Winner Lee Chong Wei (R) of Malaysia and second placer Chen Long of China pose with their trophies after their men’s final match at the Malaysia Open Badminton Superseries in Shah Alam, Malaysia, Sunday. — AP
KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia’s badminton star Lee Chong Wei won his 11th Malaysian Open title Sunday, a much-needed boost for his pursuit of a still-elusive Olympic gold medal.
Lee cruised to victory with a flurry of devastating smashes against world No. 1 Chen Long from China, beating him 21-13, 21-8 in a match that lasted 42 minutes.
The world No. 4 shuttler was in fine form for the Malaysian competition after suffering early exits in the All England Championships and India Open in March.
“Many critics have said that I should retire after some poor performances. But I know within myself that I am capable of still producing the goods at the highest level and this win was the proof of that,” said Lee, 33. “I am happy to win another title here and this triumph certainly boosts my spirits ahead of the Olympics.”
Chen called Lee a role model for young Malaysian shuttlers and said he was happy to have qualified for the final.
“It is not easy for a player at his age to maintain a high-level performance year-in, year-out and you can see the crowd really appreciated that,” said Chen.
“I felt I played well, but it was my first time playing in this court and perhaps the drift was too strong.”
Lee had missed last year’s edition because of a suspension after testing positive for a banned anti-inflammatory substance at the world championships in Copenhagen in 2014.
But in April last year the Badminton World Federation said the former long-time world No. 1 had “accidentally” ingested the substance and handed him an eight-month backdated ban, which effectively allowed him to resume his career.
Lee, one of Malaysia’s most popular sports stars, has repeatedly fallen short in his pursuit of the sport’s top prizes — the world and Olympic titles — despite reaching three world championship finals and two Olympic deciders.
But he has set his sights firmly on crowning his career by winning his first Olympic title in Rio de Janeiro.
Taiwan’s ace badminton player Tai Tzu-ying had to settle for second place in the women’s singles after she was defeated in the final.
The 21-year-old lost to Ratchanok Inthanon of Thailand 21-14, 21-15 in straight sets.
Momota suspended
Japanese badminton player Kento Momota has been given an indefinite suspension for gambling, denying him a spot on the team for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
Momota, who is second in the world rankings, and teammate Kenichi Tago admitted to gambling at casinos in Japan, which are illegal. The Nippon Badminton Association announced the suspension Sunday.
The 21-year-old Momota became the first Japanese man to win a medal in a world badminton championships singles competition when he took bronze in Jakarta last August.
He had already passed the necessary qualifications to represent Japan in Rio, but will not be nominated by the badminton association. — Agencies
