Defeat ends Tan Fook-Wan Wah hope for world meet seeding
News, Tan Fook, Wan Wah 12:30 PM
PETALING JAYA: Veterans Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah suffered another setback in their run-up to the world championships when they were beaten by Hendra Aprida Gunawan-Alvent Yulianto in the first round of the Indonesian Open in Jakarta yesterday.
The eighth seeded Malaysians crashed to a 21-16, 18-21, 17-21 defeat by the Indonesians and it was their second consecutive first-round defeat after the Singapore Open last week.
The two defeats in Super Series tournaments have virtually ended their hopes of getting among the top eight seeds for the world championships, which will be held in Hyderabad from Aug 10-16.
Tan Fook-Wan Wah will not be playing in the Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold tournament in Johor Baru next week but they will feature in the Philippines Open from June 30-July 5.
Wan Wah said that their opponents adapted better to the conditions in the stadium.
“Their execution of the service was also better. We felt that there was some chance for us to fight for a seeding spot (in the world championships) but definitely there is no hope after this,” said Wan Wah in a telephone interview from Jakarta.
“But we have to get over it. There is time after the Philippines Open and we will work on improving our fitness and be well-prepared for the world championships.”
Tan Fook-Wan Wah were the bronze-medallists in the last championships in Kuala Lumpur two years ago.
It was smooth sailing for the rest of the Malaysian men’s doubles pairs in the Indonesian Open yesterday.
Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif began the defence of the title with a 21-8, 21-17 win over South Koreans Kim Ki-jung-Kwon Yi-goo. They will take on former national pair Chan Chong Ming-Chew Choon Eng for a place in the quarter-finals.
Chong Ming-Choon Eng scored a 21-17, 24-22 over England’s Chris Adcock-Robert Blair.
The top Malaysian pair of Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong cruised to a 21-16, 21-12 win over Holland’s Jorrit De Ruiter-Jurgen Wouters and will play against China’s Guo Zhendong-Chen Xu in the second round.
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 12:30 PM.
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