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Agence France-Presse

World number one Lee Chong Wei admitted he had been within a hair’s breadth of quitting the last All-England Open of his career before surviving his first-round test.
The three-time former champion, Malaysia’s most successful Olympian, won 21-15, 21-12 against Brice Leverdez of France, but knows he may have to finish the tournament without ever being at his best.
Meanwhile, Angus Ng Ka-long was the only one of Hong Kong’s contingent to make it to round two in the men’s draw.
Lee played with heavy strapping over the knee he injured training a month ago and had little idea how or even whether he would be able to perform in Birmingham.
“I just know it is not one hundred per cent,” the 34-year-old said. “I was so very close to pulling out. But this is the All-England and I said I will play.
“I’m just going on court and trying to forget my injury and do my best. I didn’t play well, but at least I think I tried to play every shot.”
Lee was a little fortunate that Leverdez, who beat him in the Danish Open in October and led 14-11 this time, relinquished his lead with mistakes.
Lee next plays Wang Tzu-wei, the world number 25 from Taiwan, and must hope the ligament damage continues to recede before a possible quarter-final with Tian Houwei, the seventh-seeded Chinese player.

Hong Kong Open champion Ng, seeded eighth, battled back from losing the first game against Rajiv Ouseph of England to win 19-21, 21-18, 21-12.
Ng now faces China’s Shi Yiqi, who beat Hong Kong’s Hu Yun with little difficulty, 21-12, 21-9.
HK’s other representative, Vincent Wong Wing-ki, lost 22-20, 21-18 to Japanese qualifier Kazamusa Sakai.
World No.8 Ng faces a tough test if he gets past No.10 Shi, with second seed Jan O Jorgensen his likely quarter-final opponent.
China’s Tian came from 18-14 down to win 21-19, 21-18 over Tommy Sugiarto, the Asian champion from Indonesia.
Some now consider Olympic champion Chen Long, a potential semi-final obstacle for Lee, the favourite despite being seeded five.
He has competed little since his Rio triumph, though a 21-17, 21-7 win over Marc Zwiebler, a former semi-finalist from Germany, suggested he’s not lacking full match fitness quickly.
Chen may have been aided by the departure from his quarter of the draw of Son Wan-Ho, the fourth-seeded South Korean, who withdrew with an ankle injury after only five points, allowing Sony Dwi Kuncoro from Indonesia a shortcut into the second round. Lin Dan of China also cruised through.

The women’s top seed, Tai Tzu-ying, who still denies that the world number one ranking means much to her, made a start which suggested that the world’s oldest title may mean a great deal.
The World Super Series champion from Taiwan came from 18-16 down against Nitchaon Jindapol, the world number 16 from Thailand, to deliver a professionally taken 21-18, 21-14 win.
Quizzed about the reported quote that the world number one ranking didn’t mean much to her but might mean a lot to her family, Tai answered: “Maybe not so much to them either,” before adding: “But perhaps to the people of Taiwan.”
Hong Kong’s Yip Pui-yin beat English qualifier Fontaine Mica Chapman 21-12, 21-19 but faces a stern second round test against third seed Sung Ji-hyun of South Korea. HK’s other representative in the women’s draw, Cheung Ngan-yi, lost a tight match to Taiwan’s Hsu Ya-ching (17-21, 21-18, 21-18).
In the mixed doubles, Hong Kong’s Reginald Lee Chun-hei and Choi Hoi-wah reached round two with a 16-21, 21-16, 21-15 win over Irish siblings Sam and Chloe Magee. They face Chinese fifth seeds Lu Kai and Huang Yaqiong next.
Hong Kong’s two men’s doubles pairs, Or Chin-chung & Tang Chun-man and Law Cheuk-him and Reginald Lee Chun-hei, both went out in the first round, while there was no women’s team taking part.


Lee Chong Wei suffers through All England opener, while Hong Kong’s Angus Ng reaches round two

Lee Chong Wei is struggling with a knee injury. Photo: Xinhua

(170309) -- BIRMINGHAM, March 9, 2017 (Xinhua) -- Lin Dan of China returns the shuttlecock during the men's singles first round match with Zulfadli Zulkiffli of Malaysia at All England Open Badminton 2017 in Birmingham, Britain, on March 8, 2017. Lin Dan won the match 2-0. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

(170309) -- BIRMINGHAM, March 9, 2017 (Xinhua) -- Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia returns the shuttlecock during the men's singles first round match with Brice Leverdez of France at All England Open Badminton 2017 in Birmingham, Britain on March 8, 2017. Lee Chong Wei won 2-0. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

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Malaysian star is suffering with a knee ligament injury


Lee Chong Wei suffers through All England opener, while Hong Kong’s Angus Ng reaches round two

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Malaysian star is suffering with a knee ligament injury

Malaysian star is suffering with a knee ligament injury