Asian Junior Championships: Kim Tho thinks players will make amends after losing to Hong Kong
Malaysian campaigners failed to rise against Hong Kong in the Asian Junior Badminton Championships but Hau Kim Tho believes that national campaigners will make a comeback in their next encounter with India.
The prestigious team event is in group stages and Malaysia desperately needs a victory to ensure its presence in quarter-final round of the tournament.
Earlier in their opening match, they could not have a dream start against Hong Kong and faced a 2-3 defeat.
National junior programme coordinator Kim Tho expressed his disappointment over this failure but in same breath he also declared that they were not expecting much against strong team like Hong Kong.
He said, “It’s a disappointing result as the mixed pair should have won and given us the advantage. But it’s a fair result because Hong Kong are much stronger and our boys’ pair did not really stand a chance.”
The battle heated up when Mixed Doubles team Lee Chun Hei-Yuen Sing Yin thrashed Malaysian pair Tan Wee Gieen-Chow Mei Kuan in just two games. They registered winning figures of 21-16 and 22-20 to set the right momentum for their team-mates.
However, Boy’s Singles tie brought the contest to right balance as Soong Joo Ven fetched a vital match point by stamping Angus Ng Ka Long.
He saved country’s honour to some extent by finishing this tussle with favourable margin of 18-21, 21-16 and 21-16.
Hong Kong regained its status in very next game when its young campaigner Ng Wing Yung outshined Lim Yin Fun with 21-17 and 21-14 scores in two games.
Next tie proved last nail in the coffin for Malaysia as its Boy’s Doubles team Darren Isaac Devadass-Tai An Khang lost 15-21, 21-18 and 16-21 to Angus-Chun Hei.
Now their fate will be decided when they meet India and Kim Tho wants his young shuttlers to capitalise this opportunity.
He mentioned Joo Ven as key player and hoped that he will provide breakthrough against Indian lad Sameer Verma.
He said, “We need to be wary of India though, and Joo Ven will really need to be at his best to beat their top player - Sameer Verma, who has a lot of experience from playing in senior tournaments.”
Moreover, he also commended remaining young shuttlers for their gruelling effort against Hong Kong and hoped that they will play with same spirit against India in crucial group match.
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