Hu Yun has revenge on his mind as Hong Kong Open kicks off
Local ace aims to set record straight after loss to Japan's Momota in Shanghai
Home favourite Hu Yun is poised to exact revenge on Kento Momota of Japan as the Yonex-Sunrise Hong Kong Open badminton tournament begins at the Coliseum in Hung Hom on Wednesday. The men's singles opening-round tie will be a repeat of last week's quarter-final meeting at the China Open which saw Hu beaten in three games.
"I was fully stretched after overcoming two mainland players in the previous rounds and therefore lost the match in Shanghai," said Hu, ranked 10th in the world compared with Momota's 27th. "I feel refreshed now and won't give him any chance this time, especially when playing in front of my home crowd."
Also starting in the US$350,000 tournament will be another home favourite, Yip Pui-yin, who will face Japan's Minatsu Mitani in the women's singles. Head coach Tim He Yiming said Yip had been troubled by injuries this year.
The final leg of this year's 12 Super Series events features the world's best players, with Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia and Chen Long of China, the world numbers one and two respectively, heading the men's list.
In the women's event, Olympic champion Li Xuerui of China is tipped to defend her Hong Kong crown after her victory at the China Open. But she faces a challenge from major rival Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand, who beat Li in the world championships final in Guangzhou in August.
