Jackpot in Lucknow
Mei Kuan-Meng Yean capture maiden World Tour title
Malaysian women’s doubles pair Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean signed off the year in style by claiming the Syed Modi International badminton championships in Lucknow, India, for their maiden World Tour victory. The world No. 19 disposed of homesters Ashwini Ponnappa-N. Sikki Reddy 21-15, 21-13 in 42 minutes to earn their career’s biggest prize money of US$11,850 (RM50,000).
PETALING JAYA: Better late than never.
Women’s doubles pair Chow Mei KuanLee Meng Yean signed off the year in style by claiming the Syed Modi International badminton championships for their maiden World Tour victory in Lucknow, India, yesterday.
The world No. 19 were in their element to see off India’s Ashwini Ponnappa-N. Sikki Reddy 21-15, 21-13 in 42 minutes, exacting sweet revenge on the world No. 25 who had beaten them during the second round of the Asian Games in Jakarta in August.
The victory ended Mei Kuan- Meng Yean’s two- year title drought dating back to November 2016, where they last triumphed in the lower- tier Malaysian Inter- national Challenge.
Their well deserved efforts also earned them their career’s biggest prize money of US$11,850 (RM50,000).
Meng Yean, 24, was delighted to achieved the breakthrough in what had been a tough year for her.
After being sidelined for three months from February to April due to injury, she admitted it was a struggle to get back to her best.
“It has been a long struggle but I never thought about giving up because I believed I could turned things around,” said Meng Yean.
“My partner Mei Kuan has been supportive as ever and we trusted each other as a pair. We share the same dream, that is to qualify for the Olympics and we are work- ing hard towards the goal.
“So, it feels amazing to have finally won today in our last tournament of the year.
“Perseverance does pay off and I hope we done the country proud with this win.”
Women’s doubles head coach Rosman Razak must be grinning from ear to ear after Mei Kuan-Meng Yean delivered his department’s second win in three weeks.
Vivian Hoo-Yap Cheng Wen emerged triumphant at the Macau Open earlier.
Rosman believes the final month flourish has set things up nicely ahead of the crucial Tokyo Olympics qualification period, which begins next May.
“I’m so happy to see them win their first title this year,” said Rosman, who returned to the national team for a second coaching stint earlier this year.
“By doing so, they have showed their strong desire to qualify for the Olympics.
“As their coach, I will do whatever it takes to help them realise their dream.
“Together with Vivian-Chen Wen, we have got two established pairs now that we can count on.
“It’s great that our players have ended the year strongly, but the long journey to Tokyo has just begun.”
In the men’s singles final, Sameer Verma saved India the blushes when he downed China’s Lu Guangzu 16-21, 21-19, 21-14 to capture the title.
Besides Ashwini-N. Sikki, the homesters also had Saina Nehwal and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty in the women’s singles and men’s doubles respectively but they have all faltered.