Defending champion Lee Chong Wei takes on unseeded Vincent Ki Wong in the Men's singles semi-final of 2017 Malaysia Open at Jalan Stadium in Kuching on Saturday.
The 11-time champion need just 45 minutes to make light work of his quarter-final opponent, Jeon Hyeok Jin of South Korea, in straight games yesterday. On the other hand, Vincent benefitted from reigning Olympic champion Chen Long's withdrawal due to a wrist injury as the duo were supposed to meet in the last-eight encounter.
Lee has been planning his stops in the ongoing season with care and the 34-year-old, who gave himself some rest after his All England Championships win by opting out of India Open last month, looks to be in great shape to win his 12th Malaysia Open title.
The top seed has not lost a game yet in the ongoing tournament and in fact has slipped in only one since he came back from a knee injury to open his campaign in Birmingham last month. Lee is moving without any discomfort as well on the court and is able to bring out his best.
Having won all their six earlier meetings, Lee will start his semi-final match today as the clear favourite. If he manages to win the tie, he will take on his arch-rival Lin Dan in the title match as the Chinese shuttler survived a tough battle against South Korea's Son Wan Ho earlier today to storm into his fourth final.
Vincent, on the other hand, has been struggling in the recent past and the world number 12 had not gone past the second round in any of the tournaments he participated in the new season. It will be an uphill task for the Hong Kong shuttler to stop the rejuvenated Lee, who is at his best right now.
TV Schedule
India: Star Sports 2
Malaysia: Astro Supersport
Singapore: StarHub Sports
