"Indonesia Open Super Series 2011" Chong Wei and Lin Dan cruise into second round

World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei and arch nemesis Lin Dan stayed on course to meet in the final of the Djarum Indonesia Open Superseries Premier when they won their opening matches on Wednesday.

Chong Wei, who skipped last week’s Li Ning Singapore Open, began his campaign to become the first non-Indonesian shuttler to win this tournament three-times-in-a-row with a straight forward 21-16, 21-8 thrashing of Indonesian Tommy Sugiarto. It was the Malaysian’s fifth consecutive victory over his opponent.

Chong Wei, who has already won five tournaments this year, said: “I hope to win this title for the third year running, but I need to stay focussed and not take anyone lightly.

“I have played Tommy three times this year and I knew his game quite well. Hopefully, the Indonesian fans will get behind me.”

Ardy Wiranata (1990, 1991, 1992) and Taufik Hidayat (2002, 2003, 2004), are the only players to have won the Indonesian Open for three consecutive years. They also hold the record of having each won their home crown six times.

Evergreen Danish superstar Peter Gade (above), is the sole European left in the men’s singles draw. He reached the second round when he defeated Indian qualifier Ajay Jayaram 24-22, 21-12.

Lin Dan, meanwhile, made a quick recovery after conceding a walkover in Sunday’s Singapore Open final to Chinese team mate Chen Jin after coming down with gastroenteritis.

The three-time world champion and reigning Olympic and Asian Games gold medallist hammered Alamsyah Yunus of Indonesia 21-12, 21-15 and will now face the fast improving Sho Sasaki of Japan in Thursday’s second round.

“I was suffering health problems in the Singapore Open. I had to keep my body fit for the matches out here,” the second seeded Lin Dan said after his match.

“I will try my best to win all my matches in Indonesia.”

Local hero Taufik, who was runner-up to Chong Wei last year, struggled to get past Malaysian qualifier Liew Daren, taking 77 minutes to tame the youngster 30-28, 21-23, 21-12.

The high profile defeat of world No. 2 Wang Xin in the women’s singles was the biggest shock on the opening, although there was also a big upset in the women’s doubles.

High-riding Japanese duo Miyuki Maeda-Satoko Suetsuna, who are seeded third, was shown the door by South Korea’s Jung Kyung Eun-Kim Ha Na, who won 21-13, 21-12.

Luckily for Japan, two other pairs – fourth seeds Mizuki Fujii-Reika Kakiiwa and seventh seeds Shizuka Matsuo-Mami Naito (left), – are still in the running.

Fujii-Kakiiwa destroyed Australians Leanne Choo-Renuga Veeran 21-8, 21-12 while Matsuo-Naito outplayed England’s Jenny Wallwork-Gabrielle White 21-14, 21-17.