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Friday February 5, 2010

Fairuz-Zakry forced to fight back to win opening match

By SHAMSHUL FITRI

JOHOR BARU: The second ranked national men’s pair of Mohd Fairuzi­zuan Mohd Tazari-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif survived a scare in the opening match of the National Grand Prix Finals at the Bandaraya Stadium here yesterday.

The duo had to fight back from a set down to win 18-21, 21-17, 21-15 against Cheah Like Hou-Chow Pak Chuu in their Group B match.

Fairuzizuan-Zakry, who came under fire after their first-round defeat in the Malaysian Open last month, however, got their act together for the second group match to dispose of Goh Wei Shem-Vountus Indra Mawan 21-17, 21-16.

Against Like Hou-Pak Chuu, the Malaysian No. 2 were out of sorts. They were probably feeling the pressure of having to do better after their dismal performance in the Malaysian Open.

“The pressure got to us and we couldn’t think clearly. Luckily, we managed to pick ourselves up and get the win,” said Fairuzizuan.

Standing strong: Mohd Fairuzizuan-Mohd Zakry had to fight hard to defeat Like Hou-Pak Chuu 18-21, 21-17, 21-15 in the National Grand Prix Finals at the Bandaraya Stadium in Johor Baru yesterday. — ABDUL RAHMAN EMBONG / The Star

Wei Shem-Vountus had earlier defeated the former national pair of Chan Chong Ming-Chew Choon Eng 21-19, 21-18.

If Fairuzizuan-Zakry had a scare, then defending champions Chan Peng Soon-Lim Khim Wah must have had a nightmare! The duo lost both their Group A matches and are out of the competition.

They lost to Mak Hee Chun-Tan Wee Kiong 12-21, 19-21 before going down 13-21, 20-22 to former national pair Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah.

In the women’s doubles, top seeds Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui reigned supreme in Group A with easy wins over Lim Yee Theng-Ng Soo Mui (21-6, 21-8) and Lai Pei Jing-Shevon Lai Jemie (21-11, 21-15).

Lydia Cheah, meanwhile, dominated women’s singles Group A with a hard-fought 22-20, 21-16 win over Yang Li Lian and a routine 21-11, 21-10 triumph over Lim Yee Theng.

Lydia will face either younger sister Sonia or Tee Jing Yi in tomorrow’s semi-finals.

Sonia and Jing Yi won both their Group B matches yesterday.

Meanwhile, world No. 1 men’s singles ace Lee Chong Wei overpowered Ho Khek Mong 21-9, 21-8 before thrashing Syed Akhbar Syed Mustakim 21-7, 21-9 in Group A.

Chong Wei shouldn’t have much problem getting past Mohd Arif Abdul Latif in his final group match today.

The battle in Group B is turning out to be a two-man race between Tan Chun Seang and Lim Fang Yang, who both won their matches respectively.

The competition continues today with the final group matches.

n MEN’S SINGLES

Group A: Mohd Arif Abdul Latif bt Syed Akhbar Syed Mustakim 21-11, 21-19; Lee Chong Wei bt Ho Khek Mong 21-9, 21-8; Mohd Arif bt Khek Mong 21-14, 21-18; Chong Wei bt Syed Akhbar 21-7, 21-9.

Group B: Lim Fang Yang bt Iskandar Zulkarnain 26-24, 21-19; Tan Chun Seang bt Soo Kar Seong 21-13, 21-12; Chun Seang bt Iskandar 21-18, 21-8; Fang Yang bt Kar Seong 21-10, 21-5.

Group C: Liew Daren bt Muhd Syawal Ismail 21-15, 21-6; Chan Kwong Beng bt Mohd Shahrizal Abdul Latip 21-18, 21-12; Kwong Beng bt Syawal 21-10, 21-6; Liew bt Mohd Shahrizal 21-14, 21-18.

Group D: Kuan Kam Chung bt Mohd Roslin Hashim 21-19, 21-16; Kuan Beng Hong bt Goh Soon Huat 21-14, 21-10; Beng Hong bt Kam Chung 21-17, 21-14; Roslin w.o. Soon Huat.

n MEN’S DOUBLES

Group A: Mak Hee Chun-Tan Wee Kiong bt Chan Peng Soon-Lim Khim Wah 21-12, 21-19; Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah bt Chooi Kah Ming-Ow Yao Han 16-21, 21-9, 21-6; Hee Chun-Wee Kiong bt Kah Ming-Yao Han 21-9, 22-20.

Group B: Goh Wei Shem-Vontus Indra Mawan bt Chan Chong Ming-Chew Choon Eng 21-19, 21-18; Mohd Fairuzizuan Tazari-Mohd Zakry Abd Latif bt Cheah Like Hou-Chow Pak Chuu 18-21, 21-17, 21-15; Fairuzizuan-Zakry bt Wei Shem-Vontus 21-17, 21-16; Chong Ming-Choon Eng bt Like Hou-Pak Chuu 24-22, 21-18.

n WOMEN’S SINGLES

Group A: Ooi Swee Wenn bt Lim Yee Theng 18-21, 21-18, 21-12; Lydia Cheah bt Yang Li Lian 22-20, 21-16 ; Lydia bt Yee Theng 21-11, 21-10; Li Lian bt Swee Wenn 21-8, 21-11.

Group B: Tee Jing Yee bt Stephanie Sukumaran 21-12, 19-21, 21-12; Sonia Cheah bt Sannatasah Saniru 17-21, 21-14, 21-16; Jing Yee bt Sannatasah 22-20, 21-18; Sonia bt Stephanie 21-19, 21-14.

n WOMEN’S DOUBLES

Group A: Lim Yee Theng-Ng Soo Mui bt Sannatasah Saniru-Tee Jing Yi 14-21, 21-14, 22-20; Wong Pei Tty-Chin Ee Hui bt Lai Pei Jing-Shevon Lai Jemie 21-11, 21-15; Pei Tty-Ee Hui bt Yee Theng-Soo Mui 17-21, 21-14, 21-16; Sannatasah-Jing Yi bt Pei Jing-Shevon 22-20, 22-20.

Group B: Goh Liu Ying-Nairul Shuhada Abdul Latif bt Lydia Cheah-Ooi Swee Wenn 21-15, 21-18; Lim Yin Loo-Ng Paou Leng bt Sonia Cheah-Yang Li Lian 21-9, 21-10; Yin Loo-Paou Leng bt Lydia-Swee Wenn 21-18, 21-16; Lui Ying-Nairul Shuhada bt Sonia-Li Lian 21-16, 21-6.

n MIXED DOUBLES

Group A: Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying bt Yew Hong Kheng-Ong Boon Hui 21-10, 21-5; Lim Khim Wah-Ng Paou Leng bt Mohd Lufti Zaim-Lim Yin Loo 21-16, 21-16; Peng Soon-Liu Ying bt Khim Wah-Paou Leng 21-19, 21-14; Mohd Lufti-Yin Loo bt Hong Kheng-Boon Hui 21-12, 21-14.

Group B: Mohd Fairuzizuan Tazari-Wong Pei Tty bt Mohd Razif Latif-Nairul Shuhada Abdul Latif 21-15, 21-8; Ong Jian Guo-Chong Sok Chin bt Ow Yao Han-Lai Pei Jing 21-12, 18-21, 21-17; Fairuzizuan-Pei Tty bt Yao Han-Pei Jing 21-14, 21-8.

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