Inspired to make his mark: National men’s singles shuttler Mohd Faiq Masawi at a training session ahead of the Asian Junior Championships. — ART CHEN/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Junior shuttler Mohd Faiq Masawi is a rare breed as he is one of the few left handed Malaysians to play in the men’s singles.
Former international Yong Hock Kin, who famously stunned home favourite Budi Santoso to capture the Indonesian Open crown in 1998, was also left handed.
And so was Wong Choong Hann, who finished as the World Championships runner-up in the 2003 edition in Birmingham.
Can the 18-year-old Faiq emulate or even surpass Hock Kin and Choong Hann?
The youngster is not afraid of dreaming big and hopes to one day become a world and Olympic champion like his idols, China’s Lin Dan and Japan’s Kento Momota, who are both also left handed.
“My idols are Lin Dan and Momota as they are both left handed just like me. I watched their matches many times and I love to see their skills,” said Faiq.
“I hope to become a world and Olympic champion in the future just like them.”
Lin Dan captured the world title five times and the Olympic gold twice while Momota was crowned world champion twice.
Faiq, though, knows he has a long way to go to become a world beater and for now wants to focus on doing well in the Asian Junior Championships from June 28-July 7 in Yogyakarta.
The disappointment of missing out on the National-Under 18 title is fuelling Faiq in the Asian Junior meet.
Faiq, who was the top seed in the national tourney last month, was the favourite to be crowned champion but picked up an ankle injury in the semi-finals and was forced to retire against eventual winner Roslie Razeeq Danial.
The Selangor-born Faiq has made a full recovery and is now out to make up for the disappointment by capturing a medal in the Asian Junior meet.
“I felt very disappointed after I could not win the Under-18 title due to an ankle injury,” said Faiq.
“I was the top seed and I was hoping to win but I picked up the injury after attempting a smash and had to retire in the semi-finals.
“I have fully recovered now and I want to make amends by doing well in the Asian Junior meet. Hopefully, I can win a medal.”
Faiq will be competing in his second and last Asian Junior meet after making his debut last year.
He returned empty handed last year after going down in the fourth round to China’s Zhang Ning and is keen to do better this time at the same venue.
Before the individual competition from July 3-7, Faiq will spearhead the team in the mixed team event from June 28-July 3.
Malaysia have been drawn in Group B along with Macau, Kazakhstan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Faiq is positive about Malaysia’s chances in the tournament due to the strong bond within the team.
“Our team spirit is very high after we had a team building camp in Port Dickson two weeks ago,” said Faiq.
“The singles and doubles players have been working well together and supporting each other.
“We are all pumped up to do well in this tournament.”
Faiq will be joined by Roslie, Sng Wei Ming and Kong Zhou Swin in the boys’ singles in the competition.
The other players in the team are Siti Zulaikha Azmi, National Under-18 champion Ong Xin Yee, Oo Shan Zi, Dania Sofea Zaidi (women’s singles), Clarissa San, Tan Zhing Hui, Nicole Chau, Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan (women’s doubles); Lok Hong Quan and Justin Goh (mixed doubles).
Clarissa and Noraqilah will also play in the mixed doubles.
