‘Good outings ahead for Choong Hann’

Discussion in 'Korean Open 2004 / Japan Open 2004' started by ants, Mar 30, 2004.

  1. ants

    ants Regular Member

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    NATIONAL singles coach Misbun Sidek has predicted that World Championships silver medallist Wong Choong Hann will peak at the Korea and Japan Opens.

    And as far as the draw for the US$180,000 (RM540,000) Japan Open is concerned, the path is clear for Choong Hann, barring a major drop in form, to reach at least the last four.

    While Choong Hann’s path looks a safe bet for a semi-final spot, brothers Roslin Hashim and Mohamed Hafiz are drawn to meet each other in the quarter-finals of the Japan Open, if they progress that far, that is.

    Choong Hann, given a first round bye, takes on team-mate Yeoh Kay Bin in the second round and should progress comfortably.

    In the third round, the World No 4 is expected to meet Indonesia’s Taufik Hidayat, his first big obstacle.

    The Indonesian has been struggling with his game, and should Choong Hann prevail, there is every likelihood of the Malaysian meeting China’s Chen Hong in the semi-finals.

    As for Roslin, he takes on Hong Kong’s naturalised Indonesian Yohan Hadikusumo in the first round, and should he win, will be up against Taiwan’s Chien Yu Hsiu.

    Korean dangerman and World No 2 Lee Hyun Il is expected to meet Roslin in the third round.

    Hafiz, however, faces a much tougher time as two of China’s players — Chen Yu and Bao Chunlai — stand in his way en route to a possible quarter-final meeting with big brother Roslin.

    Malaysia’s fifth representative in the singles, Lee Chong Wei is likely to play Chen Hong, whom he lost to in the final of the Malaysia Open last year, in the third round.

    In the men’s doubles, Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah have a first round bye, but will have to be at their best in the second round as they are tipped to meet Indonesia’s Tri Kusharyanto-Sigit Budiarto.

    Chan Chong Ming-Chew Choon Eng play Spain’s Sergio Llopis-Jose Antonio Crespo in the first round and a win against the Spaniards will see the Malaysians facing Swiss Open champions Fu Haifeng-Cai Yun of China.
     

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