22 Dec 2008

Bernama

KOTA KINABALU, SABAH: Malaysian shuttlers ended the season on a high and in style by sweeping three of the five titles at stake in the Super Series Masters Finals that ended at the Likas Indoor Stadium here today.

Despite the absence of the Chinese players who stayed away citing fatigue, the finals provided enough excitement to keep the badminton fans who filled the Likas Indoor Stadium to the brim, on the edge of their seats with some sizzling action.

Current World number one Datuk Lee Chong Wei and former world number one men's doubles pair Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong swept the men's singles and doubles titles while Wong Pei Tty/Chin Eei Hui captured the women's doubles.

Chong Wei, the top seed in the tournament, beat Denmark's Peter Gade in straight sets 21-8, 21-16 in the men’s singles final while Kien Keat-Boon Heong disposed South Korean pair Lee Yong-dae/Jung Jae-sung also in straight sets 21-18, 21-16 in the men’s doubles final.

For Chong Wei who pocketed USD40,000 (RM136,000), it was the first title since becoming the world number one after the Beijing Olympics in August and also capped a satisfying end the season as he had also won the season opening Malaysian Open in January. Though the final against Gade was a lop-sided affair, especially in the first set when Chong Wei raced to a 12-0 lead before the Danish veteran was able to break the duck, the win would nevertheless be a significant one, especially after a six-month drought of titles.

"This is a very satisfying win and my next target is to win the All England," said Chong Wei whose last Super Series title was in June when he captured the Singapore Open. For Kien Keat-Boon Heong, beating the Koreans, ranked number two in the world and winning the title, their first of the year, holds bigger significance after coming under heavy criticism ever since emerging as the most exciting pair after winning the All England title in 2007.

The pair who subsequently climbed to the world number one spot are now languishing in sixth spot and had a miserable year which even prompted their coach Rexy Mainaky to consider splitting the duo. For top seeds Pei Tty-Eei Hui who beat Vita Marissa/Liliyana Natsir 21-15, 22-20 in straight sets, it was their most memorable career win and first major title of the season.

"We played exceptionally well today and everything worked in favour, the drop shots, smashes all hit the target. The money would also come in handy since the Chinese New Year is just around the corner," said Pei Tty who held aloft the mock cheque for USD42,000 (RM142,000). Meanwhile, the women's singles was won by Zhou Mi of Hong Kong who beat team-mate Wang Chen 21-14, 21-18 while Danish pair Thomas Laybourn/Kamilia Rytter Johl, the world number two, upset top seeds Nova Widianto/Liliyana Natsir 21-19, 18-21, 22-20 in three exciting sets.

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