you.
Nothing will prevent you from the ultimate second perfect 10 score. As Malaysian champion for the 10th time last year it was already a perfect10. The second will even be sweeter as this is an international competition ie the Malaysian Open in 2014. This feat is unlikely to be bettered by your contemporaries. Targeting any 3rd perfect score?
Hopefully, Lin Dan will announce the arrival of Lin junior soon. Perhaps, he has already has, as we have no knowledge of his private life. This paves the way for the challenges of the juniors in the coming years. All the best to both of you!!
Well done to all the winners and you are welcome to compete again next year. For the second best do not give up hope. Who knows you will be the next champion.
See you in Malaysia!!!
Wow i didn’t know Lee Chong Wei is 30! Oh my gosh… I was expecting him to be somewhere around 25?? I wonder how old is Lin Dan is…
Just imagine going through all those intensive trainings at the age of 30….. Respect respect to him!
And Tzu Ying is super young! If i remember correctly she went for World Juniors last year! Definitely a potential world champion in the making!
Hi Gerald,
Thank you for the comment.
Lin Dan is a year younger than Lee Chong Wei. He’ll be turning 30 in October this year.
You are right. Tzu Ying was quarter-finalist in the World Junior Champs last year, where she lost to Sun Yu of China. Sun Yu made it to the second round in Malaysia last week before losing to Tine Baun. Tai and Sun are both turning 19. In fact, Nozomi Okuhara (who withdrew in the rubber set against Saina Nehwal in the quarterfinals last week) was the world junior champion last year. She’s turning 18 in March.
My most memorable part of the Men’s Final was when Sony did a cross court smash on LCW’s lift to his backcourt. But LCW managed to defend (the smash) by sending the shuttle just over the net with a superb dive. What happened next was just sublime. LCW actually stayed down on the court as he watched Sony made a desperate attempt to get back to the shuttle. He only made an effort to get up when Sony finally reached and tried to ferociously hit the bird across the net. Alas, Sony failed to send it over as the shuttlecock found the net instead. LCW must have already anticipated that even if Sony managed to get it over, it would have only landed half way at the most in his court and he would still have all the time in the world to play whatever shot he wanted. Incredible anticipation and superb confidence by the World No: 1 indeed. No wonder Lin Dan is not keen to play LCW anymore on his home ground !
On the other hand, the Malaysian Mixed Doubles pair can only blame themselves for not winning their game. I find it incredible that the lady player was actually barking orders to her physically stronger male partner. If I were their coach, I will make sure that CPS dictates the play, not GLY who has to play in the front more often than not. CPS needs to be more firm mentally not to be intimated by his own female partner!