Lee Chong Wei’s hopes winning back-to-back tournament came to an abrupt end at the hands of Japan’s Kento Momota in the semi-finals in the USD1,250.000 Blibli Indonesia Open at Istora Gelora Bung Karno in Jakarta on Saturday.
 
With a 23-2, 21-12 win in 52 minutes, Momota thus gained sweet revenge for his 21-17, 23-21 defeat to Chong Wei in last week’s Malaysia Open. This is the fourth meeting between the two with the score tied at 2-2 in the head-to-head count.
 
Momota, trailed by seven points in the first game as Chong Wei took the break at 11-5. The Japanese, however, came back strong as he brought out his power-packed smashes, some nearing the 400kph mark, plus some beautiful net play to catch up at 17-17. 
From there on it was a point for point battle before Momota took the game at 23-21 in 29 minutes. In the second game, Chong Wei was left groping to check the hard-hitting Momota who wrapped up at 21-12.
In the final, Momota, who won the Indonesia Open title three years ago, will face world No 1 and top seed Viktor Axelsen of Denmark. The Dane had to fight from a game down to beat All-England champion and third seed Shi Yuqi of China 18-21, 21-14, 21-11.
Despite the defeat, the 35-year-old Chong Wei gave his 23-year-old opponent a tough fight that left Momota exhausted at the end of the match. For the record Chong Wei is six-time Indonesia Open champion – winning in 2007, 2009, 2020, 2011, 2013 and 2016. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
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