# Chong Wei beats Jorgensen for a mouth watering match against Lin Dan
# End of the road for Amelia Alicia-Fie Cho in the women’s doubles
Datuk Lee Chong Wei is in the semi-finals of the USD700,000 Thaihot China Open Superseries Premier in Fuzhou City after registering his 14th win over World No 2 and second seeded Jan O Jorgensen of Denmark in the quarter-finals on Friday.
The 33-year-old unseeded Malaysian who is ranked No 9 in the latest world rankings, however, was taken to three sets by the lanky Dane in their 15th encounter before winning 21-11, 11-21, 21-10 in 52 minutes.
Chinese superstar Lin Dan, a five-time world champion and two-time Olympic gold medallist, was also involved in a three-set encounter before he overcame Hong Kong’s Hu Yun in his quarter-final match. Lin Dan won the 52 minute battle 21-8, 10-21, 21-17 to set up the mouth-watering clash against Chong Wei.
The question on everyone’s lips is can the 33-year-old Malaysian do it at the Haixia Olympic Sports Center in the much awaited clash with the Chinese ace holding a 25-9 advantage in the head to head count.
The last time the two badminton rivals who are great buddies off the court saw Lin Dan walk away with a 21-17, 21-10 win in this year’s Yonex Japan Open in a second round match.
Chong Wei is Malaysia’s best hope in next year’s Rio Olympics but has yet to really hit form despite winning the French Open last month.
Top seed and hot favourite Chen Long, the current World No 1 is also in the semi-finals after brushing aside Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen 21-17, 21-13 to earn a semi-final match against Korean veteran Son Wan-ho.
Wan-ho fought a 79 minute battle before he subdued homester Shi Yuqi 21-19, 11-21, 21-18.
Malaysia’s hopes in the women’s doubles ended with the defeat of Amelia Alicia Anscell-Soong Fie Cho. The SEA Games champions fell to a 17-21, 12-21 defeat to top seeds Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi in 42 minutes.
Meanwhile in the women’s singles defending champion and top seed Saina Nehwal of India marched into the semi-finals straight set 21-16, 21-13 win over Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara.
The Indian will take on China’s seventh seed Wang Yihan who outlasted fourth seeded Tai Tzu Ying of Taiwan 21-18, 21-17 on a day when World No 1 and second seeded Carolina Marin of Spain suffered a defeat.
The reigning world champion was shown the exit by China’s Wang Shixian (seeded fifth) 21-13, 10-21, 21-10 in 69 minutes. Shixian will face compatriot Li Xuerui (seeded six) who knocked out Korea’s Sung Ji-hyun (3rd seed) 21-16, 21-13.
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Quarter-final Results (Selected)
Men’s Singles
Datuk Lee Chong Wei (Mas) beat Jan O Jorgensen (Den) 21-11, 11-21, 21-10
Chen Long (Chn) beat Viktor Axelsen (Den) 21-17, 21-13
Son Wan-ho (Kor) beat Shi Yuqi (Chn) 21-19, 11-21, 21-18
Lin Dan (Chn) beat Hu Yun (Hkg) 21-8, 10-2, 21-17
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Women’s Singles
Saina Nehwal (Ind) beat Nozomi Okuhara (Jpn) 21-16, 21-13
Wang Shixian (Chn) beat Carolina Marin (Spn) 21-13, 10-21, 21-10
Li Xuerui (Chn) beat Sung Ji-hyun (Kor) 21-16, 21-13
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Women’s Doubles
Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi (Jpn) beat Amelia Alicia Anscelly-Soong Fie Cho (Mas) 21-17, 21-12
