Speedy ‘Super Dan’ too powerful for Hong Kong’s Vincent Wong at Glasgow Worlds
The five-time world champion’s quickness and court prowess prove too much for Hong Kong hope in the quarter-finals, but there's more good news for city’s mixed doubles team
Vincent Wong Wing-ki’s world badminton championships dreams were shattered in less than one hour as “Super Dan” turned on the power on Friday night in Glasgow.
Wong was hoping to reach the semi-finals of men’s singles after doing Hong Kong proud in the previous round in his upset victory of China’s world No 2 Shi Yuqi on Thursday.
But there was no victory lap or celebration jig this time from the 27-year-old Hong Kong-born player, who was swept aside by Lin Dan, the Chinese two-time Olympic and five-time world champion 21-17, 21-18 in 59 minutes.
However, there was a bright spot for Hong Kong after Reginald Lee Chun-hei and Chau Hoi-wah were guaranteed a medal at the Worlds after the pair won through to the semi-finals of mixed doubles. The Hong Kong duo continued their giant-killing run by defeating China’s No 2 seeds, Lu Kai and Huang Yaqiong, 21-13, 17-21, 21-15.
Hong Kong coach Tim He Yiming was disappointed 12th seed Wong was unable to match Lin Dan’s speed and court prowess at the Emirates Arena.