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Monday July 13, 2009

Syawal out to settle the score with his Thai rival Prinyawat

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s Mohd Syawal Ismail (pic) has a score to settle in the Asian Junior Cham­pionships.

Barring any upset, the 10th seed Syawal is expected to meet Thailand’s Prinyawat Thongnuam in the fourth round of the boys’ singles individual competition, which begins on Wednesday. Over the last two years, he has lost thrice to the sixth seeded Thai.

“If all goes according to the book, I will likely play against him for a place in the quarter-finals. I am determined to end my losing streak against him,” said the 18-year-old Syawal.

“This is my last Asian junior meet and I want to do better than the quarter-finals last year.”

Syawal has played second fiddle to the country’s top junior Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin twice this year. He lost in the final of the German Junior Open in March and the 100Plus National Junior Circuit Grand Finals in Seremban last month.

“We are not far apart in standard. I was ill in the junior circuit final. I am in better condition now,” he said.

“Hopefully, together with Iskandar, we will be able to produce good results for Malaysia in the singles event of the Asian Juniors this year.”

Two years ago, Mohd Arif Abdul Latif fell just short of becoming the first Malaysian singles champion, losing to China’s Chen Long in the final. But for now, Syawal’s attention is on the mixed team event.

Syawal did not play in Malaysia’s ties against Mongolia (5-0) and Vietnam (3-2) yesterday but he is expected to be fielded in the final Group B tie against India today.

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