PETALING JAYA, Oct 16 — National singles badminton coach Hendrawan does not want Datuk Lee Chong Wei to get carried away with his win over Kashyap Parupalli in the opening round of the Denmark Open, but says the shuttler is on the right track.
“He was just feeling his way around in the first round, like many others who are also adjusting to the court conditions. He hasn’t displayed his full quality just yet,” said Hendrawan of Lee, who disposed of the India shuttler 21-14, 21-15.
The world No. 25 is looking to return to winning ways after poor performances at the Japan and Korea Open last month, where he crashed out in the second round and first round qualifying, respectively.
That poor run compounded after Lee’s heartbreak loss to Chen Long at the World Championships finals in Jakarta in August.
The shuttler will cross paths with the world No. 1 again should he beat Hong Kong’s Wei Nan in the second round.
The duo were playing at press time yesterday, alongside women’s doubles duo Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei who took on Denmark’s Christinna Pedersen-Kamilla Rytter Juhl.
“Lee adjusted himself well, but I do not want him to lose focus and underestimate his opponents,” said Hendrawan.
Amelia Alicia Anscelly, meanwhile, lamented over-eagerness after she and Soong Fie Cho lost 17-21, 23-21,19-21 to China’s Ma Jin-Tang Yuanting in the first round.
“We were rushing to kill off the game in the decider, while they remained calm. That made the difference,” said Anscelly, whose next assignment with Soong is at the French Open beginning on Tuesday till Oct 25.
