I may be wrong but that's the impression I get watching Arif from TC qualifiers to Axiata. At Axiata, he looked like a sour face fellow who have gotten scolding from Rashid Sidek(of course missing the nice Hendrawan, who is his coach). Daren got some resurgence after being chosen for TC qualifiers, now he plays with better attitude cos he has finally made the team. Before that, he looked like all is lost for his baddy career. Playing part time with KLRC, studying at Open University. She started her studies after her surgery, at that time she couldnt play anyway. Arif beat Daren often kah? But it's Chong Wei Feng who is chosen to be reserve, after TCS, CWF seems to be Rashid's 2nd fav but I think largely due to the fact he's left hander. Chan Kwong Beng, Misbun's student, has also been left out in the cold.
MHC/TKS is probably too slow. Will be disappointed but not surprised if they get knocked out by the unknown INA pair...
While so far they have been a disappointment, Low Juan Shen/Tan Yip Juin, unknown pair defeated Kazuno Kenta/Yoshiteru Hirobe in 3 games!!! Well done boys! Think Low Juan Shen just came out of junior with Nelson/Teo... isn't it?
Ah Mak & Ah Teo forced rubber, now leading. Still pair back mah. Yup, Low JS and Jadgish Singh are same batch with Nelson/TEY. Tan Yip Jiun used to partner Tan wee Tat, Yip Jiun is replacement for Goh Sze Onn
Although I am also surprised that Markus/Agri beat Mak/Teo, they are not an "unknown" pair. Markus/Agri is now ranked WR37 (just 7 spots below Goh/Lim), even above Rendy/Afiat; which make them the no 5 ranked INA pair. They have also won the Singapore IS and Iran IC titles; while finishing runner-ups in the recently concluded Vietnam and Osaka ICs.
Agri and Markus will up against MAS fuzzy pair, if they can beat them, next round will be either WJC Nelson/Teo or rising giant killer Low Juan Shen/Tan Yip Juin...
Chan/Ong turned the table against Rendy/Afiat, taking the first-set 22-20. If the INA pair loses the second-set, I am afraid time is up for them.
From livescore stats, both pairs smashing a lot. CPS has slight shoulder injury, could be Ong doing most of the smashes
Wow, we rarely see MAS players not giving up from 2-10 and 6-15 down... They really blowed their lead, might it be mental fragility? Markus/Agri or this pair is better, in your opinion?
Despite comments that Markus/Agri is probably the pair with the weakest power (although Agri is a very talented net player), they are the most consistent pair out of the 4-5 back-up MD pairs.
Profiles of the 4 INA back-up pairs: WR37 - Markus/Agri - Winners of Singapore IS 2011, Iran Fajr IC 2012; Runner-Ups of Vietnam and Osaka ICs 2012; QF of INA GPG 2011. WR50 - Ulin/Ricky - Winner of Vietnam IC 2012; QFs of Korea and India GPGs. WR56 - Andrei/Christopher - Winner of Bahrain IC, Runner-Up of India GPG WR76 - Rahmat/Berry - Winner of Kejurnas (National Championships) 2011; QFs of MAS IC 2011 and Osaka IC 2012.
