GIAP CHIN STUNS ISKANDAR IN TAIWAN OPEN
Independent shuttler scores big upset against fifth seed Iskandar in Taiwan
PETALING JAYA: Independent shuttler Goh Giap Chin has proven that there is life outside the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM).
The 24-year-old, who bagged the fifth-tier Mauritius International last week, scored a big upset when he ousted compatriot and fifth seed Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin in the men’s singles second round of the Taiwan Open.
The world No. 82 delivered a fighting performance to down world No. 44 Iskandar 21-15, 18-21, 21-19 at the Taipei Arena yesterday.
The once promising national junior from Penang left BAM in 2015 after struggling to make the transition to the senior team.
Giap Chin, who even quit the sport for a year before joining the New Vision Badminton Academy last June, will meet ninth seed Lin Yu-hsien of Taiwan for a place in the quarter-finals.
“I’m quite happy that I’ve been playing well recently. It’s a great boost to my confidence beating a national player,” said Giap Chin.
“I just stuck to my game plan and stayed patient against Iskandar. I wasn’t thinking too much and I just fought to stay in the game.
“I’m just going to go out there and play my best in the next round. The win in Mauritius has certainly given me more confidence.”
The defeat is a big blow to the 26-year-old Iskandar, who is supposed to lead Malaysia’s singles challenge at the KL SEA Games from Aug 19-30. There were better fortunes for another SEA Games-bound shuttler Lee Zii Jia.
The 19-year-old, who upset fourth seed Sourabh Verma of India in the first round, stormed into the third round after beating homester Chang En-chia 21-12, 21-11.
The world No. 108 will meet 16th seed Siril Verma of India in the third round.
In men’s doubles, fourth seeds Chooi Kah Ming-Low Juan Shen got off to a winning start – beating homesters Chen Chung-jen-Hung Ying-yuan 26-24, 21-10 in the first round.
The world No. 31 will face another Taiwanese pair – Lin Shang-kai-Yang Po-hsuan – in the second round.
In women’s singles, world No. 77 Ho Yen Mei also started off strongly – beating seventh seed Chen Su-yu of Taiwan 16-21, 21-13, 21-17.
But mixed doubles fifth seeds Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie were sent packing after losing 12-21, 18-21 to Taiwan’s Lee Yang-Hsu Ya-ching.