Frenchman stuns Lee at worlds
Print Edition
FRANCE’S Brice Leverdez pulled off the first shock of the BWF world championships by defeating men’s second seed Lee Chong Wei in Glasgow yesterday.
The 31-year-old claimed the scalp of his career 21-19, 22-24, 21-17 in 75 minutes and perhaps end Lee’s elusive search for the world title which has seen him take three silver medals just as he has done in the Olympics.
“I’m really happy,” he said. “I managed to stay relaxed and played my own game.”
Leverdez had two match points in the second game — 20-21 and 21-22 — and it was only a successful hawk eye challenge on the second match point that saved Lee from a straight-games exit.
In the decider, the 34-year-old Malaysian led 15-10 — but the Frenchman wouldn’t give in. “I knew I was in trouble, but I never gave up,” said Leverdez.
For Lee, who had a 7-1 record against Leverdez, it was another chance gone.
“I tried my best and he got lucky on a few points,” said Lee, whose fourth win at the All-England Open this year suggested he was still capable of ending his world title drought.
“I’m very disappointed.”
Also winning yesterday was India’s 15th seed Sai Praneeth, who edged Wei Nan of China’s Hong Kong 21-18 21-17 while women’s 9th seed Chen Yufei of China eased past Pai Yu-po of Chinese Taipei 21-13 21-14 in the second round.
In fact all 16 women’s seeds received byes into the second round, including Olympic and two-time defending champion Carolina Marin of Spain, and top-seeded Akane Yamaguchi of Japan. No. 1-ranked Tai Tzu-ying is skipping the worlds to play in the World University Games in Chinese Taipei.
Also in action among men’s seeds yesterday are Olympic gold medalist and defending two-time world champion Chen Long of China and Rio Games bronze winner Viktor Axelsen of Denmark.
On Monday, Lin Dan got his quest under way for a record sixth world championship with a routine 21-15, 21-10 win over local British hope Kieran Merrilees.
Next up for the seventh-seeded Lin is Emil Holst of Denmark, who beat the Chinese ace at the German Open in March.
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