YING YING SHOWS
Youngster reaches second round but Chong Wei falters
REPORTS BY FABIAN PETER AND HELMI TALKAH nstsport@nst.com.my
WOMEN’S singles Lee Ying Ying wants to earn a spot in Malaysia’s Uber Cup team by performing well in upcoming tournaments.
Yesterday, the 21-year-old defeated Russia’s Evgeniya Kosetskaya 21-17, 23-21 to reach the second round of the Malaysia Masters at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil.
She will take on Japan’s Aya Ohori today.
Ying Ying, a runner-up at the 2015 World Junior Championships in Lima, is determined after failing to make the women’s team for next month’s Asia Team Championships in Alor Star.
“I did not make the squad for the Asian Team Championships, but that’s fine. The list for the Uber Cup is not out yet and I want to fight for a spot.
“However, I need to prove myself in upcoming tournaments to get selected,” she said.
On the second round today, Ying Ying said: “Aya Ohori will not be easy.
“The Malaysia Masters is a tough competition as it has attracted top players,” said Ying Ying, who reached the quarterfinals of the Thailand Masters last week.
World No 2 Lee Chong Wei was another casualty in a list of top players who have fallen in the first round after losing to Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto 19-21, 21-18, 21-19.
“The defeat is not really an issue for me as this tournament was never on my priority list.
“In fact, following the World Super Series Finals (Dubai) last year, I was hoping to take a break to prepare for the All England in March.
“It’s okay, I will try again at the Malaysia Open in June,” said Chong Wei, who will next compete in next month’s Asia Team Championships in Alor Setar.
Former world junior champion Goh Jin Wei defeated Indonesia’s Hanna Ramadini 21-15, 21-19 and she will play Taiwan’s Pai Yu Po next.
It was, however, the end of the road for Soniia Cheah and Lim Yin Fun who both fought hard but went down to World No 1 Tai
Lee Zii Jia bt Emil Holst (Den) 2112, 21-18; Liew Daren bt Son Wan Ho (Kor) 21-15, 21-13; Anders Antonsen (Den) bt Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin 21-10, 11-21, 21-9; Brice Leverdez (Fra) bt Soong Joo Ven 21-8, 21-12; Angus Ng Ka Long (Hkg) bt Chong Wei Feng 21-15, 21-11;
Liu Cheng-Zhang Nan (Chn) bt Chooi Kah MingLow Juan Shen 21-14, 21-16; Berry Angriawan-Hardianto Hardianto (Ina) bt Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik 21-12, 21-11;
Lee Ying Ying bt Evgeniya Kosetskaya (Rus) 21-17, 23-21; Goh Jin Wei bt Hana Ramadini (Ina) 21-15, 21-19; Tai Tzu Ying (Tai) bt Soniia Cheah 18-21, 21-12, 21-12; Akane Yamaguchi (Jpn) bt Lim Yin Fun 21-18, 17-21, 21-12;
Soong Fie Cho-Tee Jing Yi bt Liu Xuanxuan-Zhou Chaomin (Chn) 21-16, 21-18; Lim Yin Loo-Yap Cheng Wen bt Supisara Paewsampran-Kwanchanok Sudjaippraparat (Tha) 21-17, 2117; Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean bt Goh Yea Ching-Teoh Mei Xing 21-15, 21-15; Chang Ye NaJung Kyung Eun (Kor) bt Lim Chiew Sien-Yap Zhen 21-17, 21-15;
Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Puttita Supajirakul (Tha) bt Chen Tang JieCheah Yee See 21-19, 19-21, 21-11.