Smashing, baby!
Daren dares to dream after stunning world No. 5 Srikanth
As badminton mixed doubles ace Chan Peng Soon owes his luck to newborn baby Julian after surviving a scare with playing partner Goh Liu Ying in the third round of the World Championships, three other Malaysians upset the form book to reach the quarter-finals. The biggest surprise of all was independent player Liew Daren, who stunned India’s world No. 5 K. Srikanth in the men’s singles. In the men’s doubles, Aaron ChiaSoh Wooi Yik overcame Denmark’s World No. 8 Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen.
INDEPENDENT shuttler Liew Daren kept the Jalur Gemilang flying high when he stormed into the men’s singles quarterfinals at the World Championships in spectacular style.
Labelled as a no hoper, Daren continued to prove doubters wrong after pulling off yet another upset by stunning world No. 5 K. Srikanth of India 2118, 2118 in the third round at the Youth Olympic Sports Park Arena.
He’ll face Kanta Tsuneyama of Japan, who ousted Brice Leverdez of France 2117, 2115 in the other thirdround clash – and his chances of make his first semifinals looksgood.
His best outing in the world meet was only a thirdround finish after losing to Chen Long of China in Guangzhou in 2013.
Yesterday, Daren was in his element as he pulled off all the right tricks to outfox Srikanth.
“This is by far my best achievement as an independent shuttler, but I’m going to make it even better,” said Daren.
“At first, I wasn’t even sure I’ll clear the first round and now I’m in the quarterfinals. I’ll keep fighting – semis, final? You’ll never know. “There’s no pressure at all.” Daren, who left the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) in early 2016, reckons his struggle as a professional shuttler has finally paid off.
“It wasn’t an easy journey,” said the 2012 French Open champion.
“As a professional, you have to arrange everything on your own. Besides preparing for a tournament, you have to make your own transport arrangements and hotel bookings.
“When I was in the national team, all were taken care off.
“But the hardest part of all is to source for sponsors.
“I really want to thank AirAsia. They made this trip possible for me and I hope I have repaid their faith with this result.”
Meanwhile, Goh Jin Wei’s gallant run ended in the women’s singles when the 18yearold went down fighting 2123, 1321 in 46 minutes to defending champion Nozomi Okuhara of Japan.
“It was a good experience playing against her. In terms of our standard, I think I trail her by two levels,” said Jin Wei.
“She made me realise that there are so many areas I have to improve to get to where she is now. Overall, I’m quite pleased with my World Championships debut, I have no complaints with how things have panned out.”