ISKANDAR MAKES IT AN ALL-MALAYSIAN TITLE SHOWDOWN

All-Malaysian showdown for singles and doubles crowns

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian shuttlers put up a splendid show to be assured of two titles – the men’s singles and doubles – at the Celcom Axiata Malaysian International Challenge in Johor Baru.

Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin (pic) and Leong Jun Hao made it an all-Malaysian showdown in men’s singles after hard-fought wins in their semi-final matches at the Pasir Gudang Municipal Council Stadium yesterday.

The 26-year-old Iskandar showed that his back injury is a thing of the past when he defeated seasoned campaigner Nguyen Tien Minh of Vietnam 14-21, 21-17, 21-17 in 67 minutes.

This will be Iskandar’s first final for the season.

But the day clearly belonged to Leong Jun Hao, who continued with fairy tale run here with another impressive win – ousting Indonesia’s Firman Abdul Kholik 16-21, 21-19, 22-20 in one hour and 16 minutes.

The 18-year-old Jun Hao will be featuring in his first final in a senior tournament and he’s delighted with his fine run in the fourth-tier Open tournament.

“This is my first tournament after the World Junior Championships and I’ve reached my first final in a senior tournament,” said Jun Hao, who finished as runner-up at the worlds in Jakarta last month.

“I was disappointed with my first game, though. I played hurriedly and made many unforced errors,” said world No. 319 Jun Hao.

“I stepped up in the second game but it was very close in the decider. He was leading but I didn’t give up.”

Jun Hao promised to give his best against Iskandar although “I have some pain on my hip joint”.

“The pain is there but I’ll try to do all I can to give a good fight tomorrow (today). I have never played against Iskandar in a tournament,” he said.

It will also be an all-Malaysian affair in men’s doubles, with Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani taking on Shia Chun Kang-Tan Wee Gieen.

Sze Fei-Izzuddin held their nerves to beat Masato Takanao-Yoshiki Tsukamoto of Japan 11-21, 21-19, 24-22 while Chun Kang-Wee Gieen pulled off a surprise win by downing Sabar Karyaman GutamaFrengky Wijaya Putra of Indonesia 21-18, 15-21, 21-14.

Old-timer K. Yogendran then made it a day to remember for Malaysia when he made it to the final by skin of his teeth with Prajakta Sawant of India in mixed doubles.

They will take on Japan’s Hiroki Okamura-Naru Shinoya.

National women’s doubles pair Lim Chiew Sien-Yap Zhen bowed out 11-21, 8-21 to Japan’s Misato Aratama-Akane Watanabe.