‘Marathon Man’ Vincent Wong will bring curtain down on memorable 17-year career at badminton World Championships in Tokyo
- Hong Kong badminton star says he feels ‘blessed’ to call it quits on such a big stage in Japanese capital
- Wong admits earning the ‘Lin Dan Killer’ nickname after defeating legendary Chinese player is highlight of his career
Vincent Wong Wing-ki has earned a last-minute entry into the main draw of this month’s Badminton World Championships in Tokyo, where he will bring the curtain down on a memorable 17-year career.
The 32-year-old has drawn world No 74 Julien Carraggi of Belgium in his opening match at the tournament, which will take place from August 22 -28 at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.
The former world No 10 became a full-time athlete in 2005, but made his mark on the professional tour in 2011 when he defeated China’s then-world No 1 and Olympic champion Lin Dan in three sets at the Denmark Open, earning himself the nickname “Lin Dan Killer”.
Wong had originally been selected as a reserve for Worlds, but earned a spot in the draw after several withdrawals.
“I had been preparing and waiting for a chance to play my retiring match,” Wong told the Post. “I am so blessed to end my career at such a high-profile event. I will give everything I have to this tournament.”
Should he get past Carraggi, Wong is likely to meet Hong Kong No 1 Angus Ng Ka-long in the second round of the men’s singles.
Wong holds a 4-1 head-to-head record over Ng, and beat him in two sets in their most recent clash in the 2019 Indonesia Open quarter-finals.
