Malaysia's Lee wins Super Series Finals

Badminton: Malaysia's Lee wins Super Series Finals
Posted: 11 January 2009 1940 hrs

	Photos 1 of 1 Lee Chong Wei (file picture)

KUALA LUMPUR : World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei Sunday won the Super Series Finals in Malaysia when he outclassed South Korea's Park Sung Hwan in just 39 minutes.

The Malaysian, who last month emerged victorious in the World Super Series Masters Finals, was hardly troubled in beating his rival 21-14, 21-13 to take home the 15,000 dollar winner's cheque.

"I hope to remain undefeated in tournaments held in Malaysia. This will be my main target for the next few years," Lee told reporters.

Lee said he had expected a tough outing in the final with Park.

"I didn't expect to win so easily as I was quite tired after having gone into rubber games in the second round, quarter-finals and semi-finals.

"I woke up with lots of aches and pains but told myself that I had to push myself further as it was the final," he said.

Lee admitted he was under great pressure to win the competition in Malaysia after securing the silver medal at the Olympics and becoming the world No. 1.

"I found it hard to adjust. There were too many distractions and the pressure was just too great. However, I am now comfortable with everything and I am looking forward to a great season," he said.

Park said he would try to avenge his loss in the Korean Open, where he is slated to meet Lee in the quarter-finals.

"It was not easy playing him today but I hope to do better in Korea," he said.

"Right now, Lee and (China's) Lin Dan are slightly ahead of the chasing pack but they are not unbeatable. It is just a matter of getting our act right on the day," he added.

Earlier, Denmark's Tine Rasmussen retained her Malaysia Open women's singles title and declared it as the first step to winning a World Championship medal.

The world No. 2 had a tough battle against top seed Zhou Mi of Hong Kong.

But she subdued her rival with a dazzling performance to win 21-17, 15-21, 21-16 in 56-minutes to take home the 15,000 winner's cheque.

And it was a sweet victory for Indonesia's Nova Widianto and Liliyana Natsir who gained revenge for their Olympic defeat to South Korea's Lee Yong Dae and Lee Hyo Jung in the mixed doubles.

The Indonesians, who had lost their last three meetings to the Koreans, were in top form. After a tight opening set where they were locked at 12-12, they pulled ahead with ease to win 21-14.

The second set was just as close but the strong Indonesian pair were always a step ahead and they clinched the tie 21-19 when Hyo Jung sent her return into the net to end the 32-minute encounter.

In the women's doubles, Korea's Lee Hyo Jung came out with all guns firing in the women's doubles when she and Kyung Won defeated three-time champions Yang Wei-Zhang Jiewen 21-15, 21-12 in only 33 minutes.

South Koreans Jung Jae Sung and Lee Yong Dae used their experience to defeat Indonesian pair Alvent Yulianto-Hendra Gunawan 18-21, 21-14, 21-14 to win the men's doubles title.

Despite falling to a first game deficit, the Koreans never panicked and upped the pace to race home in 49 minutes.

"Our defence was very good in the second game and that was the difference in the end," said Jung. - AFP/ms