SHANGHAI: Denmark’s rising star Jan O Jorgensen continues to make the world of badminton sit up and take notice of him.
The 21-year-old scored his biggest career win yesterday, beating world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei 21-6, 13-21, 21-17 in the first round of the China Open.
“I just had hoped to do something against him. When I took the first game, I knew I had a chance because he looked a bit stiff,” said Jorgensen.
“I always go into the game thinking that I have a chance to win. I think, that is one of my strengths. I always believe in myself.”
The world No. 12 now holds a 1-2 record against Chong Wei after having lost to the Malaysian in the Swiss Open and Sudirman Cup this year.
Chong Wei is not the only big scalp claimed by Jorgensen this year. Jorgensen beat Park Sung-hwan of South Korea at the world championships in August and last month and became the first Dane in 10 years to beat compatriot Peter-Gade Christensen in a Denmark Open.
With his steady rise in form, the Dane is seen as the successor to Christensen. And he has big dreams.
“I am hoping to become the top European singles player to put pressure on all the Asian players,” said the lanky Dane, whose idols are Christensen and Indonesian Taufik Hidayat.
