MALAYSIA GPG 2012 – Chong Wei makes it square

Lee Chong Wei bagged his 4^th title in his home Malaysia Grand Prix Gold tournament in Johor Bahru on Sunday, by defeating Sony Dwi Kuncoro. Thailand’s Busanan Ongbamrungphan took the women’s singles title, the only exception to an otherwise clean sweep by Malaysia.

By Raphaël Sachetat. Photos: Badmintonphoto (archives)

It was more than a 4th title that was the key lesson from the Malaysia Grand Prix Gold, but the fact that Chong Wei (photo) caught back up to Sony Dwi Kuncoro on their head-to-head stats. After this three-game win, Chong Wei is even at 5-5 in their long time rivalry. The Indonesian had always led their match to match battle apart from 2008, when the Malaysian was ahead 3-2.

This was probably in Chong Wei’s mind on Sunday, when he entered the court, knowing that Sony had been his nemesis all these years, and that, himself, was not 100%. And this maybe why the Indonesian wonder took the first game 21-17.

“It has been a long time since I played Sony. He used to play an aggressive game but now he rallies a lot and it took me some time to adapt to his style,” said Chong Wei to the New Straits Times. “So I started playing a more aggressive game and managed to take control of the match.”

He did take control and took it home rather easily in the last two games 21-8, 21-10.

“I have achieved my target of winning a fourth title and the focus now is on preparing for the Thomas Cup Finals where we will train a week at home and another week in China (Dongguan) before the event in Wuhan,” he added.

The Malaysian – whose racket is still up for auction for the charity organization Solibad –  expressed that he was hoping to be back at full speed for the Thomas Cup, but of course, with another rendez-vous in the back of his mind – London’s Olympics.

Malaysia’s good day had started earlier in the afternoon when Koo / Tan, Chin/Wong and Chan/Goh (Chan Peng Soon pictured) all bagged the Gold medal to make it an almost clean sweep for Malaysia

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Thai’s new pearl ?

In the women’s singles, Thailand’s Busanan Ongbamrungphan, only a junior, took the best off Japan’s Sayaka Takahashi (photo), 21-17, 22-20. The young Thai, who trains with the likes of Porntip, Ratchanok, Jindapol and other shuttlers of the “golden” generation from Thailand, had never won any major tournament and enters the senior stage with a bang.

Unseeded, Busanan enjoyed back to back victories over Aprilia Yuswandari and Xing Aiying before edging Takahashi in straight games, opening herself a bright future.

Final results

MS: Lee Chong Wei (MAS) bt Sony Dwi Kuncoro (INA) 17-21, 21-8, 21-10
WS: Busanan Ongbamrungphan (THA) bt Sayaka Takahashi (JPN): 21-17, 22-20
MD: Koo Kien Keat / Tan Boon Heong (MAS) bt Ow Yao Han / Chooi Kah Ming  (MAS) 21-15, 21-19
WD: Wong Pei Tty / Chin Eei Hui (MAS) bt Shinta Mulia Sari / Yao Lei (SIN) 21-18, 21-18
XD: Chan Peng Soon / Goh Liu Ying (MAS) bt Fadhilah Irfan / Anggraini Weni (INA): 21-12, 21-14

All results HERE