Korea: While their male counterparts were struggling, Malaysian women’s team got off to a good start at day one of Asian Badminton Championship (ABC).
Malaysia’s first women’s singles, world No. 49 Tee Jing Yi, defeated world No. 20 Yip Pui Yin of Hong Kong in the first round of the ABC in Gimcheon, South Korea on Wednesday.
It was a splendid result for the 23-year-old Jing Yi. But who would have imagined that Jing Yi, who won the Iran International Challenge – in February, nearly left the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) last year. She played her heart out to win first set 22-20, and got little resistance from Yip in the second set to nail the game at 21-14.
“I just took it easy and tried to play my best, and I am really happy with my performance” said Jing Yi.
“I noticed Yip wasn’t moving as fast as she used to be, I took advantage of that by making some good attacking shots.”
Jing Yi will play Taiwan’s world No. 7 Tai Tzu-ying, who ousted China’s Hui Xirui 21-18, 13-21, 21-10 for a place in the quarter-finals.
Another 19-year-old Malaysian, world No. 181 Lim Yin Fun also made good progress by beating world No. 112 Le Thu Huyen of Vietname 24-22, 21-23, 21-18 in the first round, she will face South Korean youngster Kim Hyo-min next.
However, 20-year-old Yang Li Lian, lost 18-21, 21-15, 19-21 to world No. 27 Pai Hsiao-ma of Taiwan.
In women’s doubles, thanks to mistakes made by their opponent, SEA Games champions Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei, were on fire en route to overcoming Taiwan’s Chiang Kai-hsin-Tsai Pei-ling 21-12, 21-11.
They will now meet fourth seeds Ko A-ra-Yoo Hae-won of South Korea.
World No. 27 Amelia Alicia Anscelly-Soong Fie Cho also pulled through after thrashing Hong Kong’s Chan Hung Yung-Yuen Sin Ying 21-10, 21-18.
