SHAH ALAM: Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei ensured an all-Asian affair on the final day of the Celcom Axiata Malaysia Open Superseries Premier when he defeated Dane Jan O Jorgensen in the semifinals here today.
Jorgensen was the only remaining non-Asian player in the semifinals after men's doubles duo Mads Conrad Petersen-Mads Piefer Kolding and mixed doubles pair Joachim Fischer Nielsen-Christinna Pedersen lost their matches earlier today.
The second seeded Chong Wei also paved the way for a thrilling men's singles final tomorrow against world No.1 Chen Long, who received a nasty scare from young Indonesian qualifier. Christie Jonatan.
Chong Wei won his match 21-7, 21-14 while Chen Long laboured to a 8-21, 21-19, 21-14 win over Christie. "I won against Chen Long the last two times we played, but it's hard to say these days. It depends how things work out on the day itself.
"Men's singles matches are all tough these days. It's like in tennis, Federrer and Nadal can also lose in the early rounds."
Chen Long holds a slight edge over Chong Wei in the head-to-head battle which stands at 12-11.
Chen Long turned out to be the only topseed to qualify for the final tomorrow. Two other topseeds – China's mixed doubles duo, Zhang Nan-Zhao Yunlei and South Korea's men's doubles pair, Lee Yong Dae-Yoo Yeon Seong – both crashed out today.
Zhang Nan-Yunlei fought for over an hour but it was the Malaysian pair of Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying who won 24-26, 21-15, 21-13. "This is our first win against them after 10 losses. It feels good to have finally beaten them," said Peng Soon, who added that they had hoped for a good result today.
Yong Dae-Yeon Seong meanwhile were knocked out of contention by compatriots Kim Gi Jung-Kim Sa Rang who are seeded fifth.
Earlier today, Chinese Taipei's Tai Tzu Ying pulled off a major coup when she stunned India's third seeded Saina Nehwal. She will meet Thailand's Ratchanok Inthanon in the final.
Her final opponent, Ratchanok was in equally awesome form and did not have much problems gunning down China's Wang Yihan in the otehr semifinal clash. "I was very determined to beat Yihan today. I was just tired of losing to her all the time," said the 21-year-old Ratchanok.
SELECTED RESULTS (Semifinals)
Men's singles
1-Chen Long (chn) vs Christie Jonatan (Ina) 8-21, 21-19, 21-14
2-Lee Chong Wei (Mas) bt 5-Jan O Jorgensen (Den) 21-7, 21-14
Men's doubles
4-Chai Biao-Hong Wei (Chn) bt Mads Conrad-Petersen-Mads Pieler Kolding (Den) 26-14, 21-19
5-Kim Gi Jung-Kim Sa Rang (Kor) bt 1-Lee Yong Dae-Yoo Yeon Seong (Kor) 21-16, 21-12
Women's singles
4-Ratchanok Inthanon (Tha) bt 6-Wang Yihan (Chn) 21-11, 21-19
Tai Tzu Ying (Tai) bt 3-Saina Nehwal (Ind) 21-19, 21-13
Women's doubles
7-Jung Kyung Eun-Shin Seung Chan (Kor) vs 2-Maheswari Nitya Krishinda-Greysia Polii (Ina) 21-16, 21-14
5-Tang Yuanting-Yu Yang (chn) bt Shizuka Matsuo-Mami Naito (Jpn) 21-15, 21-18
Mixed doubles
Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying (Mas) bt 1-Zhang Nan-Zhao Yunlei (Chn) 24-26, 21-15, 21-13
2-Tontowi Ahmad-Liliyana Natsir (Ina) bt 6-Joachim Fischer Nielsen-Cristinna Pedersen 21-18, 21-17
Final Fixtures
Men's singles: Chen Long vs Lee Chong Wei
Women's singles: Ratchanok Inthanon vs Tai Tzu Ying
Men's doubles: Kim Gi Jung-Kim Sa Rang vs Chai Biao-Hong Wai
Women's doubles: Tang Yuanting-Yu Yang vs Jung Kyung Eun-Shin Seung Chan
Mixed doubles: Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying vs Tontowi Ahmad-Liliyana Natsir
