Badminton: Hong Kheng-Yao Han eye national call-up after storming into semis
News 9:13 AM
PETALING JAYA: Newly-crowned world junior champions Yew Hong Kheng-Ow Yao Han have their hearts set on a call-up to the national team.
The duo, who overcame team-mates Nelson Heg-Teo Ee Yi in the final to claim the world title in Mexico last month, beat Kong Keat Zhean-S. Krishna Kumar 23-21, 21-12 in their last group match to storm into the semi-finals of the 100Plus National Junior Badminton Circuit Grand Finals at the Indera Mahkota Stadium last night.
Yao Han-Hong Kheng will be hoping to continue with their form when they take on Goh Sze Onn-Tan Wee Tat today.
Nelson-Ee Yi also reached the semi-finals after topping Group B with a 21-15, 21-16 win over Andy Ng-Lai Zing Neng.
Hong Kheng said they aim to bag the National Junior Grand Finals title to show that they are ready to break into the national squad.
“Obviously, we would love to be in the national team as soon as possible but we know that we must first make the back-up squad. We are still young but we hope to be in the national team as that is what every shuttler aims for.
“It is going to be a long, hard road but we are determined to succeed,” said the 18-year-old.
Hong Kheng added he has another big target in front of him after the National Junior Grand Finals ends tomorrow.
“I will go back to Penang to prepare for the Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Malacca next month. Unfortunately, I can’t continue my partnership with Yao Han for the Games as he is from Malacca,” said Hong Kheng.
Meanwhile, Nurul Hedayu Zainuddin of Johor created an upset when she beat top seed Yan Jia Lin of Negri Sembilan in the girls’ Under-18 singles event.
Nurul, of Bukit Jalil Sports School, won 21-16, 21-13 to book her place in the semi-finals where she will face Selangor’s Yang Li Lian.
The other semi-final will be between Sabah’s Tan Sue Lin and Johor’s Lim Chiew Sien.
UNDER-18 SINGLES
BOYS
Group A: Tay Kok Hau (Mal) bt Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayup (BJSS-Sel) 13-21, 23-21, 21-7; Mohd Fairuz Mohd Fauzi (Pah) bt Lee Teng Hau (Pen) 21-18, 21-12.
Group B: Lim Yu Sheng (BAM-Mal) bt H’Ng Ken Wei (Pen) 10-21, 21-18, 21-14; Loke Kok Pong (Kul) bt Andrew Wong Ping Seong (Sel) 21-19, 22-24, 21-4.
Group C: Loh Wei Sheng (BAM-Nse) bt Zairul Anuar Zainuddin (BAM-Joh) 21-16, 21-9; Mohd Akmal Hakim Bin Yunus (Pah) bt Ooi Yi Keat 21-12, 21-19.
Group D: Goh Giap Chin (BJSS-Pen) bt Winson Neo Vui Min (Sab) 21-10, 21-17; Teh Min Yee (Kul) bt Low Juan Shen (Nse) 21-10, 20-22, 21-14.
GIRLS
Group A: Nurul Hedayu Zainudin (BJSS-Joh) bt Yan Jia Lin (Nse) 21-16, 21-13; Hen Yee Wah (Prk) bt Amanda Khoo Pei Ling (Kul) 21-14, 22-21-18.
Group B: Eng Suk Cheng (Pen) bt Nurhani Abdul Aziz (BAM-Kul)21-19, 12-21, 21-18; Lim Chiew Sien (BJSS-Sel) bt Yap Sin Fea (Sel) 21-14, 21-13.
Group C: Yang Li Lian (BAM-Sel) bt S. Renuka (Sel) 21-12, 21-10; Nurul Intan Juliza Jaafar (Joh) bt Syarifah Noor Azureen Syed (Prk) 21-16, 21-16.
Group D: Tan Sue Lin (Sab) bt Ng Sin Er (BAM-Ked) 21-14, 11-21, 21-16; Leong Sheau Yueh (Pah) bt Chew Huay Han (Pen) 22-20, 21-18.
