Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/07/19
By: Lee Chin-wei and Jay Chen
Taipei, July 19 (CNA) Despite strong support from a home crowd, Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen
Chou Tien-chen (left) and Chen Long shake hands after their match Sunday.
(周天成) was unable to complete a stunning run of upsets this week when he lost to world No. 1 Chen Long (諶龍）of China in the men’s singles final of the Yonex Open Taipei 2015 on Sunday.
Chou, who ranks eighth in the world in the Badminton World Federation rankings, got off to a strong start but eventually could not cope with Chen’s expertly placed drop shots and lost 15-21, 21-6, 21-9.
Still, it was the first time that Chou had even won a game off Chen in five encounters.
Hopes were high among Chou’s supporters ahead of the final after he outlasted world No. 5 Lin Dan (林丹) of China 21-19, 18-21, 21-16 in a marathon 77-minute semifinal match to become the only Taiwanese ever to beat the 2008 and 2012 Olympic gold medalist. [FULL STORY]
