Zakry and his sister out to steal limelight at National GP badminton finals
News, Zakry 11:51 PM
KUALA LUMPUR: National men’s doubles shuttler Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif will be out to steal the limelight together with youngster sister Nairul Suhada in the National Grand Prix Finals, which begin today in Alor Star.
Although they do not train together as a mixed doubles pair, they still managed to qualify for the Finals with quarter-final and semi-final appearances in the Penang and Johor Open tournaments respectively.
And Zakry hopes that a good showing in the Finals will get national doubles chief coach Rexy Mainaky to consider them as one of the mixed doubles pairs for the future.
The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) are now giving more emphasis on mixed doubles play in their bid to get players to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics.
Alternative mix: Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif (left) and Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari did not qualify for the men’s doubles in the National GP Finals. But Zakry will feature in the mixed doubles with his younger sister Nairul. The 25-year-old Zakry added that fun matches over weekends at his hometown Seremban helped him to complement Nairul well.
“It is amazing that we have made it to the GP Finals. We do not train together at the national training centre. We were just thrown together in the last two Open tournaments this year,” said Zakry.
“But we know each other’s game well. Usually, we play for fun back home and I guess that this has helped.
“It will be great if my sister and I can go far. Hopefully, we will be given the chance to try out as a combination in international tournaments next year.
“A good showing in the GP Finals may make our dream come true.”
The duo are in Group A with Mohd Razif Abdul Latif-Sabrina Chong, Chan Peng Soon-Amelia Anscelly and Yew Hong Kheng-Lai Pei Jing. The top two pairs will play in crossover semi-final matches against qualifiers from Group B, comprising Koo Kien Keat-Ng Hui Lin, Tan Wee Kiong-Woon Khe Wei, Ong Jian Guo-Goh Liu Ying and Ow Yao Han-Ong Boon Hui.
But not making it past the group stage with his 20-year-old sister would mean that Zakry has to rush back to Kuala Lumpur to resume training with his men’s doubles partner, Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari, for the Super Series Masters Finals in Kota Kinabalu next week.
“Fairuzizuan and I did not qualify for the GP Finals men’s doubles.
“We are aiming high in the Masters Finals. Our goal is to make at least the semi-finals,” said Zakry.
In the absence of Zakry-Fairuzizuan in the GP Finals, Kien Keat-Boon Heong are the hot favourites to win the title for the third consecutive time.
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 11:51 PM.
Filed under
