World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei capped the most memorable year of his career when he bagged his eighth title on the professional circuit and nine overall for 2010 when he won the Yonex Sunrise Hong Kong Open Super Series 2010 final on Sunday.
The win was Chong Wei’s sixth Super Series title of the year and follows victory in the Korean, Malaysian, Indonesian and Japan Opens as well as the All-England. He was also victorious in two Grand Prix Gold events in Macau and Malaysia and won the Commonwealth Games gold medal in October.
All in, he has reached 10 finals from 12 tournaments this year, with his lone final defeat coming at the hands of nemesis Lin Dan of China in last month’s Asian Games final.
Chong Wei also avenged his World Championship quarter-final defeat to Taufik Hidayat when he outclassed the Indonesian in the Hong Kong final. Chong Wei won 21-19, 21-9 in 31 minutes.
The players had traded points and were running neck-and-neck until Hidayat threatened to take the first game. Chong Wei, however, reeled off four consecutive points to turn things around, using his leaping smashes to great effect to win 21-19.
The Asian Games silver medallist continued his good form in the second game to lead 2-0 before Hidayat levelled at 2-2. That was as close as the former world and Olympic champion came as Chong Wei upped the ante with a wide variety of shots to take a 7-2 lead.
He continued to hold a five-point advantage until 9-4 before surging ahead 13-5. Hidayat took one more point before the Malaysian reeled off seven consecutive points to reach match point. Hidayat, who was having trouble with the draft, managed to win three more points before Chong Wei left a return which sailed behind the back court.
The win was Chong Wei’s second consecutive Hong Kong Open crown from four finals and 35th career title. It represents his best ever season after finishing 2009 with eight titles.
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