ants
09-03-2005, 09:00 PM
TheStar Sept 4th 05
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s former top men’s doubles pair Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah are just one step away from winning their first title of the year when they stormed into the final of the US$250,000 China Masters badminton championships.
Yesterday, Tan Fook-Wan Wah outclassed Japanese Tadashi Ohtsuka-Keita Masuda 15-2, 15-11 in the semi-finals.
And for the final, the duo have vowed not to under-estimate opponents Guo Zhengdong-Xie Zhongbo of China.
The unseeded Chinese youngsters blew away second seeds Michal Logosz-Robert Mateusiak of Poland 17-15, 15-8 in the other semi-final.
Said Wan Wah in a telephone interview from Beijing: “The Chinese pair have been playing well here. They will certainly be inspired to do well in front of their home fans. We will give our best shot.”
On paper, Tan Fook-Wan Wah have the edge. The Malaysians have beaten the Chinese once – at last year’s Asian Badminton Championships (ABC).
“This is only our third international tournament after I made a comeback from a knee injury (in June). We did not place high hopes in the China Masters. We just wanted to gauge our performances. So far, we are playing better in every match.”
Tan Fook-Wan Wah’s chances of winning their first title of the year brightened when the duo upset top seeds Fu Hiafeng-Cai Yun of China in the quarter-finals on Friday.
“It was a good win for us. Just three months ago, we lost to them at the Singapore Open. The Singapore Open was the first tournament for me since I took the long break (nine months). We are certainly making gradual improvement,” said Wan Wah.
Tan Fook-Wah Wah are now ranked 104th in the world.
Meanwhile, China’s top two players Lin Dan and Bao Chunlai will contest the men’s singles final.
There was, however, an upset in the women’s singles when China’s Zhou Mi knocked out her second seeded compatriot and reigning world champion Xie Xingfang 11-9, 11-7 to reach the final. Zhou Mi next faces top seed Zhang Ning, also of China.
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s former top men’s doubles pair Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah are just one step away from winning their first title of the year when they stormed into the final of the US$250,000 China Masters badminton championships.
Yesterday, Tan Fook-Wan Wah outclassed Japanese Tadashi Ohtsuka-Keita Masuda 15-2, 15-11 in the semi-finals.
And for the final, the duo have vowed not to under-estimate opponents Guo Zhengdong-Xie Zhongbo of China.
The unseeded Chinese youngsters blew away second seeds Michal Logosz-Robert Mateusiak of Poland 17-15, 15-8 in the other semi-final.
Said Wan Wah in a telephone interview from Beijing: “The Chinese pair have been playing well here. They will certainly be inspired to do well in front of their home fans. We will give our best shot.”
On paper, Tan Fook-Wan Wah have the edge. The Malaysians have beaten the Chinese once – at last year’s Asian Badminton Championships (ABC).
“This is only our third international tournament after I made a comeback from a knee injury (in June). We did not place high hopes in the China Masters. We just wanted to gauge our performances. So far, we are playing better in every match.”
Tan Fook-Wan Wah’s chances of winning their first title of the year brightened when the duo upset top seeds Fu Hiafeng-Cai Yun of China in the quarter-finals on Friday.
“It was a good win for us. Just three months ago, we lost to them at the Singapore Open. The Singapore Open was the first tournament for me since I took the long break (nine months). We are certainly making gradual improvement,” said Wan Wah.
Tan Fook-Wah Wah are now ranked 104th in the world.
Meanwhile, China’s top two players Lin Dan and Bao Chunlai will contest the men’s singles final.
There was, however, an upset in the women’s singles when China’s Zhou Mi knocked out her second seeded compatriot and reigning world champion Xie Xingfang 11-9, 11-7 to reach the final. Zhou Mi next faces top seed Zhang Ning, also of China.