Chong King rules Hellas Open in major breakthrough

A one-two finish: Lim Chong King (left) and Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin posing with their medals after the men’s singles final of the Hellas Open in Greece on Sunday.

PETALING JAYA: Three tournaments were all rising star Lim Chong King needed to earn his international breakthrough at the Hellas Open in Greece.

The 19-year-old lived up to his tag as the future national men’s singles star by triumphing 8-21, 21-13, 21-15 against Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin in the all-Malaysian final yesterday.

The Greece outing was only Chong King’s third international outing of the year after he reached the second round of the Vietnam International Challenge in April and semi-finals of the Malaysian International Series in June.

“I’m quite surprised... I certainly didn’t expect to win my first international title so soon.

“It’s no easy feat really as I had to play two matches in a day (the tournament only started on Thursday).

“I’m so tired but it’s worth all the sweat now, ” said Chong King.

On his win over teammate Aidil, Chong King added: “We had a fair share of wins against each other during our training matches but we really took the battle to the next level today (yesterday) as there’s so much at stake.

“None of us wanted to miss out on our first title.

“Aidil got off to a really good start but I’m glad that I stayed composed and opted not to rush. After the first game, I could see that he began to slow down and I took advantage of that.”

The victory proved that Chong King has raced ahead of his peers – Aidil and Ng Tze Yong – in the early stage of their senior careers.

The trio were promoted to the senior team last December.

Tze Yong also played in the tournament but was eliminated in the semi-finals.

S. Kisona made it a double joy for Malaysia when she powered past Thet Htar Thuzar of Myanmar 21-14, 21-9 to claim the women’s singles crown.

It was Kisona’s fourth satellite level title having previously won the Malaysian International Series in 2017 and 2018 and Indonesian International Series in 2017.

Kisona was pleased to return to winning ways after recovering from her knee injury in April.

“It was a stressful and hard journey but I chose to stay strong.

“It’s nice to become a champion again. I just wish that I can continue being consistent after this and perform even better in the coming tournaments, ” she said.

Up next for the back-up shuttlers is the Bulgarian Open, which begins today.

Men’s singles: Lim Chong King (Mas) bt Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin (Mas) 8-21, 21-13, 21-15.

Men’s doubles: Eloi Adam-Julien Maio (Fra) bt Oliver Leydon-Davis-Abhinav Manota (Nzl) 21-18, 21-18.

Women’s singles: S. Kisona (Mas) bt Thet Htar Thuzar (Mya) 21-14, 21-9.

Women’s doubles: Vimala Heriau-Margot Lambert (Fra) bt Anastasiya Prozorova-Valeriya Rudakova (Ukr) 21-13, 21-16.

Mixed doubles: Fabien Delrue-Vimala Heriau (Fra) bt Pawel Smilowski-Magdalena Swierczynska (Pol) 17-21, 21-19, 21-15.

FINAL RESULTS

Men’s singles: Lim Chong King (Mas) bt aidil sholeh ali sadikin (Mas) 8-21, 21-13, 21-15. Men’s doubles: Eloi adam-Julien Maio (Fra) bt oliver Leydon-davis-abhinav Manota (nzl) 21-18, 21-18. Women’s singles: s. Kisona (Mas) bt thet Htar thuzar (Mya) 21-14, 21-9. Women’s doubles: Vimala Heriau-Margot Lambert (Fra) bt anastasiya Prozorova-Valeriya Rudakova (ukr) 21-13, 21-16. Mixed doubles: Fabien delrue-Vimala Heriau (Fra) bt Pawel smilowski-Magdalena swierczynska (Pol) 17-21, 21-19, 21-15.