KUALA LUMPUR: Cheam June Wei may be king of the Lin Dan Cup, but he ruled over none at the Korea Open.
The Malaysian bowed out in his first qualifying round match in Yeosu City on Tuesday, losing 21-12, 21-19 to South Korean world No. 96 Choi Ji Hoon.
World No. 56 June Wei, a record five-time winner of the Lin Dan Cup, had better fortune on his previous visit to Korea, where he reached the semi-finals of the Korea Masters in August.
BAM shuttler Eogene Ewe also crashed out in the qualifiers. The world No. 86 first beat South Korea’s world No. 64 Park Sang Yong 12-21, 21-18, 21-12 before losing 22-20, 17-21, 21-19 to Indonesia’s world No. 47 Richie Duta Ricardo.
Eogene had led 20-18 in the opening game, but allowed Richie to snatch it 22-20. He also saved four match points in the deciding game when trailing 20-15, but eventually lost 21-19, bringing Malaysia’s men’s singles campaign to an end.