A HAPPY MAN
Increase in qualifiers for Asian meet good indication of shuttlers’ progress
FABIAN PETER fabian.mark@nst.com.my China on Apr 25-30.
A total 26 players, including independent shuttlers Zulfadli Zulkiffli and Chong Wei Feng, have made the cut based on their world ranking — 10 more than last year’s edition in the same city.
According to Frost, there may be one or two more independent players who make the list, but BAM have confirmed the numbers on their side.
“I am not sure if people are aware but this is a very good indication because it shows that our players are improving.
“Unlike certain tournaments, participation for the Asian Championships is based solely on world rankings.
“It will be interesting because we have more players this time, so I am excited,” said Frost.
World No 1 Lee
Chong Wei, who chose to skip the India Open this week, will lead Malaysia’s charge as he looks to defend his men’s singles title.
The only doubtful player on the list is Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin, who had already been withdrawn from the Malaysia Open (Apr 4-9) and the Singapore Open (Apr 11-16), prior to the Asian meet.
Iskandar, 26, is recovering from a double disc injury he suffered in January.
Other notable players who will be making the trip to China are top men’s doubles Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong and national No 1 mixed doubles Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying. was the perfect vantage point for the start at the People’s Park, with Saravanan passing the baton to Dr Myint Htwe, Myanmar’s Health and Sports Minister to signal the start of the run.
The baton was then passed to the first runner Sann Naing — an Olympian who was in Rio in 2016 for the men’s 5,000m.
Several of Myanmar’s past and present athletes took turns running with the baton before it was passed back Dr Myint Htwe, who handed it Saravanan.
Saravanan then handed it Jukr BoonLong, Thailand’s Ambassador-designate to Myanmar.
Thailand will host the next run on Saturday.
—
Lee Chong Wei, Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin, Zulfadli Zulkiffli, Chong Wei Feng;
Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong, Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi, Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani;
Goh Jin Wei, Soniia Cheah Su Ya, Lee Ying Ying, Ho Yen Mei; Vivian Hoo Kah Mun-Woon Khe Wei, Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean, Lim Yin Loo-Yap Cheng Wen; Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying, Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing, Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie.