Prime Malaysian shuttlers looking for glory in Selangor Open
The Selangor Open in Malaysia is going to be a tough contest as top ranked national shuttlers are in race to register their mark in Bukit Kiara today.
The top seed Daren Liew and second seed Arif Latif are striving to clinch the title in absence of World Number 1 Lee Chong Wei who is participating only in mixed doubles category.
The other Malaysian shuttlers Chong Wei Feng, Zulfadli Zulkiffli and Chan Kwong Beng are also set to mortify the selectors after the Thomas Cup snub.
The junior world champion Zulfadli is set to meet Daren Liew in the semi-final of the event. The fire work is expected in the match as recently Zulfadli has indirectly hit Daren Liew by claiming that he would have done better in the Thomas Cup preliminaries.
Daren Liew was preferred over Zulfadli in Malaysian men’s singles squad and he had the opportunity to play in the quarter-final of the Thomas Cup qualifiers.
On the other hand, the World Number 52 Mohammad Arif Abdul Latif also been subjected into tussle with Chong Wei Feng who also is desperate to settle the grudge of being neglected in the qualifiers.
So, despite of the maestro Lee Chong’s absence, it’s not going to be a smooth sailing to the final for any player in the singles category.
The men’s doubles team marathon took an interesting turn as most of the pairs have been reformed by the national coach Tan Kim Her.
The duo of Chan Chong Ming and Lee Wan Wah will have to exhibit their premium skills to make a point after returning to the circuit. They will have strong opposition from Goh V Shem-Teo Kok Siang in the second round who have paired up again for this event.
The top seeds Lutfi Zaim Khalid-Vountus Indra Mawan need to go through initial rounds to ensure their encounter with Mak Hee Chun-Tan Wee Kiong in the quarter-final.
The other couples Koo Kien Keat-Lim Khim Wah and Hoon Thien How-Ong Soon Hock are also expected to spoil any pair’s party and rise as victor on the judgment day.
The Selangor Open is going to be staged after an eight-year lapse and certainly has turned into a tough trial with all the prime shuttlers contesting, having their individual goals but with just one bigger aim, the victory.
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