Taipei Open: Cheers Carry Lee Through
For 70 exhausting minutes, Lee Chia Hao slogged against Riki Takei, refusing to let an opportunity to regain his confidence slip away.
· PREM KUMAR
Roared on by a passionate crowd, the Chinese Taipei men’s singles player survived a tense opening-round battle, sealing a 21-15 14-21 25-23 victory after seeing four consecutive match points erased.
Lee admitted he drew strength from the fans who had waited a year to see him compete at home.
“It’s been a long time since I played here,” Lee said. “It feels different from playing abroad. Being on home ground, with so many fans cheering me on, makes me feel even more excited and gives me a greater sense of drive.”