Badminton: Fairuzizuan-Lin eye first international title

22 May 2006
NST
DOUBLES pair Fairuzizuan Tazari and Lin Woon Fui, who were dropped from the recent Thomas Cup finals, are set to win their first international grand prix title - the four-star Philippines Open which begins on Wednesday.

Fairuzizuan-Woon Fui have been top seeded and are likely to meet Thailand’s Sudket Prapakamol-Patapol Ngernsrisuk in the final.

They are expected to meet some minor resistance in the form of Indonesian pairs - Rian Sukmawan-Eng Hian in the last eight, and Hendra Gunawan-Joko Riyadi in the semi-final

Fairuzizuan-Woon Fui proved their class by reaching the All-England semi-finals in January. Ranked World No. 11, they have already secured their ticket to the World Championships in Madrid in September.

Fairuzizuan-Woon Fui should return with the Philippines Open title to justify coach Rexy Mainaky’s faith in them.

And for singles Hafiz Hashim and Kuan Beng Hong, both who failed to deliver in the recent Thomas Cup finals, Manila is a place for them to salvage some pride.

In the absence of ten top international players, Hafiz has been top seeded. He has an easy passage to the final with Thailand’s Boonsak Ponsana the only threat.

Hafiz is expected to breeze past compatriot Lee Tsuen Seng in the quarter-final, but the unpredictable Boonsak may give the Malaysian a tough time.

Beng Hong, seeded third, should make the last eight comfortably where he is tipped to meet Hafiz’s brother, Roslin.

If Beng Hong, 23, upsets Roslin, he will take on second seed Ng Wei of Hong Kong in the semi-finals. Last year, Beng Hong reached the final of the Asian championships in Hyderabad where he lost to Sony Dwi Kuncoro of Indonesia.

Should Hafiz and Beng Hong go all the way to the final, the former looks good for his fourth international title.

In the women’s doubles, Wong Pei Tty and Chin Eei Hui will be pursuing their maiden international title as they fight it out with some of their regional rivals.

Pei Tty-Eei Hui are likely to meet Indonesians Lita Nurlita-Nathalia Poluakan in the quarter-finals, and a win will pit them against Thailand’s Duanganong Arunkesorn-Kunchala Vorawichitchaikul in the last four.

Pei Tty-Eei Hui are on course for a rematch of the Manila Sea Games final (the Malaysians won) against Indonesia’s Jo Novita-Greysa Polii.