Daren Liew surges into main round after beating Muhammad Hafiz Hashim in Singapore Open Super Series
Malaysian back-up player, Daren Liew, has penetrated into the Men’s Singles main round after beating team-mate Muhammad Hafiz Hashim, in a qualifying-round contest of the Singapore Open Super Series 2011, in Singapore, on June 14, 2011.
Daren delivered a superb performance and overwhelmed his experienced compatriot and World Number 42, Hafiz Hashim, in a straight-game fight which lasted just 34 minutes long.
At the initial stage of the first set, both shuttlers progressed in the match with equal pace without taking a reasonable lead until the end of the opening half of the first game. The level of the game was also the same, as both Malaysians understood each
other’s tactics quite well.
The anticipation of both shuttlers was fantastic, as they play with the same style. The score in the opening game was moving forward towards the concluding phase, but nobody could manage a good gap until the score reached at 20-20.
At this decisive stage of the set, both shuttlers were alert to respond the strokes of their opponent. They were playing a parallel game to avoid lifting the bird high in the air. Both players were keeping the shuttlecock near to the net and their speed
was very fast in all corners of the court.
However, it was Daren who grabbed two consecutive points by playing a smart game at the net and won the set by a close margin of 22-20, in 19 minutes.
The second set was again a fantastic fight between the two Malaysians, who were playing world-class badminton. The fast drops and semi-smashes of Hafiz Hashim disturbed Daren’s smooth movement in the rear court area.
Daren struggled in the start of the second game but he gradually lifted up the level of his game and started to control the pace of the bird. He played planned badminton in the concluding part of the second set, where Hafiz Hashim made some unforced mistakes.
Daren finished the second set by a 21-18 margin, in just 15 minutes. The final score of this qualifying-round match was 22-20 and 21-18.
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