Superstar Minh manhandles Malaysia’s Chong Chieh Lok

(09-11-2007)

HA NOI — Viet Nam’s top badminton player, Nguyen Tien Minh easily defeated Chong Chieh Lok of Malaysia in the first round of the men’s singles at the Yonex Sunrise Viet Nam Open Badminton Championship 2007 on Wednesday.

Minh, world 40th seed and this tournament’s sixth seed beat his rival 2-0 (21-13, 21-14).

Besides Tien Minh, another six Vietnamese athletes reached to second round in the men’s singles. Nguyen Hoang Hai beat Malaysian Kwong Beng 2-1, Nguyen Quang Minh won Benjamin Walklate of Australia 2-0.

Notably, this event’s fifth seed Che Tan of Indonesia lost to Malaysian unknown seed, Wei Seng Chong.

On the women’s side, Thai Thi Hong Gam, defending national champion Nguyen Thi Binh Tho and Le Thi Thanh Thuy were eliminated. Tho lost to Yuan Kartika Putri of Indonesia 0-2 (25-21,14-21).

The US$50,000 tournament, which kicked off on Tuesday in Ha Noi’s Quan Ngua Sports Palace, has attracted 198 athletes from 19 countries and territories. They will compete in five events such as men’s and women’s singles, doubles and mixed doubles.

Viet Nam, as the host of the event, has sent 47 athletes to compete. Le Ngoc Nguyen Nhung, world 91st seed, who is training in Germany, will not participate in this event. — VNS