Debut within sight for Fairuzizuan-Zakry
News 12:00 PM
PETALING JAYA: Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Mohd Zakry Latif look set to make their first appearance in the Thomas Cup Finals in Jakarta in May.
Fairuzizuan-Zakry are the prime candidates to be named for the third men’s doubles slot for the Malaysian squad.
While the coaches should have no problems naming the pair to join the higher ranked Lee Wan Wah-Choong Tan Fook and Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong for the Finals, they are not jumping for joy yet.
Fairuzizuan-Zakry, currently ranked 11th in the world, are not taking their position for granted and will be out to impress the coaches in the Asian Badminton Championships (ABC) in Johor Baru, starting April 15.
The unseeded pair produced their best result of the season when they reached the semi-finals of the Swiss Open last month. They managed to beat team-mates Kien Keat-Boon Heong but failed to topple world No. 1 Markis Kido-Hendra Setia-wan of Indonesia in the last four.
For Zakry, the Asian meet later this month will be of special significance. It was at last year’s event, held at the same venue, that the duo partnered each other for the first time.
They exceeded expectations in their first appearance together by making the semi-finals before losing to eventual champions Tan Fook-Wan Wah.
“The Asian meet will be sort of our first anniversary as a pair. Although we have reached the final in an Open tournament before, we have yet to win a title,’’ said Zakry.
“It is every player’s aim to win one but we will not be desperate,” he added.
“It’s important for us to be more consistent and avoid losing in the early rounds.
“Both of us hope to play in the Thomas Cup Finals because we have never had a chance. So, it is crucial for us to play well in the Asian meet.”
Fairuzizuan-Zakry have never played in the Finals but did feature for Malaysia in the Asian zone qualifiers in Vietnam in February.
The pair were fielded for the final against South Korea. They under-estimated the scratch combination of Hwang Ji-man-Sung Hwan and their defeat almost cost the team an embarrassing defeat.
It is this kind of hiccups that they must cut down on if they do not want doubles head coach Rexy Mainaky to change his mind on their selection for the Finals team.
Fairuzizuan-Zakry are the prime candidates to be named for the third men’s doubles slot for the Malaysian squad.
While the coaches should have no problems naming the pair to join the higher ranked Lee Wan Wah-Choong Tan Fook and Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong for the Finals, they are not jumping for joy yet.
Fairuzizuan-Zakry, currently ranked 11th in the world, are not taking their position for granted and will be out to impress the coaches in the Asian Badminton Championships (ABC) in Johor Baru, starting April 15.
The unseeded pair produced their best result of the season when they reached the semi-finals of the Swiss Open last month. They managed to beat team-mates Kien Keat-Boon Heong but failed to topple world No. 1 Markis Kido-Hendra Setia-wan of Indonesia in the last four.
For Zakry, the Asian meet later this month will be of special significance. It was at last year’s event, held at the same venue, that the duo partnered each other for the first time.
They exceeded expectations in their first appearance together by making the semi-finals before losing to eventual champions Tan Fook-Wan Wah.
“The Asian meet will be sort of our first anniversary as a pair. Although we have reached the final in an Open tournament before, we have yet to win a title,’’ said Zakry.
“It is every player’s aim to win one but we will not be desperate,” he added.
“It’s important for us to be more consistent and avoid losing in the early rounds.
“Both of us hope to play in the Thomas Cup Finals because we have never had a chance. So, it is crucial for us to play well in the Asian meet.”
Fairuzizuan-Zakry have never played in the Finals but did feature for Malaysia in the Asian zone qualifiers in Vietnam in February.
The pair were fielded for the final against South Korea. They under-estimated the scratch combination of Hwang Ji-man-Sung Hwan and their defeat almost cost the team an embarrassing defeat.
It is this kind of hiccups that they must cut down on if they do not want doubles head coach Rexy Mainaky to change his mind on their selection for the Finals team.
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 12:00 PM.
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