KUALA LUMPUR: Lee Chong Wei passed his first hurdle in Group A of the Super Series Finals by overcoming Hong Kong’s Ng Ka Long 21-14, 21-13 at the Hamdan Sports Complex in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates today.
National coach Tey Seu Bock said the win in Chong Wei’s first group match was important and a positive start for the World No 2 in his mission to win the prestigious tournament.
“He played very well and with confidence. He was also very focused throughout the match.
“He controlled the tempo of the match and I hope he can maintain such a momentum for the following matches,” said Seu Bock when contacted in Dubai.
Seu Bock said the rest day tomorrow will be used for the 35-year-old player to recover and be in the best physical condition to face South Korea’s Son Wan Ho in the final match of the group stage on Friday.
Chong Wei was scheduled to play Rio Olympics champion Chen Long in the second match, but the China player pulled out with a knee injury.
“Tomorrow Chong Wei will undergo light training as usual as part of his recovery and rehabilitation process. I hope he is just as fired up when he meets Wan Ho,” said Seu Bock, who replaced Hendrawan in Dubai after the coach from Indonesia failed to obtain a visa.
For the record, Chong Wei has never won the Super Series Final which has been held in Dubai since 2014, and this is the last year it will be held there.
In 2014, Chong Wei did not feature in the tournament as he was suspended following a doping case and in the following year he did not qualify for the Super Series finals. Last year he failed to make it past the group stage.
Chong Wei has won the Super Series Finals four times, his first being in 2008 in Kota Kinabalu, the following year in Johor Baru, 2010 in Taiwan, with his last win being four years ago in Kuala Lumpur.
Translated from Berita Harian