Badminton: Indians set to be a threat to M'sia at C'wealth Games
News 11:02 AM
PETALING JAYA: India’s singles players are set to be a threat to Malaysia at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in October.
Youngster R.M.V. Gurusaidutt and Chetan Anand wiped out Malaysia’s challenge in the men’s singles of the India Open in Chennai yesterday, defeating Mohd Hafiz Hashim and Tan Chun Seang respectively in quarter-final matches.
The 20-year-old second seeded Gurusaidutt, in his match against second seed Hafiz, won the first game 21-18 and was leading 16-15 when the Malaysian conceded a walkover because of pain in the knee.
The unseeded Chun Seang threw in a strong challenge against top seed Chetan Anand before going down 15-21, 19-21, 21-16 in 53 minutes.
National singles chief coach Rashid Sidek admitted that Malaysia would have to watch their backs against India at the Commonwealth Games.
“We used to dominate the singles event and with our players making a 1-2 sweep in the individual event. But now we have to be wary of the growing threat from India,” he said.
“(Lee) Chong Wei will be the favourite. But the other Malaysians will find the going tough based on their current form and we have to seriously look into this.”
On Hafiz’s injury, Rashid said: “He complained of pain in the right knee during training but he was doing fine after getting some treatment.
“It’s unfortunate that he has been hit by injuries again.
“We will now have to evaluate his participation in the Singapore and Indonesia Opens later this month. We will pull him out if the injury is serious.”
Hafiz also withdrew from the Asian Badminton Championships in India prior to the Thomas Cup Finals due to a back injury.
Wong Mew Choo and Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif stayed on track in their mission to win the title to boost their morale when they stormed into the semi-finals of the women’s singles and men’s doubles events respectively.
Mew Choo defeated Singapore’s Chen Jiayuan 22-20, 21-19 and will take on Linda Weni Fanetri of Indonesia. The path is clear for top seeds Fairuzizuan-Zakry to reach their first final this year in a match today against Singapore’s Chayut Triyachart-Danny Chrisnanta Bawa.
Youngster R.M.V. Gurusaidutt and Chetan Anand wiped out Malaysia’s challenge in the men’s singles of the India Open in Chennai yesterday, defeating Mohd Hafiz Hashim and Tan Chun Seang respectively in quarter-final matches.
The 20-year-old second seeded Gurusaidutt, in his match against second seed Hafiz, won the first game 21-18 and was leading 16-15 when the Malaysian conceded a walkover because of pain in the knee.
The unseeded Chun Seang threw in a strong challenge against top seed Chetan Anand before going down 15-21, 19-21, 21-16 in 53 minutes.
National singles chief coach Rashid Sidek admitted that Malaysia would have to watch their backs against India at the Commonwealth Games.
“We used to dominate the singles event and with our players making a 1-2 sweep in the individual event. But now we have to be wary of the growing threat from India,” he said.
“(Lee) Chong Wei will be the favourite. But the other Malaysians will find the going tough based on their current form and we have to seriously look into this.”
On Hafiz’s injury, Rashid said: “He complained of pain in the right knee during training but he was doing fine after getting some treatment.
“It’s unfortunate that he has been hit by injuries again.
“We will now have to evaluate his participation in the Singapore and Indonesia Opens later this month. We will pull him out if the injury is serious.”
Hafiz also withdrew from the Asian Badminton Championships in India prior to the Thomas Cup Finals due to a back injury.
Wong Mew Choo and Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif stayed on track in their mission to win the title to boost their morale when they stormed into the semi-finals of the women’s singles and men’s doubles events respectively.
Mew Choo defeated Singapore’s Chen Jiayuan 22-20, 21-19 and will take on Linda Weni Fanetri of Indonesia. The path is clear for top seeds Fairuzizuan-Zakry to reach their first final this year in a match today against Singapore’s Chayut Triyachart-Danny Chrisnanta Bawa.
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 11:02 AM.
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