Jakarta: Men’s singles No. 2 Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia kept his chances of an sixth title at Indonesia Open on track when he overpowered China’s Wang Zhengming in the first set of Indonesia Open quarter-final with 21-16 at the Istora Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta on Friday.
The flawless Lee barely broke a sweat as he eased into the semi-finals after Wang Zhengming retired after suffering a hamstring injury while Lee was leading 9-2 in the second set.
The Malaysian badminton superstar will play Indonesia’s Ihsan Maulana Mustofa next for a final berth.
Mustofa fought back after dropping a set against England’s Rajiv Ouseph to prevail with 17-21, 21-12, 21-12 in 56 minutes.
Nevertheless, No. 5 seed Jan O Jorgensen of Denmark was made to work for his place in the semi-finals after the Dane shook off the rust in his first set before taking control to complete a 14-21, 21-19, 21-14 victory in the quarter-finals.
Jorgensen will collide with China’s Tian Houwei in the semi-finals. Tian survived a major scare and was forced to ramp up his performance to beat Hu Yun of Hong Kong 14-21, 21-15, 21-18 in 59 minutes.
In men’s doubles event, Malaysia’s men’s doubles pair Goh V Shem/Tan Wee Kiong has fizzled out as they lost to China’s Chai Biao/Hong Wei 21-18, 21-17.
China’s Chai Biao/Hong Wei will play Denmark pair Mads Conrad-Petersen/Mads Pieler Kolding on Saturday.
South Korea’s World No. 1 men’s doubles pair Lee Yong Dae and Yoo Yeon Seong are looking to build more confidence ahead of the Rio Olympic when they will take on another Denmark pair Kim Astrup/Anders Skaarup Rasmussen of Denmark in the semi-finals.
