Badminton Asia Championships 2012: Nan Wei topples Ji Hoon Hong in first round
The Men’s Singles campaigner Nan Wei made his cut into second round of the Badminton Asia Championships after thrashing Korean shuttler Ji Hoon Hong in his opening match on April 17, 2012.
The Hong Kong shuttler will now lock horns with top Indian shuttler Ajay Jayaram in second round of the event.
The first round encounter proved a tough trial of mental and physical strength of both players as it prolonged to three exhausting sets which was resolved in 68 minutes.
Nan Wei proved himself superior to his challenger by winning two out of three games to display favourable figures of 15-21, 21-17 and 21-19.
In first set of the match, the Korean shuttler Ji Hoon utilised his brilliance and out classed his opponent in all areas of game.
He established a decent lead with 8-5 score initially and then maintained his supremacy with 10-7 score by the half time.
After the interval Ji Hoon earned four quick points and raised his lead to 14-7 in no time. At this critical situation Nan Wei tried to step forward on scoreboard but it was not enough to catch the Korean shuttler who bagged first match point with 21-15
score at the end.
However, the story was different in following game as Nan Wei put all he had in his possession to avoid a first round exit. This time he did not spare any loop hole for his competitor and displayed some supreme badminton skills.
The Hong Kong shuttler took some time to get settled as first he remained equal with 8-8 score as he could not sustain his four-point lead before the mid-game break.
After one-minute break he managed to build up pace and established an unassailable lead which helped him to pocket the crucial match point with 21-17 score on board.
Third set turned the best part of match as both players made the spectators gasp with their prime badminton skills. The decider kept swinging between two contenders until game point situation.
Both players remained equal with 5-5 points at the beginning but Nan Wei switched on the best and dominated in most part of the decider.
Only at one point the Korean shuttler created trouble when he earned five consecutive points to level score at 19-19 but the Hong Kong campaigner raised his arms as victor after winning the decider with 21-19 score on the board.
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