【Hong Kong Badminton Open】Lee Cheuk Yiu defeated his fellow Chan Yin Chak while Hu Yun couldn’t progress to the main draw

The 6-day “YONEX-SUNRISE Hong Kong Open 2018” commenced today (13th Nov) at the Hong Kong Coliseum. Qualifying rounds players fought for the final 4 places of different events in the morning. Lee Cheuk Yiu came back from a 3-game-thriller defeating his fellow Chan Yin Chak while the veteran player Hu Yun couldn’t go further to the main draw after losing to Tanongsak Saensomeboonsuk of Thailand.

There were 16 players in the Men’s Singles qualifying round while other events consisted 8 players or pairs. Lee Cheuk Yiu and Chan Yin Chak eliminated Kan Chao Yu of Chinese Taipei and Wong Hin Shun of England in the first round respectively before they met each other. Lee took the game by 21:17, 21:18 and Chan won easily by 21:4, 21:5. Chan had a smooth start against his fellow and led 21:8 in the first game. Lee came back in the second game, reel off 5 point off and sealed it by 21:11. In the last game, the two played in slow paced. Lee won it by 21:8.

Chan said, ‘I wasn’t nervous as we practice together a lot. We also met each other in one or two tournaments this year. However, I was too passive in the game.’ Lee thought both of them were not in their best form. He said, ‘We know each other well. So the key to victory is your immediate performance. The air flow in the coliseum was strong which also affected our performance. Lee will face second seed player Shi Yu Qi of China in the first round of main draw.

37-year-old Hu Yun beat Chen Jing Tong of Australia in 2 straight set 21:5, 21:9. Although he took the first game 21:16 over Tanongsak Saensomeboonsuk of Thailand, he eventually lost the match by 16:21, 19:21. Hu said, ‘I had a chance to come back in the last game. I wasn’t concentrating enough.’ He admitted that his strength declined after the first match. Playing 2 matches in one day maybe too much for him.

Yonny Chung/Wu Yi Ting and Mak Hee Chun/Yeung Nga Ting also progressed to the main draw of Mixed Doubles. Chung/Wu took the victory by 15:21, 21:19, 21:12. Chung later joined Tam Chun Hei in Men’s Doubles qualifying and defeated Inkarat Apisuk/ Nipitphon Phuangphuapet of Thailand by 2:1(11:21, 22:20, 21:16). Hong Kong Women’s Doubles pair Lui Lok Lok/Tsang Hiu Yan, Women’s Singles player Deng Joy Xuan also successfully promoted to main draw.