China’s Olympic champion Chen Long needs 86 minutes to overcome Hong Kong’s Angus Ng
The veteran mainland star advances to the semi-finals of the Asian Championships along with Japan’s Momota and Lee Chong Wei
Hong Kong’s Angus Ng Ka-long kept China’s Olympic champion Chen Long on court for 86 minutes before falling in the quarter-finals of the Asian Championships in Wuhan yesterday.
Ng got off to a strong start by taking the first game 24-22 but the powerful Chen showed greater stamina as he fought back to take the next two games 21-15, 21-17 to reach the semi-finals.
“I have played Ng several times before and it was never easy, the same as today” said Chen, who now holds a 3-1 head-to-head over Ng. “But I have had full preparation for the match and that’s why I can come out the eventual winner.”
Japan’s Kento Momota made an impressive return to top-tier badminton by reaching the last four.
The former world number two, who spent a year out over a gambling scandal back home and returned in July last year, was in superb form against Chou Tien-chen, of Taiwan, the number seven seed.
