Taiwan: Malaysia’s top junior shuttler, Cheam June Wei faltered in the men’s singles second qualifying match at the Chinese Taipei Open. The world number 373 went down to Thailand’s Mek Narongrit 21-11, 12-21, 23-21 in 52-minute. Earlier in the day, he upset last year’s world junior champion Heo Kwang-hee of Korea with 21-13, 22-20 victory in his first qualifying match.
As you may or may not know, Cheam June Wei and world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei have something significant in common – both were trained by the same coach, Teh Peng Huat in Penang during their younger days. While Chong Wei has gone on to make his name on the international stage, Singapore International Under-17 champion June Wei is just waiting in the wings to do the same.
In men’s doubles, national back-up pair Tai An Khang-Woon Mun Choon advanced to the main draw with 21-19 25-23 triumph over Takdanai Boonrawd/Wasapon Uttamang of Thailand in their first qualifying round, and beat Taiwan’s Chiang Yu Wei/Lee Yang 21-15, 2-21, 21-14 in their second qualifying match.
Malaysia’s independent shuttlers Tan Chun Seang and Mohd Arif Abdul Latif, South Korea’s Son Wan-ho, China’s Lin Dan, Wang Zhengming and Hong Kong’s Hu Yun will play in the opening round when the US$200,000 (RM636,000) tournament officially begins tomorrow.
Here are the complete results for Malaysia shuttlers in the qualifying round:
MS Mek Narongrit (Thailand) defeated Jimmy, Yu Lun Tay (Malaysia) 21-10 18-21 21-15
MS Krit Tantianankul (Thailand) defeated Yeoh Kay Ee (Malaysia) 21-13 16-21 21-12
MS Lu Chi Yuan (Chinese Taipei) defeated Tan Jinn Yee (Malaysia) 18-21 21-17 21-15
MS Yang Chih Chieh (Chinese Taipei) defeated Wong Kin Yik (Malaysia) 21-7 21-8
MD Takuto Inoue/Yuki Kaneko (Japan) defeated Chiang Jiann Shiarng/Yeoh Kay Ee (Malaysia) 21-12 21-11
MS Lai Yu-hua (Chinese Taipei) defeated Yap Kiam Yong (Malaysia) 21-12 21-12
WS Hana Ramadhini (Indonesia) defeated Lim Yin Fun (Malaysia) 21-19 21-17
MS Ginting Anthony (Indonesia) defeated Lim Chen Wet (Malaysia) 21-9 21-7
WS Shizuka Uchida (Japan) defeated Lim Chiew Sien (Malaysia) 21-18 21-13
