SINGAPORE OPEN 2012 R32 – One Wang, one Chen only hopes for Chinese singles

In the early matches today, both Du Pengyu and Han Li lost their singles matches.  The fate was just different for the China team in the afternoon as both Wang Zhengming and Chen Xiaojia won their matches to keep China’s singles hopes alive.

By Lee Suetyan, Badzine Correspondent, reporting live from Singapore.  Photos: Yves Lacroix for Badmintonphoto (live)

It is not uncommon for China to depend on a Wang and a Chen for singles badminton titles.  However, it is rare when these hopes are in men’s and women’s singles respectively.

In men’s singles, Wang Zhengming (pictured left) survived three tight games against Andre Kurniawan Tedjono (pictured below) of Indonesia. The second game was just awesome because neither player had been able wrap up the game even by 29-all. From 20 all to 21 all, to 22 all and then to 29 all, at last, Tedjono held his nerve to win back serve and then took the last point to level the match. But the luck did not last long and Tedjono lost a tight third game to mark his exit from this Superseries event.

Wang said after the match, “I am a bit upset after the second game because I didn’t control well at the last point. I should have won that last point so that I could avoid playing the third game.”

On the other hand, Chen Xiaojia, who is the only Chinese women’s singles shuttler left in this tournament, has booked herself a ticket into the round of 16 after defeating the 16-year-old rising star Sindhu P.V. from India. This means that she too is still carrying the responsibility to keep the Chinese flag flying.  Sindhu may have looked very dangerous in her home event,  the India Open, two months ago, but today she suffered an easy loss as the Indonesia Grand Prix Gold champion – seventh among Chinese shuttlers in the world women’s singles rankings – won it 21-16, 21-12 in just 36 minutes.

Despite having a successful outing, Chen Xiaojia refused to speak to the press after her match.  Sindhu, meanwhile, was obliging even after her bad luck on court, and spoke to Badzine at length (see Sindhu P. V. spotlight here).

Tommy stopped Ti-gress

Following the win of Sony Dwi Kuncoro this morning, Tommy Sugiarto from Indonesia has stopped the ‘Tiger’ Shon Wan Ho to progress into the second round after an hour and six minutes of long battle. Tommy shut the doors for the rising star from Korea, defeating him  21-16, 19-21, 21-15.

Meanwhile, Taufik Hidayat did not join the party of Sony and Tommy as he lost to the Malaysian Chong Wei Feng 21-17, 21-19.

“I don’t feel like I am in the top form today, but I played a good game,” said Taufik after the match.  “He played better than me today.  That’s why he clinched the victory.  I will be flying back to Indonesia tonight or tomorrow to prepare for the Olympic Games.

“This year’s Olympic Games is the most special for me because this is my last Olympics. My target for this coming Olympics is to win a medal.  It doesn’t matter which colour.”

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