Malaysian ace Lee Chong Wei was in a class of his own he outclassed India’s K.Srikanth in straight games 21-12, 21-15 to march into the men’s singles quarter-finals in the Wuhan City of Automobile Badminton Asia Championships in Wuhan on Friday.
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In the “Battle of former World No 1s” the Malaysian gave a masterly display of badminton to stretch his head to head count to 6-1. The match was a repeat of this Commonwealth Games final in Gold Coast between Chong Wei and Srikanth with Malaysian taking the men’s singles gold.
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Incidentally, Srikanth inflicted the only defeat on Chong Wei also in Gold Coast – when he beat the Malaysian in the team final won by India 3-1.
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However, at the Wuhan Sports Center on Friday it was Chong Wei who showed that he has still plenty of badminton in him – moving in for the kill at every opportunity that came his way and Srikanth was left in a daze.
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Chong Wei took the break at 11-4 and 14-6 before wrapping up the first game at 21-12 in 13 minutes. In the second it there was some resistance from Srikanth but Chong Wei was never in danger of losing.
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“I was never in the game and gave him plenty of opportunities. I wanted an error free game but it turned out to be my worst match…I have never played so badly,” said Srikanth.
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“I played much better in the first round. It is disappointing to lose in this manner.”
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For Chong Wei it was a case of riding on the momentum of winning the gold medal in Gold Coast when he beat Srikanth 19-21, 21-14, 21-14 in the final for his third Commonwealth Games title.
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“The win is important for me to go as far as possible in Wuhan,” said Chong Wei, a two-time winner of the title – in 2006 and 2016. He was beaten by Lin Dan in the semi-finals last year.
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In Saturday’s semi-finals Chong Wei will face Japan’s Kento Momota who demolished Chou-Tien-chen 21-5, 21-13 in 39 minutes.
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Meanwhile, defending champion Chen Long of China stayed on course with a hard fought three-game battle against a gritty Angus Ng Ka Long of Hong Kong before prevailing 22-24, 21-15, 21-17 in a marathon 86-minute match.
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Chen Long blamed himself for going three-games for his match against Ka Long and said: “I should have won the first game and finished off the match in two games.
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“Still, I am happy to be in the semi-finals and hope to go beyond that,” said the hometown hero who hails from Hubei Province who beat Lin Dan for his first Badminton Asia title last year.
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RESULTS (SELECTED)Â
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Lee Chong Wei (Mas) beat K. Srikanth (Ind) 21-12, 21-15
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Kento Momota (Jpn) beat Chou Tien-chen (Tpe) 21-5, 21-13
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Chen Long (Chn) beat Angus Ng Ka Long (Hkg) 22-24, 21-15, 21-17