SS FINALS 2010 Day 4 – Third straight final for Chong Wei

Lee Chong Wei saw off a strong challenge from Thailand’s Boonsak Ponsana to stay on track for a third straight title at the Super Series Finals in Taipei.

By Don Hearn, Badzine Correspondent live in Taipei.  Photos: Badmintonphoto (live)

Lee Chong Wei (pictured) assured that both remaining Southeast Asian flags would still be flying on Sunday.  Boonsak Ponsana made a valiant effort to topple the king but Lee was just too strong and too consistent in the end and will have to be content on Sunday to watch two of his compatriots compete in the mixed doubles final.

As for Malaysia, the flag flying is no mere figure of speech, of course.  The Super Series Finals followed suit with the global norm for badminton tournaments as Saturday afternoon saw, and heard, the first appearance by a Malaysia boleh cheering section.

“I feel very good to be back in Taipei,” said Lee at the post-match press conference.  “It has been four years, I think, since I was here last but I really like Taipei.  I like the food.  It’s also nice because one of my friends arrived yesterday from Malaysia so it feels very good to be here.

“It is definitely more meaningful that the top 8 players are here this year.  Except Lin Dan is not here.

“For tomorrow, I will prepare the same no matter who I play.  They are both very tough.  Peter, of course, but also Chen Long is a good young player and up-and-coming.  He is very good at attacking.”

The afternoon began with All England champions Zhang Nan / Zhao Yunlei (pictured below) of China extending their streak to three matches against Korean challengers Ko Sung Hyun / Ha Jung Eun.

After dropping the first game, the Koreans tried to build up a lead early in the second but repeated errors by the Koreans, including serious misses on smashes by Ko Sung Hyun, allowed the Chinese to catch up.  Two more errors by Ko gave the Chinese the edge late in the game and they never gave it back, finishing the match 21-14, 21-19.

“We took about 3 weeks off after the Hong Kong Open so my swing is off and that’s what is responsible for my errors,” explained Ko afterward.  “We will be focussing more on the Malaysia Open and Korean Open Super Series events but when we were invited to play here, we of course couldn’t turn it down.”

Ko and Ha, like their opponents, in a way, are in the rather new position of being the number one mixed pairs on team that have always been strong in the discipline.  Ko confessed that he has found it difficult to adapt to the change from treating every win as a bonus to being expected to win.  Ha, on the other hand, said she had not found the same difficulty.

“It has been hard, though, to adapt to a new role as the mentors on the national team,” Ha added.  “Before it was always Hyo Jung and Kyung Won who were teaching the rest of us but now all the younger players are looking to me and Min Jung for that kind of guidance.”

Zhang and Zhao now await the winners of the other semi-final, an all-Thai affair.

For complete results from Day 4 of the BWF Super Series Finals, CLICK HERE

Come stay with us for the Super Series Finals at the Chateau de Chine.  Located at the heart of Sinjhuang City, Chateau de Chine Hotel is created to convey the vibrant and everlasting sense of traditional beauty. Inspired by the Art Nouveau style, Chateau de Chine hotel infuses the finest elegance of French design with an authentic touch of oriental aesthetics.   If you are looking for quality accommodation during the event or anytime you are visiting Taipei, check out their website here.