Choong Hann goes down in rubber game to China's Xuanze

From LIM TEIK HUAT in BIRMINGHAM

SHUTTLER Wong Choong Hann gave too much respect to China's Xia Xuanze and let slip a good chance to bag a first ever title for Malaysia in the World Championships at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham yesterday.  

The Malaysian, who had created history by becoming the first singles player to reach the final, gambled on a safe approach.  

However, it failed and he bowed out 6-15, 15-13, 6-15 after gallantly battling Xuanze for 86 minutes.  

It was the eighth meeting between both players but luck was not on the Malaysian's side as Xuanze's attacking pace saw him extend his unbeaten record.  

Wong Choong Hann slumps down onto the court in the final of the men's singles at the World Badminton Championships at the Indoor Arena in Birmingham.--STARpic by A. MALEX YAHAYA.

Xuanze thus became the sixth Chinese player to bag the prized men's singles crown after Han Jian (1986), Yang Yang (1987 and 1989), Zhao Jianhua (1991) and Sun Jun (1999).  

Despite losing, Choong Hann, however, can still pride himself at having secured a place in Malaysian badminton history.  

For his efforts, Choong Hann settled for the silver medal and RM40,000 incentive from the National Sports Council (NSC).  

However, he could have taken it a step further and secured a sweet first ever win over the the Chinese who won the bronze medal at the Sydney Olympics. 

Choong Hann beat Keita Masuda of Japan 15-5, 15-11 in the first round, then brushed aside Indonesia's Budi Santoso 15-6, 15-13 and Dane Anders Boesen 15-8, 15-2.  

In the quarter-final he produced one of his best game to destroy another Indonesian Sony Dwi Kuncoro 15-8, 15-5.  

The semi-finals saw a confident Choong Hann cruising to a 15-4, 15-5 win over South Korean Shon Seung-mo, who had upset top seed Chen Hong the previous night.  

However, the confident mood was absent yesterday and he did not take the fight to his Chinese rival.  

His net shots were not working and lifted the shuttlecock instead of going for the kill, to hand Xuanze an easy 15-6 win in 18 minutes in the first game.  

The Malaysian southpaw displayed much better form in the second game to stretch Xuanze.  

China's Xia Xuanze yells in delight after scoring the winning point.

He raced to a 4-0 lead before Xuanze got on the scoreboard.  

Both fought point for point until Choong Hann overtook Xuanze from 12-13 to win 15-13 to force a rubber game.  

The rubber game saw Choong Hann continuing with the same approach and he paid for the mistake of allowing Xuanze too much space and time.  

Choong Hann managed to follow until 6-6 before Xuanze surged ahead to secure his biggest ever title since winning the All-England crown in 2000.  

“I’m disappointed at not winning the title after having come so far. I was too cautious in the first game. 

“I tried to break away at 6-all in the third game but could not. Instead it was my opponent who surged ahead,” said Choong Hann. 

Xuanze was delighted with his victory and said he was happy to have retained his unbeaten record against Chong Hann.  

“I was surprised that he choose not to attack from the start. His confidence must also have been shaken a bit after his shots did not clear the net,” said Xuanze who is currently ranked fifth in the world.