The duo, who overcame team-mates Nelson Heg-Teo Ee Yi in the final to claim the world title in Mexico last month, beat Kong Keat Zhean-S. Krishna Kumar 23-21, 21-12 in their last group match to storm into the semi-finals of the 100Plus National Junior Badminton Circuit Grand Finals at the Indera Mahkota Stadium last night.
Yao Han-Hong Kheng will be hoping to continue with their form when they take on Goh Sze Onn-Tan Wee Tat today.
Nelson-Ee Yi also reached the semi-finals after topping Group B with a 21-15, 21-16 win over Andy Ng-Lai Zing Neng.
Hong Kheng said they aim to bag the National Junior Grand Finals title to show that they are ready to break into the national squad.
“Obviously, we would love to be in the national team as soon as possible but we know that we must first make the back-up squad. We are still young but we hope to be in the national team as that is what every shuttler aims for.
“It is going to be a long, hard road but we are determined to succeed,” said the 18-year-old.
Hong Kheng added he has another big target in front of him after the National Junior Grand Finals ends tomorrow.
“I will go back to Penang to prepare for the Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Malacca next month. Unfortunately, I can’t continue my partnership with Yao Han for the Games as he is from Malacca,” said Hong Kheng.
Meanwhile, Nurul Hedayu Zainuddin of Johor created an upset when she beat top seed Yan Jia Lin of Negri Sembilan in the girls’ Under-18 singles event.
Nurul, of Bukit Jalil Sports School, won 21-16, 21-13 to book her place in the semi-finals where she will face Selangor’s Yang Li Lian.
The other semi-final will be between Sabah’s Tan Sue Lin and Johor’s Lim Chiew Sien.
UNDER-18 SINGLES
BOYS
Group A: Tay Kok Hau (Mal) bt Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayup (BJSS-Sel) 13-21, 23-21, 21-7; Mohd Fairuz Mohd Fauzi (Pah) bt Lee Teng Hau (Pen) 21-18, 21-12.
Group B: Lim Yu Sheng (BAM-Mal) bt H’Ng Ken Wei (Pen) 10-21, 21-18, 21-14; Loke Kok Pong (Kul) bt Andrew Wong Ping Seong (Sel) 21-19, 22-24, 21-4.
Group C: Loh Wei Sheng (BAM-Nse) bt Zairul Anuar Zainuddin (BAM-Joh) 21-16, 21-9; Mohd Akmal Hakim Bin Yunus (Pah) bt Ooi Yi Keat 21-12, 21-19.
Group D: Goh Giap Chin (BJSS-Pen) bt Winson Neo Vui Min (Sab) 21-10, 21-17; Teh Min Yee (Kul) bt Low Juan Shen (Nse) 21-10, 20-22, 21-14.
GIRLS
Group A: Nurul Hedayu Zainudin (BJSS-Joh) bt Yan Jia Lin (Nse) 21-16, 21-13; Hen Yee Wah (Prk) bt Amanda Khoo Pei Ling (Kul) 21-14, 22-21-18.
Group B: Eng Suk Cheng (Pen) bt Nurhani Abdul Aziz (BAM-Kul)21-19, 12-21, 21-18; Lim Chiew Sien (BJSS-Sel) bt Yap Sin Fea (Sel) 21-14, 21-13.
Group C: Yang Li Lian (BAM-Sel) bt S. Renuka (Sel) 21-12, 21-10; Nurul Intan Juliza Jaafar (Joh) bt Syarifah Noor Azureen Syed (Prk) 21-16, 21-16.
Group D: Tan Sue Lin (Sab) bt Ng Sin Er (BAM-Ked) 21-14, 11-21, 21-16; Leong Sheau Yueh (Pah) bt Chew Huay Han (Pen) 22-20, 21-18.
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 9:13 AM.
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