Number 57 is in his heart or rather in the heart of every Malaysian as the nation celebrates its 57th Merdeka on Aug 31 and World No 1 Datuk Lee Chong Wei is counting the hours with fervent hope to clinch his first world title at the Ballerup Super Arena in Copenhagen.
The 31-year-old Malaysian stayed on course for the elusive title as he stretched his head to head count to 12-0 over China’s former world junior champion Wang Zhengming with a crushing 21-8, 21-11 in 39 minutes to reach the men’s singles semi-finals.
However, Chong Wei has to clear a Danish hurdle today when he takes on another former junior champions Viktor Axelsen in the semi-finals. The Dane was also in superb form with 21-14, 21-14 win over Taiwan’s Chou Tien Chen in his quarter-final match.
The other semi-final will see Tommy Sugiarto face second seed Chen Long of China. Tommy, the fifth seed is the on of former Indonesian ace and world champion Icuk Sugiarto. Tommy defeated Eric Pang of the Netherlands 22-20, 21-19 while Chen Long was taken the full distance by South Korean Son Wan Ho before winning 21-14, 12-21, 21-17.
Chong Wei was again in a class of his own at the Ballerup Super Arena where he has displayed all round superiority in his matches so far and looks set to end his world title drought after winning the silver medal at Wembley (2011) and Guangzhou (2013).
However, Chong Wei is treading caution for his semi-final encounter against Axelsen, who is Denmark’s hope following the exit of Jan O Jorgensen. The lanky Jorgensen was kayoed by a knee injury in his third round match against Chen Chou and retired with the score at 21-9, 9-4 in favour of the Taiwanese.
“It has been smooth sailing for me until this stage but I am not getting carried away. It is getting tougher and will have to take note that Viktor will have the home support. No opponent is easy although I am pleased with my present form,” said Chong Wei.
Axelsen had this to say after his win. “I am just so happy about the way I handled it mentally because I was really nervous. Maybe it looked easy but actually I didn’t perform at my highest level…but it was enough today for me to stay in the hunt.”
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s challenge in the men’s doubles came to an end when seventh seeds Hoon Thien How-Tan Wee Kiong suffered a 8-21, 13-21 defeat to South Korea’s Ko Syung Hyun-Shin Baek Cheol – their first loss in three outings.
SELECTED RESULTS (Quarter-Finals)
Men
Singles
Datuk Lee Chong Wei (Mas) beat Wang Zhengming (Chn) 21-8, 21-11
Viktor Axelsen (Den) beat Chou Tien Chen (Tpe) 21-14, 21-14
Chen Long (Chn) beat Son Wan Ho (Kor) 21-14, 12-21, 21-17
Tommy Sugiarto (Ina) beat Eric Pang (Ned) 22-20, 21-19
Doubles
Ko Syung Hyun-Shin Baek Cheol (Kor) beat Hoon Thien How-Tan Wee Kiong (Mas) 21-18, 21-13
Kim Ki Jung-Kim Sa Rang (Kor) beat Angga Pratama-Ryan Agung Saputra (Ina) 21-14, 21-13
Women
Singles
Li Xuerui (Chn) beat Saina Nehwal (Ind) 21-15, 21-15
P. V. Sindhu (Ind) beat Wang Shixian (Chn) 19-21, 21-19, 21-15
Carolina Marin (Spn) beat Tai Tzu Ying (Tpe) 19-21, 21-19, 21-11
Minatsu Mitani (Jpn) beat Sung Ji Hyun (Kor) 9-21, 21-18, 22-20