Veteran Wong Choong Hann enjoyed a good run, winning two matches in the qualifying tournament to make the main draw of the US$200,000 Aviva Singapore Open Badminton Championships at the Indoor Stadium here last night.
Also coming through from the qualifiers in the fifth leg of the inaugural Super Series were Tan Chun Seang and Mohd Arif Abdul Latif in the men's singles and Lydia Cheah in the women's singles.
But he will be up against Olympic and Asian Games champion Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia in the first round today.
The Indonesian star had only two weeks ago won the Asian Championships (ABC) title in Johor Baru.
Last year, Mohd Arif played against Danish ace Peter Gade-Christensen in the first round. He was beaten 15-21, 16-21 but earned praises from the Danes for a fighting display.
“I have nothing to lose (against Taufik). It is great to come through the qualifying rounds and make the main draw.
“This is the Super Series and I will give my best,” said Arif after he defeated compatriot Vountus Indra Mawan 21-17, 21-17 in the third round.
In the first round, he beat Singapore's Erwin Djohan 21-15, 21-10 and received a walkover from Austrian Juergen Koch in the second round.
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Choong Hann, who drew a first-round bye, was hardly stretched in coming onto court twice in two hours to make the grade. He brushed aside Ashton Chen of Singapore 21-12, 21-9 and breezed through a 21-4, 21-5 victory over German Roman Spitko.
“I feel fresh playing here and it's different from the All-England and Swiss Open,” he said.
“I will be up against Richard Vaughn (of Wales). I can't remember if I have ever played against him before but I am ready. There is a lot at stake in this tournament and things are falling nicely for me on my comeback trail.
“My fitness is not a problem. Compared to playing in the qualifying rounds in the All England and Swiss Open, I am in better shape here. It's nice to be playing in the main tournament.”
Lydia made short work of Russian Ekaterina Ananina, winning 21-13, 21-15 to claim a spot in the main draw. In the first round, she defeated Kamila Augustyn of Poland 21-9, 21-17 and then received a walkover from Austrian Simone Prustch.
There was more good news for Malaysia from the men's doubles qualifiers with Khoo Chung Chiat-Mohd Razif Abdul Latif beating China's Zhang Jun-Zheng Bo 19-21, 21-19, 25-23 to make the grade.
In the mixed doubles, Tan Wee Kiong-Woon Khe Wei defeated compatriots Lim Khim Wah-Ng Hui Lin to qualify.
Copyright © 2007 Star Online
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