KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 13 – He did not look in the best of shape fitness-wise but Liew Daren stood tall as he made a stunning start to his campaign in the men’s singles at the Yonex Thailand Open with a delightful 21-12, 21-18 win over Denmark’s world No 3 Anders Antonsen.
The 41 ranked 33-year-old Malaysian was even seen holding his back towards the end of the match at the Impact Arena in Bangkok but nothing could stop him from keeping his second-round date against Hong Kong’s Lee Cheuk Yiu for a place in the quarter-finals.
”I am surprised in many ways as I was on the reserves list and was not sure if I will be playing in the tournament. However, I believed in myself. When the opportunity came, I gave my best,” said Daren after his win.
He also earned praise from Antonsen who said Daren deserved the win and he was a better player in the match.
Joining Daren in the second round is eighth seed, Lee Zii Jia who was taken the full distance by India’s HS Prannoy. The Malaysian came back from a game down to prevail 13-21, 21-14, 21-8 in a 55-minute match.
Another India waits for Zii Jia for a place in the quarter-finals – former World No 1 K. Srikanth who defeated compatriot Sourabh Verma 21-12, 21-11 in the first round.
Malaysia’s ended in the women’s singles following first round defeats for Soniia Cheah and S. Kisona.
Soniia tumbled out with a 21-15, 21-12 defeat to seventh seed An Se Young of Korea in 38 minutes while Saina Nehwal of India needed only 36 minutes in her 21-15, 21-15 win over Kisona, the Sea Games champion.
In the women’s doubles, Vivian Hoo-Yap Cheng Wen crushed Russians Anastasia Akchurina-Ola Morozova 21-10, 21-11 while Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean proved took strong for the French pair of Vimala Heriau-Margot Lambert with a 21-15, 21-18 win.
Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing advanced in the mixed doubles with a 2-14, 21-14 win over Daniel Hess-Linda Efler of Germany in a 34-minute match.
About The Author
