Korea Open: Chong Wei upstages Lin Dan

After a series of demoralising losses in 2011, world no.1 Lee Chong Wei’s new year began in the best possible fashion when he overcame nemesis Lin Dan to win the Korea Open Premier Superseries title on Sunday. Chong Wei’s win must have been a huge relief for the Malaysian, for he recovered lost ground to two Chinese players last year – Lin Dan and Chen Long, and many were questioning if he had it in him to win once again, especially in the context of the Olympics. Chong Wei returned home richer by USD 75,000. The Korea Open is the first million-dollar prize money tournament in badminton.

Chong Wei’s win also prevented a Chinese sweep of the Korea Open. Three of the five matches were Korea against China, but the Chinese prevented the hosts from getting a single gold. Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng reversed their recent form slump to triumph over close challengers Lee Yong Dae and Jung Jae Sung in a tense three-setter; while Qiang Tian/ Zhao Yunlei (women’s doubles) and Xu Chen/ Ma Jin (mixed doubles) overcame their Korean opponents.

In the women’s singles, Wang Shixian beat compatriot Jiang Yanjiao rather easily.

But the world’s focus must have been on the men’s singles, which was the third match of the evening. Lin Dan, ever since he escaped against Chong Wei in the final of the World Championships, has racked one win after another and left the Malaysian demoralised. On Sunday, too, the match seemed to be good as over after Lin Dan took the first game 21-12.

The Chinese went up 6-3 in the second but a dogged Chong Wei refused to give in and stayed close. The lead kept alternating between the two, until Lin Dan went ahead 17-15. To Chong Wei’s credit, he equalised, and went on to win 21-18.

Strangely, that seemed to have taken the fight out of Lin Dan, whose challenge collapsed in the third game.

Catch the replay on www.badmintonworld.tv