Malaysia Boleh !!!

MALAYSIA’S Lee Chong Wei secured his second title of the year when he beat China’s Chen Hong in the men’s singles final in Manila on Sunday. China, who sent their “B team”, however, returned home empty-handed.

Lee Chong Wei was at his best at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City . Chong Wei, who had been feeling down just 6 months ago is alive and kicking again as he proved in Manila. The BAM shuttler had been crowned for the first time in a year in Jakarta when he won the Indonesian Open and showed his form once again in this Grand Prix Gold event, of which he was seeded 2nd behind Chen Hong.

And it was Chen Hong whom he met in the final of the event for an expected clash after the other two main rivals – Bao Chunlai and Taufik Hidayat fell earlier in the week. Bao was ousted by giant killer Ronald Susilo while Taufik Hidayat – an even bigger surprise – was beaten by Vietnam’s Nguyen in the second round.

With two of his stronger opponents – along with Kenneth Jonassen beaten by Korea’s Park Sung Hwan, Chong Wei entered the final with confidence against Chen Hong, the Thailand Open winner.

But it was obvious that a visibly tired Chen Hong couldn’t cope with Chong Wei’s pace especially in the first game, which was won by the Malaysian 21/9. In the second game, Chen Hong gave a better fight but not good enough to trouble his opponent who strolled to a 21/15 win to take the title.

“ I was expecting a closer match but I noticed that he was tired. On my end, I was able to rest for one day as I didn’t play my semi-final which helped me a lot to prepare for my game,” said the Malaysian, who got a free ride after his semi-final opponent Sony Dwi Kuncoro withdrew for injury.

In the men’s doubles, Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong made it two up for Malaysia when they beat China’s Guo and Xie 21/5, 26/24.

China, on the other hand, left Manila empty handed despite having 3 players/Pairs in the finals, none of them won their match. If the main disappointment was the loss of Bao, Chen Jin and Chen Hong in the men’s singles, all hopes relied on new comer Zhu Jing Jing.