# Chong Wei to miss his second international tournament
# World No 1 withdrawn to focus on Rio Olympics preparations
# BAM not taking any chances on his muscle injury – Morten Frost
By Rizal Abdullah
After skipping the Australian Open Superseries in Sydney the miss following a muscle injury World No 1 Datuk Lee Chong Wei is staying away for the USD200,000 Taiwan Open Grand Prix Gold in Taipei.
Chong Wei’s last tournament was the USD900,000 BCA Indonesian Superseries Premier in Jakarta two weeks ago. The Malaysian ace won his sixth Indonesian Open after a three set win over 2014 champion Jan O Jorgensen in the final.
He later left for Sydney for the Australian Open Superseries but withdrew as he was still bothered by the muscle injury – more importantly the fear of aggravating the injury with the Rio Olympics just round the corner.
Since regaining the world No 1 status after winning the Indonesia Open, Chong Wei is skipping his second international tournament after the Australian Open. The Malaysian was seeded second in the Taiwan Open.
The Taiwan Open – scheduled to be held in Taipei from June 28-July 3 – will not be short of Malaysian interest with Rio Olympic bound Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong, current world No 13, leading the charge in the men’s doubles.
In the mixed doubles Malaysia’s Olympic hopes Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying will vie for honours in Taipei. Other Olympic bound shuttlers competing in Taipei is Tee Jing Yi in the women’s singles and Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei in the women’s doubles.
With Chong Wei out Malaysia’s singles charge will be on the shoulders of national champion Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin, the world No 32. Also in the fray are Goh Soon Huat, Chong Wei Feng, Liew Daren, Tan Chun Seang, Goh Giap Chin and Arif Abdul Latif.
“There are several reasons why we have withdrawn Chong Wei from the Taiwan Open. Of course we not taking any risk with Chong Wei’s injury,” said BAM technical director Morten Frost.
“Our focus is the Olympics and he is shaping up well and coming on fine in our preparations for Rio Olympics.”
