Chong Wei, V Shem/Wee Kiong qualify for Dubai

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s badminton superstar Datuk Lee Chong Wei and top national doubles pair Goh V Shem/Tan Wee Kiong have qualified for the BWF Super Series Masters Finals from December 14 to 18 in Dubai.

Chong Wei was ranked seventh while V Shem/Wee Kiong were ranked second in the Super Series based on the latest rankings issued by Badminton World Federation (BWF).

Only the top eight players qualify for the Super Series Finals.

Nonetheless, Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) technical director Morten Frost Hansen said BWF has not officially issued the list of players for the Dubai tournament.

“We’re expecting to get the name list tonight or tomorrow morning.

“As for now I haven’t got a confirmation on Chong Wei, with his current condition, we know that he was injured in October and he was not well last week,” he told reporters when met at the launch of the SS Purple League 2016/17 yesterday.

Chong Wei who won three of the six super series championships this year, the Malaysia Open, Indonesian Open and Japan Open, amassed 43,510 points while Jan Jorgensen of Denmark topped the ranking with 65,440 points.

Also qualifying for the finals were Viktor Axelsen of Denmark, Son Wan Ho (South Korea), Tian Houwei (China), Ng Ka Long (Hong Kong) and Marc Zwiebler (Germany).

The challenge to win the tournament is made even more interesting when BWF gave the wild card slot to China’s badminton star, Chen Long to complete the quota of eight players due to the player’s status as Rio Olympic gold medallist.

Chong Wei had won the Super Series Finals title in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2013.

V Shem/Wee Kiong garnered 62,630 points. – Bernama