Chen stuns Lee in China sweep

Chen Long poses on the podium after beating Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia in the men's singles final of the Hong Kong Open yesterday. The Chinese second seed won 21-19, 21-17.

Photo by AFP

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CHINA'S Chen Long put on a display of explosive athleticism to beat Malaysian world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei in the final of the Hong Kong Open yesterday, as China made a clean sweep.

With thousands of fans cheering him, second-seeded Chen won 21-19, 21-17 against the Olympic silver medalist, who was the tournament's top seed but ended the men's singles final looking exhausted.

"I didn't think that I would win, but I thought I had the ability to beat him so the results are pretty good," said Chen, who was fresh from victory last week in the China Open.

But the result was a bitter disappointment for Lee, who had defeated Chen in the semi-finals of the London Olympics in August. "I just come in and try, and enjoy the Hong Kong Open... I got to the finals, which is good," said Lee, who is seven years older than Chen, 23.

In the women's doubles, controversial Chinese pair Yu Yang and Wang Xiaoli lost to compatriots Tian Qing and Zhao Yunlei, 20-22, 21-14, 17-21.

Yu and Wang were among eight players disqualified from the London Olympics for attempting to drop round-robin games in a bid to secure a favorable quarterfinal draw.

In the women's singles finals, Li Xuerui of China beat world No. 1 Wang Yihan 21-12, 11-3 after Wang retired hurt.

In the mixed doubles, China's Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei beat compatriots Xu Chen and Ma Jin 21-17, 21-17. There was further disappointment for Malaysia when Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong lost to Chinese duo Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng 16-21, 17-21 in the men's doubles.

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