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Malaysian star Lee comes from behind to defeat Yu Chen

Lee Chong Wei hits a return against Chen Yu during their match at the Malaysia Open in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

Badminton's World N0. 2 Lee Chong Wei came back from behind to beat China's Yu Chen in the Malaysian Open men's singles semi-final yesterday

Lee downed his opponent 25-23, 21-11, using drop shots and net play. He now faces South Korean Lee Hyun Ii in the final, who earlier beat Denmark's Kenneth Jonassen in straight sets, 21-15, 21-18.

In the men's doubles Denmark's Lars Paaske and Jonas Rasmussen defied the odds to book a spot in the final after besting the third seeded pair, China's Fu Haifeng and Cai Yun, 21-16, 19-21, 21-17.

sweet revenge

In the women's competition, China's Zhu Lin topped Malaysia's Wong Mew Choo 21-19, 21-12 in the singles semi final -- sweet revenge for the Chinese player who lost to Mew Choo in last November's China Open.

Zhu Lin faces Dane Tine Rasmussen, who heads to the final after trouncing fifth seed Pi Hongyan of France 21-12, 21-10.

Korean mixed doubles team Lee Yong Dae-Lee Hyo Jung trailed the English pair of Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms in the first set, but they clawed back to win the match 23-21, 16-21, 21-16 and a spot in the finals.

The Koreans will compete for the top prize against China's He Hanbin and Yu Yang, who upstaged Thai eighth seeded pair Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thoungthongkam 21-23, 21-17, 23-21 in a hard fought match.

quit threat

Meanwhile, Malaysia's national doubles coach Rexy Mainaky has threatened to quit again, this time after the early exit of world No. 1 pair Koo Kien and Keat-Tan Boon Heong in the Open.

"I love Malaysia," said Mainaky, an Indonesian. "However, people think I'm not doing enough."

"I will announce my decision when the time is right," he said.

In the 2006 Doha Asian Games, Mainaky threatened to step down after Malaysia lost to South Korea in the semi-finals.
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