i believe i too saw him in the draw, some time before the tourney began. he must have withdrawn last minute...
I will create tournament thread if I'm not busy Most BCers only pay attention to the big one, SS Premier, SS and BWF event Yup, Qiao Bin was drawn on top-half but he pulled out and replaced by local player.
ROUND OF 16 (03.00pm) => https://www.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/matches.aspx?id=37B0B597-B92D-4154-83D2-9DB40D722845 Biggest upset in men's singles second round witnessed 4th seed Jonatan Christie was sent packing by Indian underdog Aditya Joshi. According to INA media, Christie was under pressure in whole match and couldn't exploit his capability, a must win mindset as one of seeded player like a boomerang for current world number 19. Meanwhile tournament top contenders, Tanongsak and Huang Yuxiang disposed their opponents comfortably. Huang will find stern test today, another Indonesian young hopeful Anthony Ginting who often trouble the elite players in several high level tournament. Women's singles opening round saw one interesting clash between home promising star Pornpawee Chochuwong against Chinese back up Zhang Yiman, recent MAS Masters runner-up Chochuwong won three games in close contest. Her senior compatriots, Busanan Ongbamrungphan and Nitchaon Jindapol also progressed without much troubles. Local favourite Busanan will be tested by Chinese rival for a place in last eight, Gao Fangjie who involved in gruelling match particularly in first game to eliminate P. Chaiwan. Two Thailand pairs suffered early exit yesterday, WD third seed Kititharakul/Prajongjai were stunned by China relatively new combination, Bao YX/Yu XH, 14-21 / 21-8 / 16-21 and their mixed doubles, 8th seed Phuangphuapet/Kititharakul lost narrowly to Indonesian youngsters, Saputra/Islami, 21-5 / 19-21 / 19-21.
From Thestar.com ANGRY CHONG WEI LASHES OUT AT MORTEN AND BAM KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei has had it with what he regards as the “high-handed action” of Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) technical director Morten Frost. The two have had a very frosty relationship and it all boiled over yesterday – with Chong Wei saying he’s ready to quit BAM. And the straw that broke the camel’s back was the knee injury that Chong Wei suffered when he slipped and fell at the newly-opened Academy Badminton Malaysia in Bukit Kiara on Saturday. Chong Wei tore the medial collateral ligament (MCL) on his left knee and is ruled out of next month’s All-England. “I’ve lost my patience with Morten. This injury is the last straw,” said Chong Wei. “What’s even more hurtful was the way Morten handled my injury. “Instead of asking about my condition, he asked my coach (Hendrawan) whether I would retire ... why? “Doesn’t he want me to play on? I’m hurt.” Chong Wei said that he had told Hendrawan to inform Frost and BAM general manager Lawrence Chew about the slippery mat at the new court. The shuttler claims that the duo did not take action quick enough, thus resulting in him slipping and injuring himself. But Chong Wei’s unhappiness with Frost began way before all this. In fact, according to Chong Wei, it began during the build-up to the Rio Olympic Games when the Dane stopped the junior players from sparring with him. The three-time Olympic silver medallist questioned the rationale behind Morten’s decision to divide the men’s singles players into two groups. Hendrawan and Tey Seu Bock handle the first group, which includes Chong Wei, Indonesian coach Indra Wijaya handles the second group comprising juniors. “Morten does not want me to spar with the juniors ... why? When I was a junior, I sparred with my seniors. He did this even before the Olympic Games,” said Chong Wei. “And why break the team into two? Won’t the juniors benefit by sparring with the seniors? “He does not want to listen. Sports and politics should not mix, but I think Morten is doing just that. “There are other things too ... involving other players. Everyone is keeping quiet, but not me. “I’ve been upset with him for some time, but I didn’t make a hue and cry because of Hendrawan. “Hendrawan kept telling me to be patient and I respected that. “Now, I’ve lost my patience and I’m angry ... if there’s no solution, I’ll quit BAM.” Chong Wei later met BAM president Tan Sri Mohd Al-Amin Abdul Majid over dinner to discuss his future in the BAM. When contacted, Frost – who joined BAM in January 2015 – said: “It’s best that I don’t comment.” Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/sport/bad...-danes-highhanded-action/#UOYplyfZxmDIvUyQ.99
Gao Fangjie dropped G1, equalized with G2, was trailing more than half the way before she caught up and went ahead 17-16 but alas still lost it in the end to Busanan, 13-21,21-16,18-21.
What a contrast, G1, 21-18, g2,21-7, Chen Yufei beats Yeo Jia Min, a promising SIN young up-and-coming WS.
Kantaphon Wangcharoen is very good, beating INA youngster too, 25-23, 21-12. Another promising prospect for Thailand.
One of hopeful INA Trio, Ihsan Maulana Mustofa bites the dust, losing 21-19, 21-14 to 2016 WJC Bronze medalist, Lee Zii Jia.
Off-topic: Wang Yihan - Deng Xuan paying in the Purple League ! http://videostream.dn.ua/videopage/videoPage.php?g=c2J2b2JoK2F0Y3ZsbmhZ&c=en&i=eWlhaXVidGd1bA№f№f
Ahh what happened to Nitya KM? Many promising MS ousted already, Who'll clinch the title? The local hero TS?will Ginting ditch the "underperforming" sash? Or will it be someone amongst the underdogs? This is interesting, I like such tourneys, despite of lacking Mega Stars it is intriguing enough.