Chen hopes to win 2nd world crown
Print Edition
World No. 1 Chen Long says he hopes to clinch a second straight world crown in Indonesia this week, but women’s defending champion Carolina Marin is less confident after returning from injury just a fortnight ago.
Chen, 26, is in superb form having swept four titles this year and enters the Jakarta tournament a convincing top seed, with Danish star Jan O Jorgensen a distant second.
The Chinese shuttler has been laying solid groundwork for another gold medal since defeating Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei in Copenhagen last year to snag his first world title.
“It just gave me really a lot of confidence,” Chen, speaking via a translator, told reporters in Jakarta yesterday.
“I really hope to get my second singles world championship this year.”
He won’t cross top rival Lee or compatriot Lin Dan in the early stages — they are in different halves of the draw — and is expected to cruise to the quarterfinals.
But things have not gone as smoothly for women’s world No. 1 Marin, who nearly missed badminton’s most prestigious event after suffering a foot injury a month ago.
The Spaniard, who has won three titles already this season, said she felt “better than before” since returning to the court two weeks ago but was taking it one step at a time.
“I don’t want to think about defending the title from last year,” she said.
“I just want to enjoy the competition and do my best.”
Marin last played in Jakarta in June, when she was knocked out of the Indonesian Open in the first round, complaining of fatigue and injury.
Local favorite Tommy Sugiarto will have the crowd on his side when he steps out today for a first-round showdown against European Games victor Pablo Abian.
But the 15th seed could be feeling the pressure as Indonesia’s top medal hopeful, playing down expectations on the eve of his opening match.
“Actually for this world championship, it’s quite hard to win,” he said. “All I can now do is take it step by step and focus on every single match.”
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
