Beautiful badminton match ended with Chinese victory
BadmintonDenmark.com - News - Beautiful badminton match ended with Chinese victory
Chen Long - Champion Men's Single, 2013 Denmark Open
Credit: ttymg.com
After more than an hour of beautiful badminton, Chen Long managed to defeat Lee Chong Wei in the men's singles final at the Yonex Denmark Open
For the third straight year, Lee Chong Wei and Chen Long today met in the men's singles final at the Yonex Denmark Open.
In 2012, the Malaysian had taken the title, whilst the Chinese had won it back in 2011. Before today, their head-to-head score counted seven victories for Lee Chong Wei and six for Chen Long.
It was everybody's game this Sunday, no doubt.
A worthy final
Especially in the first game. The two gentlemen fought well, both of them displaying great skill, making the lead switch back and forth.
Lee Chong Wei were ahead at the interval by 11-8, after having won six straight points, and was able to maintain the leading position until they reached 14-14. It was extremely close from there on, and in the end it was the Chinese second seed who closed the game in his fourth try, winning 24-22.
At this point, it was obvious why these two players are currently ranked no. 1 and 2 in the world. The men's singles final at Yonex Denmark Open was indeed the perfect to match to round everything off with.
Most of all, I am just happy that I've been able to refind my form and play at this high level again. I haven't been playing this good for a while, so it's very positive for me to be able to do that again, Chen Long said after the match.
Chinese dominance
Earlier in the tournament, other players had put the Malaysian super star under pressure and even won games against him. However, when needed, Lee Chong Wei had simply just increased the pace in the rallies and crushed his opponents that way around.
Today, however, that was simply not possible in the second game against Chen Long. Unlike in previous rounds, Lee Chong Wei was unable to dominate the match and was even unable to prevent the Chinese from dominating.
Lee Chong Wei lost the lead at 4-4 and trailed throughout the rest of the game. Towards the end, he gained in on his Chinese opponent, levelling the score at 19-19 and opening the chance of a third game, but in the very end, he could not complete his comeback and lost the two following rallies.
The game ended 21-19 in favor of Chen Long, who thereby reclaims the title he won two years ago but lost last year.
Lee Chong Wei is a great inspiration
It means a lot to Chen Long to beat, and even just play against a player like Lee Chong Wei. In matches like these, it is more than merely the victory that motivates him, the Chinese told us after his victory.
There's a lot I can learn from Lee Chong Wei. Everytime I play against him it's an invaluable opportunity to learn something from him, and it's always something I look forward to.
It's very motivating for me, besides of just going for the win, and the fact that he has been a professional player so much longer than me, gives me so much to strive for, he also said.
Looking forward to 2014
In about ten months, Denmark will be hosting the BWF World Championships, a tournament every professional player aims to participate in and do well. That goes for Chen Long as well, who hopes to be able to perform at a high level in that the tournament.
Of course I can't guarantee that I will beat Lee Chong Wei every time I play him, but I feel it is my responsibility as a professional player to do the best I can in every tournament I compete in, as well as being responsible for the audience who've come to see me perform, he said before concluding:
And that's an attitude I'll bring with me every time I play a big tournament.
Monday October 21, 2013 MYT 1:14:19 AM
Chong Wei falls in final
No birthday joy for Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei, who turns 31 on Monday, as he was beaten in straight sets by China's Chen Long in the Denmark Open men's singles final on Sunday. - AFP"
http://www.thestar.com.my/Sport/Badminton/2013/10/21/Chong-Wei-falls-in-final.aspx
ODENSE: There will be no birthday joy for world No.1 Lee Chong Wei as Chen Long produced a superb performance to win the Denmark Open on Sunday.
Chong Wei who turns 31 on Monday just couldnt gain control of the match as world No.2 Chen Long took a worthy 24-22, 21-19 win in 68 minutes.
The Chinese ace raced to an 8-5 lead in the first game but Chong Wei turned it around to lead 14-11 at one point.
Chen Long however took four straight points and the pressure was always on Chong Wei in the first game.
He saved two game points from 18-20 down but just couldnt pull away as Chen Long eventually wrapped up the first game.
Chen Long, who won the All England this year, started strongly once more in the second game and was ahead 12-5 at one point.
Although Chong Wei did well to pull back at 18-18, Chen Long had the momentum and was just too strong in the end.
It was his second Danish title since 2011 and it puts his head-to-head with Chong Wei at seven-apiece.
Chen Long definitely played better today and he was picking up everything I threw at him. I just couldnt finish him off, said Chong Wei.
I was also making too many simple mistakes and I wasnt patient enough in dealing with him.
Plus, he was very fast today and I just couldnt keep up with him.
In the second game he took a huge lead and although I relaxed myself and took it one point at a time, I just couldnt convert the crucial points.
Its probably not the best birthday gift for myself but its okay. Im not too disappointed with my own performance, added Chong Wei.
Chen Long meanwhile pointed out that while the win was great, he still had a lot to learn from Chong Wei.
He has been a professional badminton player longer than me and hes really a great role model, said Chen Long.
The way he has kept his level at the top is amazing and its something young shuttlers like me should learn from.
China were the big winners of the Danish meet, taking home four of the four finals they competed in.
Earlier, Wang Yihan had bagged the womens singles title with a gruelling three-setter win over South Koreas Sung Ji-hyun while Zhang Nan-Zhao Yunlei toppled world champions Tontowi Ahmad-Liliyana Natsir of Indonesia 21-11, 22-20 to win the mixed doubles title.
Unseeded Bao Yixin-Tang Jinhua claimed the womens doubles title by beating home favourites Christinna Pedersen-Kamilla Rytter Juhl 21-16, 21-13.
The only non-Chinese winners came from South Koreas Lee Yong-dae-Yoo Yeon-seong who smashed their way past Indonesian world champions Mohd Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan 21-19, 21-16 for the mens doubles title.
