Minh’s form makes fans of world No 1 nervous

(01-08-2009)

HA NOI — Despite not being in the world top 10, Nguyen Tien Minh is considered a definite threat at the world champs starting in Hyderabad on August 10.

The Vietnamese, ranked 14th in the world, has been in top form. He won last month’s Thailand Grand Prix, one of year’s 13 main events run by the Badminton World Federation.

Earlier, he beat the world No 1 Lee Chong Wei, of Malaysia, and the former Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat.

Malaysians are worried Minh will spoil their dream of Lee taking the world title.

After his victory over Thai Boonsak Ponsana at the Thailand Open, Malaysian newspapers said the win not only broke the host fans’ hearts but also indicated he was a threat to Lee.

If early rounds go to seedings, they should clash in the third round. Minh faces the Czech Republic’s Petr Koukal in opening round while Lee meets German Dieter Domke.

Wei’s coach Rashid Sidek said he didn’t think the Vietnamese could repeat an earlier win over Lee as there was a gap between them but added Minh would carefully prepare for the tournament.

"He is the most serious player in training I have met. And he can get a good result," Sidek said.

Minh has had almost no overseas competition or training since he returned from Thailand while Lee had a fortnight’s training in South Korea.

India’s former great Prakash Padukone picked Wei or Dan to win.

"It is difficult but they are my favourites. Both have good chances, but the field is wide open."

Other top players expected to be prominent are Dane Peter Gade and Indonesia’s former world and Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat.

Lin, winner in 2006-07, opens his defence of the men’s singles title against unseeded Israeli Misha Zilberman.

In the women’s singles, India’s Saina Nehwal’s is expected to find China’s Wang Lin the toughest to beat for a home win.

Nehwal has a first round bye and is expected to play Bulgarian Petya Nedelcheva in the third round before a potentially classic against Chinese No 2 seed Wang Lin in a quarter-final.

Nehwal was the first Indian woman to win a Grand Prix title when she bagged last month’s Indonesia Open.

India’s national chief coach said Nehwal had a good draw and the immediate target was a semi-final berth.

Hong Kong’s No 1 seed Zhou Mi opens her campaign against the winner of the match between Dane Nanna Brosolat and New Zealand’s Michelle Chan.

China won the men’s and women’s singles and women’s doubles at the last world champs in Kuala Lumpur while Indonesia triumphed in the men’s and mixed doubles. — VNS