2009 Badminton World Championships: first day

Monday August 10th Results - While a lot of top players had free pass to the second round.  World number one player Lee Chong Wei (at right) defeated German Dieter Domke 21-14, 21-10 in 25 minutes. Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei competes against Germany's Dieter Domke, unseen, during the World Badminton Championships, in Hyderabad, India, Monday, Aug. 10, 2009. Wei took his time and avoided any unforced errors to start his bid for the title. China was shocked when Chunlai Bao was defeated by Holland's Dicky Palyama in straight sets 18-21, 14-21.  This is the worst defeat in his career, and puts his position on the National team in jeopardy.  Bao has been suffering from a nagging knee injury, and did only return to full time training two weeks before this event.
(Bao breaks down as he talks to Chinese reporters after his defeat Monday at left).
 
Lin Dan of China moved on to the second round winning  21-9, 21-11 over Misha Zilberman of Israel.  After his easy victory Dan said, "I think, the standard of play in the men’s singles is almost on par. The title can go to anyone who plays their best on that day.“I am hailed as the favourite but I think, Chong Wei and Peter-Gade (Christensen) are the favourites here. I have come prepared and I will give my best,” he added.
 
In the women's event Malaysia’s Wong Mew Choo annihilated  Shannol Pohl of the United States  21-4, 21-6 barely breaking a sweat.

“This is a good start although I have not been tested to the limit yet. I will be playing against Ai Goto of Japan next (on Wednesday) and I am bracing myself for a tough time,” said Mew Choo.

Other notable match results from Day One:

-Canadian Men's doubles partners William Milroy and Toby Ng advance to second round defeating Germans Wouter Claes and Frederic Mawet 21-12 16-21 21-19.

-The Canadian mixed doubles team of William Milroy and Fiona McKee defeat Slovakia 21-16.21-14 in 21 minutes.

India's Chetan Anand celebrates after defeating Korea's Ji Hoon Hong during their singles match against in preliminary round of the World Badminton Championships in Hyderabad August 10, 2009.

- Number three ranked Peter Hoeg Gade of Denmark took out Valeriy Atrashchenkov of the Ukraine, as expected 21-11,21-16.  "I haven’t yet got the right feel of the conditions and the draft factor is causing some difficulties like it does in some venues. But the lighting is perfect and conducive to good badminton," Gade told reporters afterwards.  

- Men's singles India hopeful Chetan Anand had a good start to his tournament winning against Ji Hoon Hong of Korea 21-8, 21-16 (pictured at left courtesy of daylife.com)

- Sony Dwi Kuncoro of Indonesia took care of Michael Lahnsteiner of Austria 21-13,21-9 in just under a half hour.

- Yan Kit Chan of Hong Kong beat Iranian shuttler Kaveh Mehrabi 21-15, 21-11 in men's singles.

Tomorrow will see top shuttlers Taufik Hidayat from Indoensia, Joachim Persson of Denmark, Jin Chen and Lan Lu of China, Przemyslaw Wacha of Poland, Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand, and Simon Santoso from Indonesia all see action for the first time.  Along with the doubles pairs of Nova Widianto & Liliyana Natsir of Indonesia, Thomas Laybourn & Kamilla Rytter Juhl of Denmark, India's Diju Valiyaveetil & Jwala Gutta, Shendy Puspa Irawati & Meiliana Jauhari of Indonesia and Sudket Prapakamol & Saralee Thoungthongkam of Thailand.

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