GLASGOW: France’s Brice Leverdez pulled off the first shock of the badminton World Championships by defeating men’s second seed Lee Chong Wei in three games in Glasgow on Tuesday.
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 it was another chance gone.
“I tried my best and he got lucky on a few points,” said Lee, whose fourth win in the All-England Open this year suggested he was still capable of ending his world title drought.
“I’m very disappointed.”
Son shines in opener
On Monday, top seed Son Wan Ho didn’t have it easy against Finland’s Kalle Koljonen in his first round of the men’s singles at the World Championships in Glasgow on Monday.
The 29-year-old trailed in the early stages of the first game — 3-5 and 5-7 — before eventually getting in front 9-8. He took it 21-14.
The second was also a tester. It got to 16-all before the South Korean broke through to win 21-14, 21-16 in 44 minutes. “It was my first match and I know all the other players are keen to beat me,” said 29-year-old Son, who led South Korea to victory at this year’s Sudirman Cup in Jakarta. “I was also needing a chance to get used to the venue. But now I am feeling good.
“This is a very important competition for me. It would be a dream to become world champion. But I need to work very hard over the next week.”
Koljonen, ranked 72 in the world, was pleased with his effort on his first visit to Scotland.
He also had a lot of support for every time he won a point flags were waved and a huge banner was raised that said in Finnish ‘Stay strong Kalle’. “I enjoyed the match and played well,” he said.
“I tried to push him as much as possible.”
Chinese legend Lin Dan had a much easier passage as he began his quest for a sixth world title. He was up against the Scottish No 1 Kieran Merrilees, and won 21-15, 21-10.
Lin, who will turn 34 in October, was never seriously troubled, but paid the local man a compliment. “He was a strong opponent, and played very well,” he said. — AFP
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