Two women’s doubles pairs make it to world meet for the first time

Discussion in 'World Championships 2005' started by ants, Apr 14, 2005.

  1. ants

    ants Regular Member

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    PETALING JAYA: Malaysia will, for the first time, have two women's doubles pairs in the World Badminton Championships.

    And the top women’s doubles pair of Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty can also look forward to being one of the top eight seeds for the world meet, which will be held in Los Angeles from Aug 15-21.

    Despite crashing out in the first round of the Japan Open last week, Eei Hui-Pei Tty held on to their world number six position in the latest rankings list released yesterday. It will be the first time that Malaysia will have a women’s doubles pair among the top eight seeds.

    The young Malaysian pair of Ooi Sock Ai-Mooi Hing Yau have also virtually assured their qualification for the world meet after climbing to a career high ranking of number 20.

    Pei Tty is also assured of a place in the mixed doubles competition with Koo Kien Keat. They are currently ranked 14th in the world.

    The qualifying deadline for the World Championships will end on May 19 but there are no more Open tournaments after this.

    The Sudirman Cup (world mixed team championships) in Beijing from May 10 to 15 will be the last one to offer ranking points but not much is expected to change.

    Malaysia can also look forward to having three seeded players in the men’s singles competition for the first time.

    Lee Chong Wei reached a career high world ranking of number five in the world yesterday and will be looking forward to being one of the top eight seeds in the world meet.

    The Penang-born player, who is the national number one, was delighted with the news. “It is a boost for my career. This is my highest ranking ever. I have reached my goal to be in the top five earlier than targeted,†said the 23-year-old.

    Mohd Hafiz Hashim, who won back-to-back tournaments in the Swiss and Thailand Opens, slipped one rung to eighth.

    Hafiz conceded a walkover to Kenneth Jonassen of Denmark in the third round of the Japan Open but he can still look forward to being seeded in the world meet.

    More importantly, being among the top eight seeds in the world meet should ensure that Chong Wei and Hafiz would not run into any of the top Chinese players, including world number one Lin Dan, before the quarter-finals.

    The others in the top 20 are Wong Choong Hann (11th), Kuan Beng Hong (14th) and Sairol Amar Ayob (21st).

    Malaysia can send a maximum of three players if all are ranked in the top 24. If more are ranked, it will be up to the coaches to decide.

    Four men’s doubles pairs are also in contention for the world meet. Tan Bin Shen-Ong Soon Hock are the highest ranked Malaysians (12th), followed by Mohd Fairuzizuan-Lin Woon Fui (15th), Chan Chong Ming-Kien Keat (16th) and Chew Choon Eng-Choong Tan Fook (19th).

    Wong Mew Choo, who made a comeback to international action in January after being sidelined for seven months due to injuries, is also set for a second appearance in the world meet.

    Mew Choo, the Vietnam SEA Games champion, has jumped to 57th in the latest women’s singles rankings – enough to give her a place in the top 64 of the main draw in Los Angeles.
     

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