Paris: The three-time Olympic silver medalist Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia was knocked out of the tournament by 23-year-old Kenta Nishimoto of Japan in the first round of the French Open on Wednesday.
After losing to Frenchman Brice Leverdez in the first round of World Championships in August, the Malaysian was knocked out by H. S. Prannoy of India in the second round of the Denmark Open last week, and now another early exit at the French Open. Perhaps the training methods and techniques applied by his coach Misbun Sidek are no longer working?
According to Malaysia’s men’s singles coach Hendrawan, Lee was unsure and confused in making decisions on court.
“The Japanese player was able to take control of the match because of Chong Wei’s hesitation,” said Hendrawan.
“After disappointments at the Denmark and French Opens, we are going to rest Chong Wei for a while because now he seems to lose focus very easily and makes a lot of errors,” added Hendrawan.
Meanwhile, Indian shuttler H.S. Prannoy was able to outlast last week’s Denmark Open runner-up Lee Hyun-Il 21-15, 21-17 in the first round. Prannoy will meet Denmark’s Hans-kristian Solberg Vittinghus in the second round.
Hans-kristian Solberg Vittinghus on the other hand, also pulled off a huge upset in the French Open first round. The Dane stunned second seed Son Wan Ho of Korea 21-16, 21-19 in 42 minutes.
In women’s singles, top seed Tai Tzu Ying, second seed P. V. Sindhu, Saina Nehwal, Akane Yamaguchi, Carolina Marin and Ratchanok Intanon were all safely through to the second round.
Meanwhile, both Malaysia’s scratch pairs Goh V Shem/Teo Ee Yi and Ong Yew Sin/Tan Wee Kiong were able to advance to the second round. Goh/Teo will take on reigning world champion and last week’s Denmark Open champions Liu Cheng/Zhang Nan next, while Ong/Tan will meet No. 2 seeds Mathias Boe/Carsten Mogensen on Thursday.
