KUALA LUMPUR: Shuttler Chong Wei Feng is determined to keep his unbeaten run in local tournaments this year – just like world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei.
On Sunday, the 26-year-old Wei Feng recovered from a sluggish start to beat Chong Yee Han 21-18, 21-10 for the men’s singles title in the Kuala Lumpur Open at the Kuala Lumpur Badminton (KLBA) Stadium in Cheras. In June, Wei Feng was the winner of the Kedah Open, the opening leg of the National Circuit.
Now, he has set his sights on winning the National Grand Prix Finals in Putrajaya from Dec 27-30.
In the absence of Chong Wei, who has dominated the local scene for a decade, the battle to be crowned the new local king is quite open this year.
Wei Feng is determined to keep a clean sheet this season.
“I have won two local titles this year. I am gunning for my third crown. Last year, Misbun Ramdan (Misbun) spoiled my hope of winning the GP Finals. This time, I intend to win it,” said Wei Feng.
“Chong Wei has dominated the local scene for a long time and it is time for me to take over. Hopefully, this will be start of better things.”
Wei Feng, however, gave credit to Yee Han, who was a surprised finalist.
Yee Han reached the final after beating close friend Tan Kian Meng, who had upset second seed Liew Daren on Friday.
“I had expected to meet Daren in the final, but these two back-up players upset the form books. Yee Han and Kian Meng have been training with us since January this year and it is good to see them show some improvements,” said Wei Feng.
“They, however, are still not physically strong. Kian Meng could not sustain his form after beating Daren while Yee Han also looked a spent-force today. They need to gain as much as experience as possible.”
On his next assignments at the Denmark Open (Oct 15-20) and French Open (Oct 22-27), Wei Feng said: “I will be meeting Nguyen Tien Minh of Vietnam (World Championships bronze medallist) in the first round in Denmark. I would rather focus on that match first.
“I have won on the local front, but I’m still looking for my first international title. I have not even won a Grand Prix Gold crown. It is my mission to achieve a breakthrough. I hope to achieve it soon.”
In the women’s singles, 22-year-old Tee Jing Yi maintained her position as the country’s top player when she fended off a strong challenge from Yang Li Lian to win 21-15, 22-20.
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