Jaguh badminton negara, Datuk Lee Chong Wei, sekali lagi akan berhadapan cabaran getir apabila bertemu pemain nombor satu dunia, K. Srikanth, dalam suku akhir Kejohanan Badminton Asia di Wuhan, China, esok.
Dalam aksi pusingan kedua hari ini, Chong Wei yang pernah menjuarai kejohanan itu pada 2006 dan 2016, terpaksa mengambil masa sejam sebelum mengalahkan pemain Indonesia, Anthony Sinisuka Ginting, 16-21, 21-9, 21-11.
Chong Wei, yang kini berada di ranking ketujuh dunia, perlu bekerja keras untuk mara ke saingan seterusnya jika dilihat kepada prestasinya menentang pemain nombor satu dunia itu dalam Sukan Komanwel 2018 di Gold Coast, 4-15 April lalu.
Dalam aksi di Gold Coast, Chong Wei tewas kepada Srikanth dalam acara berpasukan campuran sebelum berjaya membalas dendam ke atas pemain berusia 25 tahun itu untuk meraih pingat emas kategori perseorangan lelaki.
Turut melangkah ke suku akhir ialah beregu lelaki, Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong, yang mencatat kemenangan ke atas beregu Indonesia, Berry Angriawan-Hardianto, 21-16, 21-18 untuk bertemu beregu pilihan ketiga dari Jepun, Takeshi Kamura-Keigo Sonoda.
Bagaimanapun, dua pasangan beregu negara mengalami nasib berbeza apabila beregu wanita, Soong Fie Cho-Tee Jing Yi, dan beregu campuran, Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie, tewas kepad lawan masing-masing dalam pusingan kedua.
Fie Cho-Jing Yi tumpas kepada beregu China, Du Yue-Li Yinhui, 18-21, 10-21 manakala Soon Huat-Shevon terpaksa akur dengan kekalahan 16-21, 24-26 kepada beregu Indonesia, Ricky Karandasuwardi-Debby Susanto.
-- BERNAMA
Penulis Jemputan
Thu Apr 26 2018
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