Saturday December 25, 2004
Chong Wei beats Hafiz easily to make it a hat-trick of titles
BY LIM TEIK HUAT
IPOH: Just 35 minutes. That's all it took for the country's number one singles player Lee Chong Wei to demolish Mohd Hafiz Hashim and earn a hat-trick of titles in the National Badminton Grand Prix Finals at the Indera Mulia Stadium here yesterday.
Kuala Lumpur’s Anita Raj Kaur also made it a memorable Finals when she became the first non-Chinese national champion, beating young Lydia Cheah in the women’s singles final.
Penangite Chong Wei played a superb attacking game to win 15-7, 15-3 in the final of the men’s singles event and claimed his third straight national title after victories in 2003 and 2002.
VICTORY CELEBRATION: Lee Chong Wei does a jig after hiw won over Hafiz Hashim gave him his third consecutive Grand Prix title. His achivement equals that of coach Misbun Sidek.- Starpic by Saiful Bahari.
And Chong Wei did a jig to celebrate his achievement. He certainly had reason to be happy.
He had not only maintained his three-year unbeaten run at home but has now emulated his coach Misbun Sidek's feat of winning the title three times in a row.
Misbun won the title for three straight years from 1981 to 1983. He was also national champion in 1986 and 1987.
Yesterday, Chong Wei was sharp in attack and strong in defence and Hafiz never had any chance. The 22-year-old picked up four points from just the opening service.
With Chong Wei dictating the pace, he extended his lead to 10-5 and gave away just two points before romping home at 15-7.
Chong Wei never got on the wrong footing in the second game. He was ahead at 4-1, then 10-1 and eventually cruised home to victory at 15-3.
Chong Wei, who also beat Hafiz in the Malacca and Selangor Opens this year, said the final yesterday was the easiest win over his rival and yet the most meaningful.
“I have kept my unbeaten streak going. I was the national number one and I had reason not to lose here.
“I wanted to defend my title badly because this was where I started making a name for myself (in 2002),†said Chong Wei, who took home a winner's cheque of RM7,000.
Chong Wei, who qualified for his first Olympics in Athens this year, said Hafiz also did not play well and it made his task easier.
Hafiz admitted that he just could not make any headway yesterday.
“My movement was slow. I also made a lot of mistakes. I tried to play lob but the shuttle just went out. Maybe, I am a little bit tired because I competed in many tournaments before this,†said Hafiz.
The mixed doubles pair of Gan Teik Chai-Fong Chew Yen earned the national title with a hard fought victory over favourites Koo Kien Keat-Chin Eei.
Teik Chai-Chew Yen ended Kien Keat-Eei Hui's unbeaten streak in the local circuit with a 12-15, 17-14, 15-7 win.
Kien Keat-Eei Hui, the Taiwan Open champions, had been unbeaten at home since they paired up four months ago.
Teik Chai-Chew Yen took home RM3,200 in prize money.
But Kien Keat had a consolation in the men's doubles. He teamed up with Chan Chong Ming to beat Lin Woon Fui-Mohd Fairuzizuan 15-8, 15-13.
Chong Wei beats Hafiz easily to make it a hat-trick of titles
BY LIM TEIK HUAT
IPOH: Just 35 minutes. That's all it took for the country's number one singles player Lee Chong Wei to demolish Mohd Hafiz Hashim and earn a hat-trick of titles in the National Badminton Grand Prix Finals at the Indera Mulia Stadium here yesterday.
Kuala Lumpur’s Anita Raj Kaur also made it a memorable Finals when she became the first non-Chinese national champion, beating young Lydia Cheah in the women’s singles final.
Penangite Chong Wei played a superb attacking game to win 15-7, 15-3 in the final of the men’s singles event and claimed his third straight national title after victories in 2003 and 2002.
VICTORY CELEBRATION: Lee Chong Wei does a jig after hiw won over Hafiz Hashim gave him his third consecutive Grand Prix title. His achivement equals that of coach Misbun Sidek.- Starpic by Saiful Bahari.
And Chong Wei did a jig to celebrate his achievement. He certainly had reason to be happy.
He had not only maintained his three-year unbeaten run at home but has now emulated his coach Misbun Sidek's feat of winning the title three times in a row.
Misbun won the title for three straight years from 1981 to 1983. He was also national champion in 1986 and 1987.
Yesterday, Chong Wei was sharp in attack and strong in defence and Hafiz never had any chance. The 22-year-old picked up four points from just the opening service.
With Chong Wei dictating the pace, he extended his lead to 10-5 and gave away just two points before romping home at 15-7.
Chong Wei never got on the wrong footing in the second game. He was ahead at 4-1, then 10-1 and eventually cruised home to victory at 15-3.
Chong Wei, who also beat Hafiz in the Malacca and Selangor Opens this year, said the final yesterday was the easiest win over his rival and yet the most meaningful.
“I have kept my unbeaten streak going. I was the national number one and I had reason not to lose here.
“I wanted to defend my title badly because this was where I started making a name for myself (in 2002),†said Chong Wei, who took home a winner's cheque of RM7,000.
Chong Wei, who qualified for his first Olympics in Athens this year, said Hafiz also did not play well and it made his task easier.
Hafiz admitted that he just could not make any headway yesterday.
“My movement was slow. I also made a lot of mistakes. I tried to play lob but the shuttle just went out. Maybe, I am a little bit tired because I competed in many tournaments before this,†said Hafiz.
The mixed doubles pair of Gan Teik Chai-Fong Chew Yen earned the national title with a hard fought victory over favourites Koo Kien Keat-Chin Eei.
Teik Chai-Chew Yen ended Kien Keat-Eei Hui's unbeaten streak in the local circuit with a 12-15, 17-14, 15-7 win.
Kien Keat-Eei Hui, the Taiwan Open champions, had been unbeaten at home since they paired up four months ago.
Teik Chai-Chew Yen took home RM3,200 in prize money.
But Kien Keat had a consolation in the men's doubles. He teamed up with Chan Chong Ming to beat Lin Woon Fui-Mohd Fairuzizuan 15-8, 15-13.
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