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Wei Feng gets his reward (pic)

Category: Badminton News

Published: 21 September 2012

Written by BadmintonPlanet.com Hits: 889

CHONG Wei Feng didn't let his good start in the Japan Open go to waste as he set up a quarter-final showdown with Lee Chong Wei in Tokyo yesterday.

Wei Feng, who toppled local favourite Kenichi Tago in the first round, defeated Ajay Jayaram of India 21-16, 21-16 while Chong Wei secured a 21-10, 21-12 victory over Viktor Axelsen of Denmark in the second round.

Men's doubles Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong celebrated their continued existence as a pair by crushing Thailand's Patiphat Chalardchalaem-Nipitphon Puangpuapech 21-8, 21-7 to advance to the last eight.

Retirement-Ready Taufik Crashes Out of Japan Open (pic)

Category: Badminton News

Published: 21 September 2012

Written by BadmintonPlanet.com Hits: 883

Tokyo. Athens Olympic gold medallist Taufik Hidayat's last attempt at winning the Japan Open ended in defeat on Friday, while women's top seed Tine Baun was another surprise quarter-final casualty.

The 31-year-old Hidayat, who has announced he will retire next year, bowed out to his Indonesian teammate Simon Santoso 9-21, 14-21 in Tokyo. He has never won the Japan Open, despite Olympic, world and Asian glory.

Baun meanwhile, who captured her first major title five years ago in the Japanese capital, crashed to a shock 21-17, 12-21, 18-21 defeat to sixth seed Porntip Buranaprasertsuk of Thailand.

There was no such trouble for the men's top seed, Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia, who defeated compatriot Chong Wei Feng 21-15, 21-15 in only 29 minutes to move closer to the title he won in 2007 and 2010.

BAM's decisions only raise more questions

Category: Badminton News

Published: 21 September 2012

Written by BadmintonPlanet.com Hits: 897

THE BA of Malaysia (BAM) is known for being lenient with players but it may have made a grave error in believing men's doubles Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong have what it takes to do well on the international scene, let alone win the World Championships title, in the next 12 months.

President Datuk Seri Nadzmi Salleh, in justifying the decision not to split the pair, said time and much money had been spent on them and felt that the investment would be repaid by the pair in next August's World Championships.

What Nadzmi missed out on was the fact that the additional funding that will be spent on Kien Keat-Boon Heong could well be utilised on the rising young pairs or on the new combination of Boon Heong-Goh V Shem, who have the potential to strike at the 2016 Olympics.

BAM has bent backwards numerous times to accommodate Kien Keat-Boon Heong, including their request for a change of coach when they fell out with Rexy Mainaky.

Tien Minh goes straight into the quarter-finals of Open Japan (pic)

Category: Badminton News

Published: 21 September 2012

Written by BadmintonPlanet.com Hits: 996

Nguyen Tien Minh continued his journey at the Japan Open Badminton Tournament by the second win over a young player from Malaysia - Daren Liew.

This was the second time in a month Minh faced Liew. Last time, he defeated the Malaysian rival at the Vietnam Open in August. Last year he passed Liew in the tournament at his home.

On the morning of September 20, Vietnam’s No. 1 badminton player Nguyen Tien Minh excluded his Malaysian rival Daren Liew in a tough match in round 2 of the Japan Open.

But the victory did not come easily to Tien Minh in his match yesterday. He encountered strong resistance from Daren Liew.

In this battle, Liew had very effective smashes. He had up to 21 points from smashes while Tien Minh had only 13 points from smashes. The smash shots helped Liew to get balance in the second set with the close score 23-21.

Winning start for Chong Wei (pic)

Category: Badminton News

Published: 20 September 2012

Written by BadmintonPlanet.com Hits: 940

LEE Chong Wei eased into competition mode again after the London Olympics with a flourish while Liew Daren and Chong Wei Feng also had impressive starts in the Japan Open in Tokyo yesterday.

Chong Wei thrashed Anand Pawar of India 21-13, 21-9 in 31 minutes and will meet Viktor Axelsen of Denmark, who overcame Suppanyu Avihingsanon of Thailand 21-13, 19-21, 21-19, in the second round today.

Daren was forced to work hard for his 17-21, 21-15, 22-20 win over Sai Praneet of India and plays Nguyen Tien Minh of Vietnam, who defeated Frenchman Brice Leverdez 21-19, 21-19 next.

Wei Feng upset fifth seed Kenichi Tago of Japan 8-21, 21-16, 21-17 and will have a quarter-final showdown with Chong Wei if he overcomes Ajay Jayaram of India today.