Hong Kong: World number one Lee Chong Wei will not defend his title at the US$350,000 Hong Kong Open for the first time in almost a decade.
The world number one was in the initial entry list (released on October 17) for the US$350,000 tournament at Hong Kong Coliseum from November 18-23, but when organizers finalized the list over the weekend, his number one seed position was replaced by Chen Long of China, the world number two, while Jan O. Jorgensen of Denmark took the second seeding.
Lee, who celebrated his 32nd birthday last week, has won the men’s singles crown three times in Hong Kong since 2005, including an easy straight games victory over Sony Dwi Kuncoro of Indonesia last November.
Meanwhile, Lee’s longtime rival – two-time Olympics champion, Lin Dan, who are looking to gain sufficient ranking points as he prepares for his fourth Olympic campaign in 2016 will appear in the tournament.
China’s top three women’s singles shuttlers – Li Xuerui, Wang Shixian and Wang Yihan will also appear at the tournament.
