BY RAJES PAUL
KUCHING: The men's doubles top seeds – Jens Eriksen-Martin Lundgaard Hansen of Denmark – withdrew from the Proton Malaysian Open yesterday. And it is good news for our national pair of Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Lin Woon Fui. The All-England semi-finalists were expected to square off with the Danes in the quarter-finals. Now, barring any upsets, Fairuzizuan-Woon Fui have a smooth ride to the semi-finals.
The four-star tournament starts today at the Stadium Perpaduan.
Fairuzizuan-Woon Fui are expected to meet either the 2004 champions Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah or the new lethal Korean pair of Jung jae-sung-Lee Yong-dae in the last four.
Besides Tan Fook-Wan Wah and Fairuzizuan-Woon Fui, Malaysia can also bank on Chan Chong Ming-Koo Kien Keat to deliver.
Wan Wah said: “We cannot single out one clear favourite in the men's doubles. The race is quite open and Malaysia can bank on several pairs other than us for honours this time.”
“The pairs to beat here will be the Koreans and Chinese,” he added.
China will be banking on second seed Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng, who are out to win their first Malaysian Open title.
The Chinese are expected to cross path with Swiss Open champions Chong Ming-Kien Keat in the semi-finals.
Besides the top three Malaysian pairs, there are other pairs who are also capable of pulling off upsets. They are the Asian Championships runner-up Hoon Thien How-Tan Boon Heong, All-England semi-finalists Gan Teik Chai-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif and Ong Soon Hock-Tan Bin Shen.
While there are more options for Malaysia in the men's doubles since Rexy Mainaky took charge of the doubles department, Lee Chong Wei is the only singles player expected to stave off challenges from the Chinese and Denmark stars following the withdrawal of Mohd Hafiz Hashim due to injury.
China are banking on top seed Lin Dan, Chen Hong and Chen Jin while Denmark will be out for another good showing through Peter Gade-Christensen and Kenneth Jonassen, who made a 1-2 sweep at the Singapore Open last week.
Chong Wei, seeded second, has vowed to win his third title in a row.
Wearing his World Cup's favourite team's jersey (Brazil) during training yesterday, the 24-year-old Chong Wei said: “The field is strong. Lin Dan will be out to make up for his disappointment last year (the Chinese lost to Chong Wei in the final). I can only promise to give my best.”
This time, Indonesia have only sent their second stringers for the competition.
With China's best occupying the top two seedings in the women's singles and doubles, Malaysian women are not expected to go far.
The only hope will be on Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui in the women's doubles but they have a tricky first round meeting with South Korean Hwang Yu-mi-Kim Min-jung. If they go through, they are expected to meet China's top seed Gao Ling-Hung Sui in the semi-finals.(The Star Online)
Source:badmintonplanet.com
KUCHING: The men's doubles top seeds – Jens Eriksen-Martin Lundgaard Hansen of Denmark – withdrew from the Proton Malaysian Open yesterday. And it is good news for our national pair of Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Lin Woon Fui. The All-England semi-finalists were expected to square off with the Danes in the quarter-finals. Now, barring any upsets, Fairuzizuan-Woon Fui have a smooth ride to the semi-finals.
The four-star tournament starts today at the Stadium Perpaduan.
Fairuzizuan-Woon Fui are expected to meet either the 2004 champions Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah or the new lethal Korean pair of Jung jae-sung-Lee Yong-dae in the last four.
Besides Tan Fook-Wan Wah and Fairuzizuan-Woon Fui, Malaysia can also bank on Chan Chong Ming-Koo Kien Keat to deliver.
Wan Wah said: “We cannot single out one clear favourite in the men's doubles. The race is quite open and Malaysia can bank on several pairs other than us for honours this time.”
“The pairs to beat here will be the Koreans and Chinese,” he added.
China will be banking on second seed Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng, who are out to win their first Malaysian Open title.
The Chinese are expected to cross path with Swiss Open champions Chong Ming-Kien Keat in the semi-finals.
Besides the top three Malaysian pairs, there are other pairs who are also capable of pulling off upsets. They are the Asian Championships runner-up Hoon Thien How-Tan Boon Heong, All-England semi-finalists Gan Teik Chai-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif and Ong Soon Hock-Tan Bin Shen.
While there are more options for Malaysia in the men's doubles since Rexy Mainaky took charge of the doubles department, Lee Chong Wei is the only singles player expected to stave off challenges from the Chinese and Denmark stars following the withdrawal of Mohd Hafiz Hashim due to injury.
China are banking on top seed Lin Dan, Chen Hong and Chen Jin while Denmark will be out for another good showing through Peter Gade-Christensen and Kenneth Jonassen, who made a 1-2 sweep at the Singapore Open last week.
Chong Wei, seeded second, has vowed to win his third title in a row.
Wearing his World Cup's favourite team's jersey (Brazil) during training yesterday, the 24-year-old Chong Wei said: “The field is strong. Lin Dan will be out to make up for his disappointment last year (the Chinese lost to Chong Wei in the final). I can only promise to give my best.”
This time, Indonesia have only sent their second stringers for the competition.
With China's best occupying the top two seedings in the women's singles and doubles, Malaysian women are not expected to go far.
The only hope will be on Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui in the women's doubles but they have a tricky first round meeting with South Korean Hwang Yu-mi-Kim Min-jung. If they go through, they are expected to meet China's top seed Gao Ling-Hung Sui in the semi-finals.(The Star Online)
Source:badmintonplanet.com
