Brilliant start for Chong Wei at Denmark Open

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian badminton ace, Datuk Lee Chong Wei, got off to a flying start by advancing to the second round of the Denmark Open Super Series Premier Badminton Tournament in Odense, Denmark on Wednesday (early Thursday Malaysian time).
The seventh seeded player only took 37 minutes to dispose of unheralded Pablo Abian of Spain; winning in 21-12 and 21-16 sets in the opening round match held at the Odense Sports Park, according to the Badminton World Federation (BWF) website;www.bwfworldsuperseries.com.
Chong Wei, the two-time winner of the tournament will take on H. S. Prannoy in the second round later today, after the Indian player edged the host shuttler, Emil Holst 21-18 and 21-19 in another opening round match.
Former international player, Tan Boon Heong who teamed up with former Olympic champion, Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia also progressed to the second round by earning a hard-fought 21-19, 15-21 and 21-16 win over Kittinupong Kedren/ Dechapol Puavaranukroh of Thailand in the men's doubles.
National women's doubles pair, Chow Mei Kuan/ Lee Meng Yean also booked their spot in the next round by defeating Ashwini Ponnappa/ Reddy N. Sikki of India; 15-21, 21-18 and 23-21.
Another Malaysian pair, Vivian Hoo Kah Mun/ Woon Khe Wei, however, crashed out from the US$750,000 (RM3.17 million) tournament after losing 17-21 and 14-21 to the fifth seed, Huang Dongping/ Li Yunhui of China. — Bernama