Chong Wei shown exit by Tago in Jakarta

World No.1 Lee Chong Wei stumbles as she crashes out of the semi-finals of the Indonesian Open losing to Kenichi Tago of Japan 16-21, 21-15, 16-21 in Jakarta on Saturday.

PETALING JAYA: Lee Chong Wei’s bid to reach his ninth straight Superseries final came to an end at the Indonesian Open.

In the men’s singles semi-finals in JakartaOn Saturday night, the world No. 1 surprisingly went down 16-21, 21-15, 16-21 to world No. 4 Kenichi Tago in 71 minutes. 

Chong Wei was an easy winner over the Japanese in the semi-finals at last week’s Japan Open, taking their head-to-head record to 17-1.

The defeat came as a blow to the 31-year-old, who made all the finals in the eights tournaments he competed in since last November. During the impressive run, he also managed to win six titles.

The loss also ended Chong Wei’s bid for a sixth Indonesian Open crown. The two-time Olympic silver medallist captured his first title in 2007, followed by a hat-trick from 2009 to 2011. Last year, he beat Germany’s Marc Zwibler for the crown.

Tago will take on Denmark’s Jan O Jorgensen in Sunday’s final.

Jorgensen, the world No. 3, finally broke his jinx against Chen Long of China. The European champion rose to the occasion to knock out the world No. 2 Chinese 21-19, 21-18 in 45 minutes. It was Jorgensen’s first win in seven meetings.

In the women’s singles, world No. 1 Li Xuerui of China will meet world champion Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand in the final.

Xuerui ended Thai Nichaon Jindapon’s gallant run with a 21-19, 21-10 win while Ratchanok stunned second seed Wang Shixian of China 19-21, 21-16, 21-13.