KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 16 (Bernama) — World No: 1 men’s singles shuttler Datuk Lee Chong Wei breezed in style to the semi-final of the USD$300,000 (RM1.07 million) Korea Open Super Series when he defeated Park Sung-hwan of South Korea at the 2nd Olympic Gymnasium, Bangi-Dong in Seoul today.
In the hour-long, quarter-final match, the Beijing Olympics silver medallist was stunned in the first game when the seventh seed Sung-hwan who capitalised on home-ground advantage, clinched a 21-18 win.
However, Malaysian Open champion Chong Wei did not lose his nerve and went on to win with ease, the second game 21-7.
In the rubber game, the 25-year-old Penangite endured stiff resistance from Sung-hwan.
Nevertheless, the backing from staunch home supporters was a plus factor for the Malaysian who went on to win the decider game 21-16.
With the all important win, Chong Wei who won his fifth Malaysian Open title on Sunday after beating Sung-hwan, is on track to lift his first ever, Korean Open title.
Chong Wei, who is the last man standing in the Malaysian team after men’s doubles Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah were edged out by Fang Chieh Min-Lee Sheng Mu of Taiwan 21-14, 22-20 in 26 minutes, in a quarter-final match.
In the semi-final tommorow, Chong Wei will take on seventh seed Przemyslaw Wacha of Poland who outclassed Chan Yan Kit of Hong Kong in straight sets 21-16, 21-16 in another quarter-final match.
In another semi-final match, third-seed Peter Gade Christensen of Denmark will take on eighth seed Simon Santoso of Indonesia.
In the quarter-final, Gade overwhelmed Shon Wan Ho of South Korea 21-13, 9-21, 21-17, while Simon Santoso beat compatriot Andre Kurniawan Tedjono 21-6, 21-8.
