India Open Superseries champion, Datuk Lee Chong Wei opened his campaign Singapore with an easy 21-17, 21-15 win over Hong Kong’s Wei Nan in 40 minutes.
The 31-year-old World No 1 is gunning for his fourth title this season after winning the Malaysian Open, the prestigious All England before retaining his title in the India Open. He will now take on China’s Chen Yue Kun in the second round for a place in the quarter-finals.Yue Kun won his first round match against former national player Tan Chun Seang 21-13, 21-11.
Malaysia’s challenge in the women’s singles was wiped out in the first round when Tee Jing Yee lost to Thai ace Ratchanok Intanon 21-13, 21-13, Yang Li Lian lost to second seed Wang Yihan of China 21-9, 21-15 and Lydia Cheah came unstuck against Vietnam’s Vu Thi Trang, losing 21-15, 21-12.
It was a bad day for Malaysia in the men’s doubles when Malaysia Open champions Goh V Shem-Lim Khim Wah fell to Korea’s Kim Sa Rang-Yee Yeon Seong 21-17, 26-24 in 53 minutes.
Two weeks ago the Malaysians surrendered their title in the Yonex-Sunrise Malaysia Grand Prix Gold in Pasir Gudang. losing to Singaporeans Danny Chrisnanta-Chayut Triyachart in the final. In the India Open they failed to get past the second round.
Ow Yao Han-Tan Boon Heong also crashed in the first round after a three-set tussle with China’s Cai Yun-Kai Lu in their 22-24, 21-19, 21-18 defeat in 56 minutes.
The country’s top pair Hoon Thien How-Tan Wee Keong advanced to the second round after the fourth seeds won 21-18, 21-14 over Indonesians Wahyu Nayaka Arya-Ade Yusuf.
