Don’t you Dare write him off
Indie shuttler turns tables on Jonatan in opener
While many did not give him an inkling of a chance, independent shuttler Liew Daren – the only Malaysian in the men’s singles at the World Championships in Nanjing, continued to defy the odds when he stormed into the second round. “Many people have ruled me out even before the tournament started. When (Lee) Chong Wei withdrew, it was as though there were no Malaysians left,” said Daren.
RULE shuttler Liew Daren out at your own peril!
The 30-year-old independent shuttler continued to defy the odds when he stormed into the men’s singles second round at the World Championships after pulling off an upset win over Kuala Lumpur SEA Games champion Jonatan Christie of Indonesia.
Daren exacted sweet revenge over Jonatan by pulling off a classy 21-12, 21-16 win at the Youth Olympic Sports Park Arena yesterday – just a month after losing to the Indonesian youngster in the first round of the Malaysian Open.
The former world No. 10 Daren believes he has proven a point in the absence of Lee Chong Wei who has withdrawn from the tournament due to an illness.
“Many people have ruled me out even before the tournament started,” said Daren, the 2012 French Open champion.
“It’s as if I don’t exist here. When Chong Wei withdrew, it was as though there were no Malaysians left in the men’s singles competition.
“I’m glad I turned the tables on Jonatan today. He was struggling from the start. He still couldn’t settle in even in the second game and I took full advantage of that.
The world No. 38 Daren was also thankful to Badminton Association of Malaysia’s secretary Datuk Ng Chin Chai for making the arrangement to allow national women’s singles coach Datuk Tey Seu Bock to assist him in the match.
“Coach Seu Bock’s presence helped me.
“I used to train under him when I was in the national team and it was really nice to have him back guiding me, even if it was just a temporary arrangement,” he said.
Daren now looks forward to at least equalling his previous thirdround achievement in his second world meet appearance after his debut in Guangzhou in 2013.
He will face Misha Zilberman of Israel next and should he make it to the third round, he is expected to face Indian ace K. Srikanth for a place in the last eight.
He boasts a 100% head-tohead record against Srikanth, but his two previous wins were notched at the 2012 and 2013 Malaysian Open Grand Prix Gold.
“I’ve beaten him five years ago. So, I don’t think the past record counts for anything.”
Meanwhile, Soniia Cheah failed to join Goh Jin Wei in the second round when her campaign in the women’s singles ended with a 15-21, 11-21 defeat to Sayaka Sato of Japan. Jin Wei will take on Aya Ohori of Japan today.