Lee Chong Wei is awesome! He has beaten Lin Dan in the Swiss Open in Basel on Sunday. Actually, I didn't watch the tournament. Did Lin Dan throw his racquet??? This an article by K.M. Boopathy which I adopt from New Strait Times online news reading.
WORLD No 1 Lee Chong Wei produced a breathtaking show to neutralise Olympic champion Lin Dan's power play while men's doubles Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong put up a top class performance to clinch the Swiss Open in Basel yesterday.
Chong Wei, after going down to the World No 2 from China in the All England final, was hardly given any chance of turning the tables but the Malaysian had his own script and ended a three-match losing streak by registering a 21-16, 21-16 win in 52 minutes and in grand style.
The victory will act as a confidence booster for Chong Wei as this is the first time since the 2007 Japan Open that he has beaten Lin Dan to capture a title.
Kien Keat-Boon Heong avenged their defeat to Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen in the quarter-finals of the All England as they registered a brilliant 21-14, 21-18 win over the Danes in 39 minutes.
The Malaysians have gone without winning a Super Series title since the Denmark Open triumph in 2007 and the victory could become a turning point in their roller-coaster career.
"Chong Wei's defence was very good and he was sending every return deep to the baseline while Lin Dan wasn't that sharp today (yesterday)," Rashid Sidek said.
"There was no pressure today and he played freely. Lin Dan was making unforced errors and eventually gave up after failing to penetrate Chong Wei's defence."
Chong Wei, in a telephone interview from Basel, said remaining calm during the final was the key to his win.
"I had a discussion with my coach (Misbun Sidek) after the All England and he advised me to stay patient while playing Lin Dan. That's what actually helped me today (yesterday)," said Chong Wei.
"In the All England, I was trying to attack too much and I couldn't sustain that. That's why I decided to be patient and I managed to rattle Lin Dan."
Lin Dan's start was, as usual, ferocious and his attacking play took him to a 7-2 lead and then stretched it to 13-9 to stay in control.
However, the tide changed at that juncture when Chong Wei took five points on the trot with his stout defending to lead 14-13.
Chong Wei's patient rallies made the difference as Lin Dan became edgy and started making uncharacteristic errors.
The Malaysian pulled ahead to 20-15 and there was only one winner at that stage.
The second game was virtually a repeat with Lin Dan setting the early pace but once Chong Wei got his nose in front, he smelt victory and there was no denying the Malaysian his night of glory.
Chong Wei had finally found a way to outplay Lin Dan as it has been long time since the Olympic champion was forced into submission by a strong display of defence.
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