Fairuzizuan-Zakry end three-year title drought
Li-Ning 11:03 AM
PETALING JAYA: Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif lived up to their top billing and lifted the India Open badminton men’s doubles title in Chennai yesterday.
It was not a major Open title but one that is important for the beleaguered national pair.
Champs in India: Mohd Fairuzizuan Tazari (front) and Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif lived up to their top billing. Top seeds Fairuzizuan-Zakry defeated Rupesh Kumar-Thomas Sanave of India 21-12, 22-20 in a 35-minute final to end a three-year title drought.
The duo had gone on a barren run after the impressive back-to-back title triumph at the Singapore and Indonesian Open in 2007.
“It gives us great joy to win a title after so long.
“It feels as though a big burden had been lifted off our shoulders,” said Zakry in a telephone interview.
The expectations had been high on the country’s second ranked pair of Zakry-Fairuzizuan but both had been struggling to live up to their tag.
In the Thomas Cup Finals last month, the duo fared miserably and it raised doubts on their future in the national team. Zakry hoped that the breakthrough at the India Open would spark off a good run in tournaments to gain selection for the team to the Guangzhou Asian Games in November.
“Our confidence was crushed so badly after our failure to win titles, big or small, over the last few years.
“We hope that the victory here will give us the confidence we need to rebuild our careers,” said Zakry.
The duo will be playing in the Singapore Open next week followed by the Indonesian Opens.
Wong Mew Choo failed to make it a double joy for Malaysia when she went down 22-20, 14-21, 12-21 to home favourites Saina Nehwal in the women’s singles final.
It was not a major Open title but one that is important for the beleaguered national pair.
Champs in India: Mohd Fairuzizuan Tazari (front) and Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif lived up to their top billing. The duo had gone on a barren run after the impressive back-to-back title triumph at the Singapore and Indonesian Open in 2007.
“It gives us great joy to win a title after so long.
“It feels as though a big burden had been lifted off our shoulders,” said Zakry in a telephone interview.
The expectations had been high on the country’s second ranked pair of Zakry-Fairuzizuan but both had been struggling to live up to their tag.
In the Thomas Cup Finals last month, the duo fared miserably and it raised doubts on their future in the national team. Zakry hoped that the breakthrough at the India Open would spark off a good run in tournaments to gain selection for the team to the Guangzhou Asian Games in November.
“Our confidence was crushed so badly after our failure to win titles, big or small, over the last few years.
“We hope that the victory here will give us the confidence we need to rebuild our careers,” said Zakry.
The duo will be playing in the Singapore Open next week followed by the Indonesian Opens.
Wong Mew Choo failed to make it a double joy for Malaysia when she went down 22-20, 14-21, 12-21 to home favourites Saina Nehwal in the women’s singles final.
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 11:03 AM.
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