Hong Kong: Reigning China Open champion Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia will potentially have to face world No. 1 Chen Long in the quarter-finals, and two-time Olympic champion, five-time world champion Lin Dan in the semi-finals if he is to reach the Hong Kong Open final for the fifth time in his career.
The unseeded Lee will open with a clash against No. 8 seed Indonesia’s Tommy Sugiarto, and Chen Long will face Ajay Jayaram of India on Wednesday while No. 3 seed Lin Dan will begin his campaign against Ihsan Maulana Mustofa of Indonesia. Lee could see German Marc Zwiebler in the second round and his slated quarter-finals opponent would be Chen Long. A win over Chen would then see Lee meet arch rival Lin Dan in the semi-finals.
The other half features No. 2 seed Jan Jorgensen, No. 4 seed Kento Momota, No. 6 seed Kidambi Srikanth, No. 7 seed Viktor Axelsen, and defending champion Son Wan Ho.
Saina Nehwal and Wang Shixian’s absence from the Hong Kong Open creates a big opportunity for No. 1 seed Carolina Marin to bag her fifth Super Series title of the year in Hong Kong. The 22-year-old world champion was knocked out in the quarter finals of the last week’s China Open by former world number one Wang Shixian of China. However, Marin faces a tough opening match against P.V Sindhu of India on Wednesday, and may face No. 8 seed Wang Yihan in the semi-finals.
Besides Lee Chong Wei, Chong Wei Feng is another Malaysian men’s singles player who entered the main draw. Tee Jing Yi became the sole Malaysian women’s singles shuttler in the tournament, while Goh V Shem/Tan Wee Kiong, Hoon Thien How/Lim Khim Wah and Tan Boon Heong/Koo Kien Keat will kick off their bid for the Hong Kong Open men’s doubles title on Wednesday.
