PETALING JAYA: Cheam June Wei, whose sponsorship woes were settled last month, played with renewed confidence to upset Indonesian Shesar Hiren to reach the second round of the Syed Modi International in Lucknow yesterday.
June Wei, without a sponsor for the last five months, was thrown a lifeline by former international Ong Yew Hock who secured a deal under RedOne and this seems to have rejuvenated June Wei.
The independent shuttler had also shrugged off minor injuries on both knees to overcome Shesar 23-21, 15-21, 21-9 in the first-round clash that lasted 31 minutes.
June Wei will next meet Chi Yu-jen of Taiwan, who defeated Singaporean Jason The 21-15, 21-16, in the second round today.
As for KL Masters champion Leong Jun Hao, he failed to continue his momentum as he fell 13-21, 17-21 to compatriot Justin Hoh in 38 minutes.
Injuries have restricted Justin, the world No. 97, to playing in just six tournaments prior to the Syed Modi International but the 19-year-old has a good chance of progressing to the quarter-finals if he can overcome Indonesian junior Alwi Farhan in the second round today.
Alwi overcame another Malaysian Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin 21-17, 21-12 in the first round.
Meanwhile, Soong Joo Ven also cleared the first round after beating Meirabi Luang of India 21-14, 21-15 to book a tough second-round clash against Wang Tzu-wei of Taiwan. In the mixed doubles, young pair Yap Roy King-Valeree Siow joined their giant-killing compatriots Hoo Pang Ron-Teoh Mei Xing into the second round.
Roy King-Valeree had it easy with a 21-13, 21-10 win over Sivam Sharma-Poorvisha Ram of India and will take on Singapore’s 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallists Terry Hee-Jessica Tan for a place in the quarter-finals today.
Pang Ron-Mei Xing secured a major upset when they upstaged top seeds and world No. 13 Hiroki Midorikawa-Natsu Saito of Japan 21-11, 25-23 in the first round on Tuesday.
The Badminton Association of Malaysia pair should not have a problem beating India’s Nitin Kumar-Navdha Manglam to earn their last eight berth.
In the women’s singles, Wong Ling Ching checked into the second round after beating India’s Srivedya Gurazada 21-9, 21-15 in 22 minutes. Malaysians unless statedMen’s singles: Justi Hoh bt Leong Jun Hao 21-13, 21-17; Soong Joo Ven bt Meirabi Luang (Ind) 21-14, 21-15; Cheam June Wei bt Shesar Hiren (Ina) 23-21, 15-21, 21-9; Alwi Farhan (Ina) bt Sholeh Aidil Ali Sadikin 21-17, 21-12.
Women’s singles: Wong Ling Ching bt Srivedya Gurazada (Ind) 21-9, 21-15; Aya Ohori (Jpn) bt S. Kisona 24-22, 21-13.
Men’s doubles: Akira Koga-Taichi Saito (Jpn) bt Boon Xin Yuan-Goh V Shem 21-17, 26-24; Chiang Chen-wei-Wu Hsuan-yi (Tpe) bt Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong 21-18, 21-19.
Mixed doubles: Yap Roy King-Veleree Siow bt Sivam Sharma-Poorvisha Ram (Ind) 21-13, 21-10; Hoo Pang Ron-Teoh Mei Xing bt Hiroki Midorikawa-Natsu Saito (Jpn) 21-11, 25-23.
FIRST ROUND RESULTS
