Birdievents.com

World No 1 Lee Chong Wei suffered another heartbreak at the hands of China’s Chen Long when he lost 15-21, 18-21 in the men’s singles final of the Denmark Open here yesterday.  And immediately after the loss, Chong Wei declared that the 22-year-old Chen Long has now become a genuine challenger aside from Lin Dan of China for next year’s Olympic Games in London.

Chong Wei had hoped for a revenge after losing to Chen Long in the final of the Japan Open last month but to his surprise, the Chinese turned out to be a much tougher opponent.

While the Malaysian was slower than usual, the Chinese took full control of the match from the start with his excellent court coverage, superiority at the net and solid attacking play.

Undoubtly, top seed Chong Wei had some good tricks up his sleeve but it was Chen Long, who had held all the aces to romp home a convincing winner in straight games.

It was Chong Wei’s 10th final of the year but probably his weakest performances so far.

The Malaysian was disappointed that the world number three Chen Long had prevented him from winning his seventh title twice in a month. Chong Wei had won six titles – the Super Series Masters Finals, Malaysia Open, All-England, India Open, Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold and Indonesia Open this year

“I have to admit that he has turned out to be a tough opponent for me. He is so full of confidence and it has just become tougher to beat him,” said a dejected Chong Wei, who just turned 29th on Friday.

“He had read my game well. He displays better control and makes less mistakes. His game has become more polished.

“Right now, he has become a real challenger for me for the Olympic Games. My rival is no longer Lin Dan alone,” said Chong Wei.

Despite the setback, Chong Wei is ready to make amends at the France Open which begins in Paris on Wednesday.

“My priority is the major event. I will stay focused and try to bounce back from this defeat. Even Lin Dan lost to a unheralded player here in Denmark. So, it is time to put this defeat behind and stay focused in what is more important to me – the Olympic Games next year,” he added.

China, also went back home with two other titles when they maintain their supremacy in the women’s events when Wang Xin and Wang Xiaoli-Yu Yang bagged the singles and doubles titles events respectively.

However, the badminton powerhouse were denied from making a clean sweep when Denmark’s Joachim Fischer Nielsen-Christinna Pedersen and Lee Yong-dae-Jung Jae-sung emerged as the mixed doubles and men’s doubles champions respectively.

Jan Ø. Jøergensen should have played his third round here at Denmark Open today after having defeated 5. Seeded Du Pengyu yesterday, but is now out of the tournament on a count of heart problems and Chen Long wins on walkover. Jan Ø. Jørgensen had tests this morning and even though the scans were fine one of the blood tests was irregular and doctors have advised Jan not to play this evening.

Doctors are not yet sure what is wrong but according to the player himself it is some kind of virus on the heart.

-        -  Last weekend I was out to dinner and I noticed some extra activity. My heart started pounding af my throat constricted. It was very uncomfortable. As a consequence I called my doctor and scheduled some tests.

-It’s really a shame; I am not in luck at the moment which is annoying because I really wanted to play. On the bright side I am still undefeated at Denmark Open, he jokes.

This evening Jan Ø. Jørgensen is going to be admitted at Gentofte Hospital for observation. It is not yet certain for how long.

Of course Jan is unhappy that he misses out on Denmark Open but says.

-         -  I don’t know it’s going to affect my carrier or my participation in the upcoming tournaments. I need to sort this out and everything else is of no importance. When something like this happens badminton becomes very small concerne.

Lin Dan, who was hoping to bounce back after disappointing performances at the Li Ning China Masters and Yonex Open Japan, had no answer to Hong Kong’s Wong Wing Ki’s, aggressive play.

Surprisingly, this was the first meeting between the players in an Open tournament and Wing Ki stunned Lin Dan with some brilliant smashes and nimble net play.

The unseeded Hong Kong star registered a three-game 21-10, 17-21, 21-19 victory in 58 minutes to leave the crowd stunned that one of the games’ greatest ever players will not be contesting for the chance to become a four-time winner in Denmark.

The fans, however, will be delighted that defending champion Jan O Jorgensen and veteran Peter Gade, playing in his final Denmark Open before retirement, made it to the quarter-finals.

They will be joined by world junior champion Viktor Axelsen, who will meet Gade for a place in the semi-finals.

Jorgensen, who defeated China’s Du Pengyu on Thursday, faces his sternest test thus far when he lines up against China’s Chen Long, who is searching for this third consecutive OSIM BWF World Superseries title following wins in China and Japan.

The tightest contest could be between world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei and 2010 world champion Chen Jin in the top half of the draw. The Malaysian, who has reached the final of every Open tournament he has played in this year, has an 8-2 winning record against his Chinese opponent.

The other semi-final is between Japan’s Sho Sasaki and Wing Ki.

Baun, who won this tournament two years ago when she was still known as Tine Rasmussen – she changed her name after getting married – joined the list of players to be beaten by the young brigade in this tournament.

Earlier in the day, former world and Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat in the men’s singles and India’s Saina Nehwal in the women’s singles, were defeated by 17-year-olds Axelsen and Tai Tzu Ying respectively.

In Baun’s case, it was Thailand’s two-time world junior champion Inthanon Ratchanok, also 17, who dominated en-route to a comprehensive 21-16, 21-15 victory in only 37 minutes.

Baun’s, defeat means the three players the dominant Chinese female players fear the most – Baun, Germany’s Juliane Schenk and Nehwal – all failed to reach the quarter-finals.

China’s three Wangs – world champion Wang Yihan, who won here last year, Wang Shixian and Wang Xin – all reached the last eight, as did compatriots Li Xuerui and 2006 champion Jiang Yanjiao.

Tzu Ying will meet Inthanon for a place in the semi-finals while South Korea’s Sung Ji Hyun is the other non-Chinese in the last four.