PETALING JAYA: Jet-lagged independent player Cheam June Wei had contemplated to skip the ongoing Malaysian International Challenge in Ipoh but fortunately he did not.
Although he had only arrived in Kuala Lumpur from European tournaments on Monday, June Wei stayed steady to beat Saram Jamsri of Thailand 21-17, 21-14 in Ipoh yesterday to set-up a match against another independent shuttler Haris Rushdan for a place in the quarter-finals.
His coach Nova Armada said June Wei had competed in the Welsh International Challenge and the French League where he played for Brice Leverdez’s club (The Airois Steering Wheel) over the last two weeks.
“June Wei arrived on Monday and played the next day. He is lethargic but it will be a waste if he misses this tournament. So, he has decided to compete,” said Nova.
“Leverdez had invited him to play at the French League and he was committed to play there.
“There have been a lot of withdrawals. Last week’s Bangladesh International champion Mithun (Manjunath of India), who is in the same half as June Wei, had also skipped the meet. There is a chance to reach the final and let’s see if he can make use of the opportunity.”
June Wei’s fellow club player Soong Joo Ven also advanced to the third round after beating Korakrit Laotrakul of Thailand 21-12, 21-9 and will play his sparring partner Lim Chi Wing today.
Chi Wing defeated Remus Ng of Singapore 19-21, 21-9, 21-15 in the second round.
“Chi Wing knows my game well as we have played together since our junior days. He is also our sparring partner at the club, so I have to tread with caution,” said Joo Ven.
In the women’s singles, top seed Goh Jin Wei conceded a walkover to Unnati Hooda of India after trailing 6-11 in her first round match.
She has seemingly suffered an injury while playing in Bangladesh last week.
Second seed S. Kisona of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) has also withdrawn after the recurrence of a right knee injury that she suffered in Bangladesh.
RESULTS
(Selected)
■ SECOND ROUND
Men’s singles: Marcus Lau (Sin) bt Yap Juin An 21-8, 21-12; Yeoh Seng Zoe bt Teoh Kai Chen (Aus) 21-13, 21-4; Jason Teh (Sin) bt Eogene Ewe 21-17, 21-13; Lee Shun Yang bt Hooi Shao Herng 21-15, 21-13; Cheam June Wei bt Saram Jamsri (Tha) 21-17, 21-14; Haris Rushdan bt Chirag Sen (Ind) 21-14, 21-18; V. Eveshgaran bt Dylan Ooi 21-17, 21-14; Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin bt Chua Kim Sheng 21-15, 21-12; Lee Dong-keun (Kor) bt Chia Jeng Hon 21-1721-14 ; Juston Hoh bt Low Eu Cong 21-19, 21-12; Leong Jun Hao bt Ong Zhen Yi 17-21, 21-18, 21-12; Kok Jing Hong bt Lee Jan Jireh 21-12, 15-21, 21-11; Lim Chong King bt Atef Haikal Taufik 10-21, 21-15, 21-16; Ong Ken Yon bt Tan Jia Jie 21-19, 18-21, 21-13; Lim Chi Wing bt Remus Ng (Sin) 19-21, 21-9, 21-15; Soong Joo Ven bt Korakrit Laotrakul (Tha) 21-12, 21-9.
■ FIRST ROUND
Men’s doubles: Chang Yee Jun-Low Hang Yee bt Boon Xin Yuan-Wong Tien Ci 21-16, 21-14; Mohd Fazriq Razif-Man Wei Chong bt Choi Jian Sheng-Bryan Jeremy Goonting 19-21, 21-14, 21-10; Goh Sze FeiGoh Boon Zhe bt Nicholas Low-Donovan Wee (Sin) 21-13, 21-13.
Women’s singles: Unnati Hooda (Ind) bt Goh Jin Wei 11-6 rtd; Insyirah Khan (Sin) bt R. Kasthuri 21-15, 22-20; Carmen Ting bt Tasnim Mir (Ind) 21-15, 21-19; K. Letshanaa bt Bernice Teoh (Aus) 21-3, 21-10; Mikaela de Guzman (Phi) bt R. Venosha 21-10, 21-10; Khor Jing Wen bt Anwesha Gauda (Ind) 21-23, 21-8, 21-12; Myisha Khairul bt Amanda Yap 21-13, 21-8; Ruthvika Shivani (Ind) bt Joanne Ng 24-22, 21-8; Siti Nurshuhaini Azman bt Neeluri Prerana (Ind) 21-17, 21-10; Thuzar Thet Htar (Mya) bt Ho Yen Mei 21-9, 21-14; Wong Ling Ching bt Tan Zhing Yi 21-16, 21-13; Chan Wen Yse w.o. S. Kisona.
Women’s doubles: Go Pei Kee-Teoh Mei Xing bt Chan Wen Tse-G. Vannee 21-15, 21-8; Lee Xin Jie-Valeree Siow bt Desiree Siow-Amanda Yap 21-11, 21-18; Yap Rui Chen-Yap Yee bt Alyssa Leonardo-Thea Marie Pomar (Phi) 21-9, 22-20.
Mixed doubles: Chen tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei bt Ching Kai Feng-Tan Shen Thing 21-7, 21-12; Loo Bing KuanYap Cheng Wen bt Vincentius Suwarland-Meirisa Sahputri (Ina) 12-21, 21-7, 21-14; Hoo Pang Ron-Teoh Mei Xing bt Too Ming Yap-Nannaphat Mateedulsatit (Mas-Thai) 21-15, 21-17; Yap Roy King-Valeree Siow bt G. Senthil Vel-R. Venosha (Ind-Mas) 21-7, 21-15.
