India Open: Shon stuns Chong Wei

Shon Wan Ho

Young Korean Shon Wan Ho caused one of the biggest upsets in badminton in recent times with a three-game win over the fancied world No.1, Lee Chong Wei, in the final of the India Open Superseries at Siri Fort Sports Complex on Sunday.

World No.17 Shon, who took out world No.5 Peter Gade in the quarterfinals and thereby sealed his spot in the Olympics, played an inspired game to upset Chong Wei, who has rarely lost to a non-Chinese player in a major final. This was Shon’s first Superseries title and might signal the start of good things for Korean men’s singles badminton, which had been flagging for a while.

Meanwhile, a similar dream run by world No.8 German Juliane Schenk ended in disappointment, as she couldn’t get past a third Chinese in a row. Having taken down two in the quarterfinals and semifinals, she raised visions of an unfamiliar sight as she took the first game against world No.4 Li Xuerui, but eventually the strain proved too hard for her as she went down.

The final day showcased some great badminton, with the five titles at stake going to different countries. All England mixed doubles champions Tontowi Ahmed and Lilyana Natsir overcame a mid-match slump to beat veteran Thais Sudket/ Saralee; Koreans Kyung Eun Jung/ Kim Ha Na took the women’s doubles over China’s Bao Yixin/ Zhong Qianxin, and Thailand’s distantly ranked and exciting new pair of Bodin Issara/ Jongjit Maneepong won a superb men’s doubles rubber against Korea’s Ko Sung Hyun/ Yoo Yeon Seong.

But all the attention understandably was on Shon Wan Ho and Juliane Schenk. The German has never won a Superseries title before, and the India Open title would’ve capped a dream run for her. She played a fast, steady and unspectacular game to go one game up, but the second undid all the good work. Schenk went 0-8 down, but fought back well and almost caught up with Xuerui mid-way through. A small error in misjudging the shuttle gave the advantage back to Xuerui, who closed out the game, and then steamrolled Schenk in the third. The German seemed too tired to fight, and admitted as much. “I think I was a bit tired, but I will eventually win a (major) title. I’m happy with my performance here. Full credit to her. Today I didn’t feel so good; the flow was missing. It was an odd game. After I won the first, I trailed by 0-8 and almost caught up with her, but I couldn’t.”

Shon Wan Ho, not expected to trouble Lee Chong Wei, did precisely that. Attacking at every opportunity, and finding the lines with precision, Shon took the first game. Chong Wei fought back well in the second, taking a 7-0 lead. Shon staged a comeback, but from 13-all, Chong Wei stepped on the pedal and put in a burst to take the game.

Most in the audience would’ve assumed that it would now be a formality for Chong Wei, but the world No.1 inexplicably lost his momentum and went down 10-15. From then on, it became tense and exciting game as a cat-and-mouse game ensued: Chong Wei was brilliant in parts as he exhibited facets that have made him a great player over the last decade: keeping the shuttle tight; leaping high to smash and working the point before killing it.

He reached 16-18 off the most spectacular point of the match – with Shon defending two big smashes and unable to return a third. The Malaysian equaled at 18 and went up 19-18 and the momentum was now with him, but he netted the next point and it was 19-all. Unbelievably, he netted the next two points as well to give Shon Wan Ho the title.

“He played well,” a gracious Chong Wei said. “I’m coming from an injury, so it’s a good result for me. The shoulder did not trouble me, but after the All England I’ve not had a lot of practice. I wanted to enjoy this event.”

Shon Wan Ho conceded this was the biggest moment of his career. “Chong Wei was nervous at times,” he said. “I just wanted to do my best.”