THREE CHEERS FOR CHEERANDEEV
He is back with a bang after long absence
K. KANDIAH nstsport@nst.com.my
HE “disappeared” from the Penang badminton scene for more than two years, leaving rivals relieved that he was not around to give them a hard time.
But Cheerandeev Arul Chelvam, who stayed away to concentrate on his SPM studies, has come back with a vengeance.
No one could stop him winning the Gosen-Penang Closed
Championships men’s singles title in Bukit Dumbar recently. The lanky 19-year-old defeated Ng Wei Shun 21-12, 21-14 in the men’s singles final.
Cheerandeev, a second year engineering student at KDU University College Penang, said he was happy with his performance even though he had not been concentrating fully on the sport.
Cheerandeev, who first held a badminton racquet when he was six years old, has won numerous titles in schools competition and at junior level.
Initially, he was groomed by his coach Lim Theam Teow at the LTT Academy.
“Now I am training with a Petaling Jaya club, New Vision Badminton Academy under coaches Yogendren and Kay Lun,” he said.
Cheerandeev said his recent success in winning the men's singles and doubles titles at the Bangladesh International Series was proof of his improvement under Yogendren, a former national player.
The hard smashing Cheerandeev is certainly a Punch Gunalan in the making. His interest is similar to that of the badminton legend.
“My mission is to complete my studies and qualify as an engineer and concentrate on badminton.
“Punch Gunalan was an engineer and a top badminton player. I hope to be like him,” said Cheerandeev.
Punch would be pleased with this determined lad.
Cheerandeev Arul Chelvam bt Ng Wei Shun 21-12, 21-14.
Ng Wei ShunOng Wei Khoon bt Lim Chun Ming-Loh Bok Sheang 21-19, 2118.
Ng Kam Fook bt Lee Chee Wai 21-7, 21-14.
Kang Tiong Hun-Thomas Teh bt Arunasalam-Lee Che Ching 21-16, 21-12.
Tok Swee Tee bt Chong Yoong Sim 2115, 21-9.
Lee Mun Wei-Queenie Chiam bt Cheerandeev Arul Chelvam-Lim Ru Guat 21-17, 21-19.