Badminton: Santoso shocks Lee in final
Defeats world number one in Singapore Open
Indonesia’s Simon Santoso registered a shocking win over favourite Lee Chong Wei in the final of the Singapore Open. PHOTO: AFP
SINGAPORE:
Unseeded Indonesian Simon Santoso pulled off a major shock when he thrashed badminton's world number one Lee Chong Wei to win the Singapore Open for the first time on Sunday.
The 28-year-old, considered a rank outsider against Malaysia's imperious Lee, upset the form book in style with an emphatic 21-15, 21-10 victory in just 48 minutes in the Singapore final.
Santoso reeled off nine straight points to stifle Lee's second-game revival and take the match, dropping his racquet to the court and raising his arms in celebration in front of a bemused crowd.
"I am really satisfied with my performance especially after beating one of the best players, Lee Chong Wei, in the final,” said Santoso.
"I am really happy because it's been a while since I beat Lee and I was struggling throughout the qualification rounds."
It was only Santoso's second win in 11 matches against the All-England champion, who had lost just once this year. But Lee, 31, downplayed the loss, saying it was ‘only the Singapore Open’.
"This is just a Super Series, there are still many other important tournaments,” said the 33-time Superseries tournament winner.
“I just take care not to get an injury at the competition. I just tried to enjoy myself in Singapore and not make too much of an effort.”
Unseeded Indonesian Simon Santoso pulled off a major shock when he thrashed badminton's world number one Lee Chong Wei to win the Singapore Open for the first time on Sunday.
The 28-year-old, considered a rank outsider against Malaysia's imperious Lee, upset the form book in style with an emphatic 21-15, 21-10 victory in just 48 minutes in the Singapore final.
Santoso reeled off nine straight points to stifle Lee's second-game revival and take the match, dropping his racquet to the court and raising his arms in celebration in front of a bemused crowd.
"I am really satisfied with my performance especially after beating one of the best players, Lee Chong Wei, in the final,” said Santoso.
"I am really happy because it's been a while since I beat Lee and I was struggling throughout the qualification rounds."
It was only Santoso's second win in 11 matches against the All-England champion, who had lost just once this year. But Lee, 31, downplayed the loss, saying it was ‘only the Singapore Open’.
"This is just a Super Series, there are still many other important tournaments,” said the 33-time Superseries tournament winner.
“I just take care not to get an injury at the competition. I just tried to enjoy myself in Singapore and not make too much of an effort.”