Angus Ng Ka-long back to winning ways in Denmark Open after disappointing run at Tokyo Olympics
- The world number nine sets up all-Hong Kong affair against Lee Cheuk-yiu in second round after beating Kenta Nishimoto of Japan in the opening round
- Two Hong Kong mixed doubles pairs also through to second round with Olympians Tang Chun-man and Tse Ying-suet taking on Indian pair
Angus Ng Ka-long embarked on a new campaign after a disappointing Tokyo Olympics run, and set up an all-Hong Kong affair against teammate Lee Cheuk-yiu at the Denmark Open after both went through the opening stage in Odense.
The lucrative tournament is the first World Tour event since the Spain Masters in May with top players such as Kento Momota of Japan and home star Viktor Axelsen vying for the winner’s share of the US$850,000 prize pot.
But for Hong Kong number one Ng, it’s also time to start a new cycle after the sponsorship saga that affected his second Olympic appearance in Tokyo this summer. Ng came under attack from the pro-establishment camp on social media after wearing a black jersey in his opening group match at the Olympics, and after an unexpected defeat by lowly Calvin Gordon of Guatemala in his next match, Ng’s Tokyo campaign ended prematurely before the knockout stage.
But with a new commercial sponsor and participating in his first World Tour event since January, the world number nine made an impressive return when he defeated Kenta Nishimoto of Japan in two tough games 22-20, 21-19, only his third victory over the Japanese player in their ninth encounter.
“My confidence was a bit shaken after the Tokyo Olympics,” said the 27-year-old after his victory. “Against Nishimoto, I didn’t start well in both games but was able to hang in there and fought back in the final stages. Hopefully I can get better and better as the tournament progresses.”