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Chan Kin-wa

The usual suspects - China's Chen Long and Lin Dan - made it through to the next round, but it was Hong Kong's unseeded Wei Nan who lit up the court at the badminton World Championships in Jakarta yesterday.
Wei turned in one of his best performances as the shuttler overcame 15th seed Tommy Sugiarto of Indonesia in a gripping three-game contest.
Despite huge support from the home crowd, Sugiarto stumbled in the men's singles second round after losing two close deuce games.
There was tremendous pressure on the court. It was not easy to beat Tommy
Wei Nan
Wei prevailed 26-24, 8-21, 22-20 in a thrilling 80-minute match. Sugiarto is the son of former Indonesia star player Icuk Sugiarto and a bronze medallist at last year's world championships in Copenhagen.
Wei, who now progresses to the round of 16, said he went into the match not expecting to beat Sugiarto on home soil.
"There was tremendous pressure on the court," the world number 20 said of the booming crowd in the arena. "It was not easy to beat Tommy."

Head coach Tim He Yiming said: "This is absolutely an exceptional performance from Wei.
"It is not easy against a player who has strong crowd support and home ground advantage. But today Wei was in good control of the net and the neat defence of his back hand gave his opponent few chances."
The result is a repeat of last year's Asian Games matchup when Wei also beat Sugiarto 2-1 (21-17, 21-23, 21-16) in the third round before going on to win a bronze medal.
Today, Wei will play Zulfadli Zulkiffli of Malaysia, the 2011 world junior champion.
Coach He is confident of another good effort from his charge, despite the fact Wei has lost both of his previous encounters with the Malaysian.
Joining Wei in the third round is 13th seeded Hu Yun, with the Hong Kong number one beating Michal Rogalski of Poland 21-18, 13-21, 21-13. Hu faces a daunting task with third seed Srikanth Kidambi of India standing in his way for a last-eight spot.
Second seed Saina Nehwal was far too dominant over Hong Kong's Cheung Ngan-yi, beating her 21-13, 21-9.
 
World No 1 Chen Long's bid to defend his world crown got off to a strong start with the Chinese star dismissing Estonian Raul Must.

The top seed, who was given an opening-round bye, defeated unseeded Must 21-15, 21-7, to breeze into the third round.
Chen, who has already won four titles this season, was not getting ahead of himself.
"Today there are many good players," the 26-year-old said. "They could all win. I will be focusing on playing well in each round."
It seems a wise approach from the defending champion, who has faltered early in other tournaments this year against lesser-ranked opponents.
Five-time world champion Lin Dan marched onward in his campaign for a sixth crown, brushing aside 75th-ranked Daniel Paiola 21-14, 21-14.
But the fifth seed and two-time Olympic champion was surprised at the resistance of the unseeded Brazilian, suggesting he was feeling his age.
"My physical condition is not like it used to be," the 31-year-old said. "I did not think my opponent would be so difficult. He played better than I imagined."

Lee Chong Wei has claimed his first proper scalp at the world championships in Jakarta, defeating 12th seed Marc Zwiebler so convincingly the German declared his Malaysian opponent ready to win his first world crown.
The Malaysian shuttler, who has settled for silver at the last three world championships, blew away Zwiebler 21-14, 17-21, 21-8 to book a spot in the third round.
Lee only returned to the badminton circuit in May after being slapped with a ban for doping, and enters the world championships unseeded for the first  time in years.
But his clinical dismissal of Zwiebler, capped off with a string of unanswered smashes in the third set, has the Malaysian looking top of his game and hungry for his maiden crown.
Additional reporting by Chan Kin-wa


Hong Kong's Wei Nan stuns Indonesian star at world badminton championships

Unseeded Hong Kong player Wei Nan shocked the home crowd by beating Indonesia's Tommy Sugiarto at the world championships. Photo:  AP

Lee Chong Wei fires back a return to Marc Zwiebler. Photo: AFP

Indonesia Tommy Sugiarto reacts after being defeated by Hong Kong's Wei Nan. Photo: Reuters 

Chen Long returns the shuttlecock to Raul Must from Estonia in their men's singles match. Photo: Xinhua 

Sport

Hong Kong

China

Hong Kong shuttler turns in an exceptional performance to knock out 15th seed Tommy Sugiarto of Indonesia at world championships


The usual suspects - China's Chen Long and Lin Dan - made it through to the next round, but it was Hong Kong's unseeded Wei Nan who lit up the court at the badminton World Championships in Jakarta yesterday.
