Teck Zhi eager to prove a point in Mumbai

KUALA LUMPUR: Singles shuttler Soo Teck Zhi (pic) is waiting for a second chance to prove himself in the national team.

The 22-year-old Teck Zhi will wrap up his campaign this season by playing in the fourth-tier India International Challenge at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai starting today.

The 2013 Asian junior singles champion is motivated to prove himself after training under men’s singles head coach Datuk Misbun Sidek since August.

“It’s been a year full of ups and downs. I won’t sum it up as a bad year although I didn’t win any titles. I’ve had some good performances too,” said Teck Zhi.

The world No. 129 reached the semi-finals at the Smiling Fish International Challenge in (May) and the quarter-finals of the Malaysia International Series (July) and Indonesia International Challenge (October).

He was an early casualty in five tournaments. He also had to skip some tournaments because of injuries.

“I enjoy training under Misbun. It’s tough but I can follow. Hopefully, I’ll be able to produce better results,” said Teck Zhi, who has promised to end the season with a good showing in India.

“It’s my last tournament. I’ll be focused in every match. A good showing will surely give me the motivation to face next season with more confidence.”

Teck Zhi will face Arun Kumar Ashok Kumar of India in today’s opening round.

The other men’s singles in the fray are Chong Yee Han and Goh Giap Chin.

The other Malaysians competing in the tournament are Lim Yin Fun, M. Thinaah (women’s singles); Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik (men’s doubles); Joyce Choong-Goh Yea Ching (women’s doubles); and Hoo Pang Ron-Peck Yen Wei, Goh Liu Ying-Tang Chen Jie and former international K. Yogendran, with India’s Prajakta Sawant (mixed doubles).