Malaysia Open Draws: Easy ride for Chong Wei while Kien Keat, Boon Heong face big guns
The Badminton World Federation announced main draws for Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold and the Malaysian maestro Lee Chong Wei gets an easy ride while his compatriot Men’s Doubles team Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong will have to surpass tough contenders in
this home event, starting from May 1, 2012.
It is certainly going to be a huge task for all Malaysian shuttlers as selectors will be giving special attention to this Grand Prix Gold event to finalise the national squad for the esteemed team event of the Thomas Cup.
According to draws, the World Number eight pair Kien Keat-Boon Heong is in same half with their compatriots Chan Peng Soon-Ong Jian Guo, newly formed duo Mak Hee Chun-Teo Kok Siang, the scratch pair Nelson Heg Wei Keat-Teo Ee Yi and World Number 62 couple
Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif-Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari.
Moreover, they will also be looking to surpass dangerous Japanese partnership Yoshiteru Hirobe-Kenta Kazuno and equally talented Indonesian couple Gideon Markus Fernaldi-Agripinna Prima Rahmanto Putra to surge into the final round.
However, the opening round victories do not mean that Kien Keat-Boon Heong will have a smooth flight as the real challenges await them in final rounds.
Former World and Olympic Champions Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia will be expecting them along with the Korean duo Cho Gun Woo-Kang Ji Wook.
Meanwhile, the second top Malaysian pair Lim Khim Wah-Goh V. Shem will also try to prove their worth in the lower half of the draw.
In Men’s Singles event, there is clear road for World Number one Chong Wei as no one is going to come in his way to glory.
Malaysian badminton ace will meet relatively inexperienced shuttlers Chong Wei Feng, Zulfadli Zulkifli from Malaysia and the Indonesian campaigner Tommy Sugiarto with young Sourabh Varma of India.
The lower half of draw includes World Number 10 Nguyen Tien Minh of Vietnam at the top with World Number 29 Daren Liew and veteran Malaysian shuttler Hafiz Hashim.
Chong Wei’s biggest contender in this event will be Vietnamese shuttler who stands a fair chance to play the title match with him in Malaysia Open GP Gold.
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