Malaysia's junior shuttlers can make history in Guadalajara
News 10:33 AM
PETALING JAYA: It could be a historic outing for Malaysia in the world junior badminton championships, which begin today with the mixed team competition in Guadalajara, Mexico.
But hopes for the country’s first-ever title in the event will very much depend on the ability of the shuttlers to rise above expectations in three of the five matches in a tie – the boys’ singles and doubles and the mixed doubles.
Malaysia have the option of fielding Loh Wei Sheng or Zulfadli Zulkifli in the boys’ singles and also ride on the strength of Ow Yao Han in the boys’ doubles with Yew Hong Kheng and in the mixed doubles with Lai Pei Jing.
It will be tough for Malaysia in the girls’ singles and doubles matches as Sonia Cheah and Yang Li Lian are still lacking in experience.
Malaysia have never won a world junior mixed team title, but last year they did the unexpected to reach the final for the first time before losing to China.
The recent outing in the Asian Juniors in Kuala Lumpur showed that Malaysia have players with strong determination to challenge for the title. They were beaten 1-3 by China in the final.
Malaysia’s junior programme coordinator Hau Kim Tho said that their goal was to again reach the final.
“The team have settled down in Mexico after two days of getting used to the new environment. China may have the better overall strength but the chances are still open to the others in this edition,” he said.
Malaysia open their campaign in Group Z1 against the Dominican Republic today and they should win 5-0. They will play against Singapore next. Topping the group will give them a tie against the winners of Group Z2, expected to be either be India or Denmark, for a place in the semi-finals.
“We may meet India in the quarter-finals. They have good boys’ and girls’ singles players. If we get into the semi-final, we can expect to play against either South Korea or Thailand,” said Kim Tho. “It will not be easy but we hope our players will do their best to reach the final for the second consecutive year.”
The individual competitions begin on Tuesday and Malaysia will be hoping to maintain their good tradition in the boys’ doubles event. Last year, Malaysia won the title through Yao Han-Chooi Kah Ming.
Following strong performances from Zulfadli and Wei Sheng in the Asian Juniors, there is also hope for Malaysia to nail an elusive world junior singles title.
Zulfadli did well to help Malaysia reach the final of the team event at the Asian Juniors while Wei Sheng pulled off a surprise to emerge as the runner-up in the individual competition.
The Groupings:
W1: China, France, Mexico.
W2: Japan, Germany, Austria.
X1: Indonesia, Canada, South Africa.
X2: Taiwan, England, Peru.
Y1: Thailand, Holland, Puerto Rico.
Y2: South Korea, Hong Kong, Turkey.
Z1: Malaysia, Singapore, Dominican Republic.
Z2: India, Denmark, United States
But hopes for the country’s first-ever title in the event will very much depend on the ability of the shuttlers to rise above expectations in three of the five matches in a tie – the boys’ singles and doubles and the mixed doubles.
Malaysia have the option of fielding Loh Wei Sheng or Zulfadli Zulkifli in the boys’ singles and also ride on the strength of Ow Yao Han in the boys’ doubles with Yew Hong Kheng and in the mixed doubles with Lai Pei Jing.
It will be tough for Malaysia in the girls’ singles and doubles matches as Sonia Cheah and Yang Li Lian are still lacking in experience.
Malaysia have never won a world junior mixed team title, but last year they did the unexpected to reach the final for the first time before losing to China.
The recent outing in the Asian Juniors in Kuala Lumpur showed that Malaysia have players with strong determination to challenge for the title. They were beaten 1-3 by China in the final.
Malaysia’s junior programme coordinator Hau Kim Tho said that their goal was to again reach the final.
“The team have settled down in Mexico after two days of getting used to the new environment. China may have the better overall strength but the chances are still open to the others in this edition,” he said.
Malaysia open their campaign in Group Z1 against the Dominican Republic today and they should win 5-0. They will play against Singapore next. Topping the group will give them a tie against the winners of Group Z2, expected to be either be India or Denmark, for a place in the semi-finals.
“We may meet India in the quarter-finals. They have good boys’ and girls’ singles players. If we get into the semi-final, we can expect to play against either South Korea or Thailand,” said Kim Tho. “It will not be easy but we hope our players will do their best to reach the final for the second consecutive year.”
The individual competitions begin on Tuesday and Malaysia will be hoping to maintain their good tradition in the boys’ doubles event. Last year, Malaysia won the title through Yao Han-Chooi Kah Ming.
Following strong performances from Zulfadli and Wei Sheng in the Asian Juniors, there is also hope for Malaysia to nail an elusive world junior singles title.
Zulfadli did well to help Malaysia reach the final of the team event at the Asian Juniors while Wei Sheng pulled off a surprise to emerge as the runner-up in the individual competition.
The Groupings:
W1: China, France, Mexico.
W2: Japan, Germany, Austria.
X1: Indonesia, Canada, South Africa.
X2: Taiwan, England, Peru.
Y1: Thailand, Holland, Puerto Rico.
Y2: South Korea, Hong Kong, Turkey.
Z1: Malaysia, Singapore, Dominican Republic.
Z2: India, Denmark, United States
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 10:33 AM.
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