* Newly-crowned SEA Games champion fell to little-known Christian Lind Thomsen
* US Open champion Chong Wei continues his winning ways
Just when many thought newly crowned SEA Games champion Chong Wei Feng will be motivated to launch his Olympic qualifying campaign on a winning note, the Malaysian fell to an embarrassing straight set defeat to little known Christian Lind Thomsen of Denmark in the first round in the Yonex Canada Open in Calgary.
The Malaysian, ranked No 40 in the world succumbed to a shock 15-21, 20-22 defeat to the Dane who is ranked No 94 in 48 minutes.
However, former World No 1 Datuk Lee Chong Wei, who won the US Open in New York last week, kept his momentum going when he demolished Canadian Antonio Li with a whirlwind 21-16, 21-9 win in only 20 minutes.
In the second round Chong Wei (seeded 14) will face China’s Shi Yuqi who was a 21-9, 21-14 winner over India’s R.M.V. Gurusaidutt.
Wei Feng, who was seeded No 8 in the Canadian Open, was expected to go far in Canada after his triumph in Singapore in the regional games which ended Malaysia’s 14-year wait to win the men’s singles gold to kick-start his Olympic chase.
Top seed Marc Zwiebler of Germany also opened his campaign in the USD50,000 Canada Open with an easy 21-6, 21-8 win over Canadian qualifier Kevin Barkman.
Malaysia will also have a pair in the men’s doubles with privateers Hoon Thien How-Lim Khim Wah out to make amends after their shock exit in the first round in the US Open.
SELECTED FIRST ROUND RESULTS
Men’s singles
Lee Chong Wei (Mas) beat Antonio Li (Can) 21-16, 21-9
Christian Lind Thomsen (Den) beat Chong Wei Feng (Mas) 21-15, 22-20
Shi Yuqi (Chn) beat RMV Gurusaidutt (Ind) 21-9, 21-14
Anand Pawar (Ind) beat Nicholas Walker (Can) 21-9, 21-10
Xue Song (Chn) beat Henri Hurskainen (Swe) 21-16, 21-16
Ajay Jayaram (Ind) beat Shih Kuei Chun (Tpe0 21-10, 21-19
