NST Online: Sports
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| Badminton / World Championships: Chong Wei gets closer to goal Posted: 12 Aug 2011 05:26 PM PDT 2011/08/13 Lee Chong Wei (right) celebrates following his win over Guatemala's Kevin Cordon in themen's singles quarter-finals at the World Championships yesterday. —AFP picture He was, after six long years, back in the semi-finals of the World Championships and with that burden off his shoulders, Chong Wei is primed for today's semi-finals. The pressure is still immense, especially as he is the last Malaysian standing following the exit of men's doubles Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boong Heong but as Chong Wei had stated at the start, he has been taking it one match at a time at London's Wembley Arena.
Questions about Cordon, who beat China's Chen Long en route to the quarter-finals, were brief as what was of interest was Chong Wei's take on the semi-finals. "Cordon played extremely well. I congratulated him and expressed hope that he will build on this and improve even further," said the World No 1.
He is expected to face reigning champion Chen Jin, who was involved in a late last eight tie against Denmark's Hans-Kristian Vittinghus yesterday, in the semi-finals today but defeat is highly unlikely. "I last played him (Chen Jin) in the Asian Games semi-finals last year and I have watched him play here a couple of times. We know each other's game well and it will be a tough match if he advances."
"I feel good and that is important, especially as the semi-finals and, hopefully, final will require me to be at my best." Coach Tey Seu Bock, however, is confident that Chong Wei will advance to the final. "His form has been improving from match to match. This is crucial in any championships. Chong Wei has a good feeling of the court and the stadium environment and is looking very comfortable in every match," said Seu Bock. A measure of his confidence were Chong Wei's parting words before heading off for a rubdown. "It is too bad that Kien Keat-Boon Heong lost and I am the last Malaysian left in the World Championships. This means more pressure but I have to accept that and continue to focus on my campaign," said Chong Wei. Nemesis Lin Dan was involved in a late match against Japan's Sho Sasaki but with Chong Wei in the mood that he is in, the China star will surely not have it easy if the expected title showdown does take place tomorrow. RESULTS: Men's singles, q-finals: Lee Chong Wei (Mas) bt Kevin Cordon (Gua) 21-7, 21-13. Doubles, q-finals: Mohammad Ahsan-Bona Septano (Ina) bt Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen 21-18, 18-21, 24-22; Ko Sung Hyun-Yoo Yeon Seong (Kor) bt Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong 21-17, 21-13; Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng (Chn) bt Mads Conrad-Peterson-Jonas Rasmussen (Den) 21-10, 21-13. Women's singles: Wang Xin (Chn) bt Saina Nehwal (Ind) 21-15, 21-10; Cheng Shao Chieh (Tai) bt Wang Shixian (Chn) 21-16, 21-17. Doubles: Miyuki Maeda-Satoko Suetsuna (Jpn) bt Meiliana Jauhari-Greysia Polii 21-15, 21-17; Tian Qing-Zhao Yunlei (Chn) bt Mizuki Fujii-Reika Kakiiwa 21-16, 21-10; Jwala Gutta-Ashwini Ponnappa (Ind) bt Vita Mariss-Nadya Melati (Ina) 17-21 21-10 21-17. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search. |
| Squash / Australian Open: Nicol going full steam ahead Posted: 12 Aug 2011 05:22 PM PDT 2011/08/13 Nicol's easier than expected win sets up a last-four clash with long-time rival Rachael Grinham. Annie suffered the injury in her second round win over Denmark's Line Hansen a day earlier but the pain continued to affect the sixth seed in the quarter-finals. Even when fully fit, Annie has never beaten Nicol in their previous six meetings so it was only a matter of time before the Asian Games runner-up called it quits with Nicol leading 11-0, 11-2, 4-0.
The top-seeded Nicol was aware that Annie was not moving well from the start but stuck to her normal game. "I was focused on what I had to do because even if you think she's not there physically, she can still play shots and come up with winners," said Nicol, who defeated Annie to win the Asian Games gold medal last year and the Asian Championships this year.
Annie had hoped a rest overnight would have allowed the injury to heal but found her movement restricted on court. "It was okay in practice but once we got into the match I couldn't twist my leg to play a shot. I thought it might get better but it didn't," said Annie.
"I'm looking forward to it, trying to beat Nicol. I always want to play here but I tend to lose before I get to play her. I like to have the opportunity to play her if I feel in good shape and I feel pretty good at the moment," said Rachael, the 2007 world champion. In other matches, Ireland's Madeline Perry avenged her Malaysian Open defeat to Joelle King of New Zealand with a 13-11, 2-11, 12-10, 11-9 win to set up a meeting with second seed Jenny Duncalf of England. Jenny defeated Natalie Grinham of the Netherlands for just the third time in 17 meetings with an 11-4, 12-10, 8-11, 11-8 triumph. Men's top seed Nick Matthew of England reached the semi-finals after overcoming Laurens Jan Anjema of the Netherlands 11-5, 11-9, 7-11, 11-5. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search. |
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