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Tuesday July 3, 2007

Wee Wern to use Euro outings as tune-up for world tourney

By S. SIVABALAN

PETALING JAYA: Low Wee Wern will use the Pioneer Cup and the Dutch Open junior tournaments to tune up for the women’s World Juniors, which will be held in Hong Kong from Aug 1-11.

The Pioneer Cup begins on Friday in Cologne and the Dutch Open starts next Thursday in Amsterdam.

The top national junior will compete in the girls’ Under-19 category in both tournaments and she will be joined by P. Pushppa Devi.

Last year, Wee Wern won the Pioneer Cup and finished 10th in the Dutch Junior Open.

“Both tournaments will not be easy for me. I have been seeded 12th. I get this unfavourable seeding because I did not take part in many European junior tournaments,” said the 17-year-old Penangite.

“I am drawn to meet a higher seeded player in the third round itself. I have to raise my game earlier than necessary. Both tournaments are important parts of my preparations for the World Juniors, which will also see many European-based players in action.

“After the two tournaments in Europe, I will compete in the Malaysian Open (beginning on July 23). It will be my last outing before I go to Hong Kong.”

The top seed for the Pioneer Cup and Dutch Junior Open is Camille Serme of France.

In the previous World Juniors in Herentals, Belgium, in 2005, Wee Wern helped Malaysia to a fifth place finish and she reached the fourth round in the individual competition.

The other Malaysians for the two tournaments in Europe include Nessrine Ariffin, Low Wee Nee, S. Mitran and Kamran Khan.

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