ASIAN CAMPAIGN OVER
Hong Kong’s Max sends Nafiizwan packing
NAFIIZWAN Adnan’s hopes of emulating his 2011 Asian Championships victory was dashed as Malaysia’s campaign came to an end in the semi-finals in Chennai yesterday.
Top seed Max Lee of Hong Kong advanced to the men’s final with a 12-10, 11-6, 11-5 victory over the third seeded Nafiizwan, who started the day as the country’s only surviving player in the five-day tournament.
World No 28 Nafiizwan was playing his first semi-final at the tournament since lifting the title in Penang six years ago while 16th-ranked Max had reached the last-four for the first time in six appearances.
Although the two players had not met since 2015, Max had won their last three meetings and stretched his head-to-head record against Nafiizwan to 4-2 with his latest win.
“I’m happy, yes. Very pleased to be in the final at last,” said Max, who could make it two titles in a row for Hong Kong today following Leo Au’s 2015 win. “He made me work hard, but my confidence is growing.”
Max saved a game point at 9-10 to take the opener, which Nafiizwan had led 8-5 before the top seed fought back and took the lead when the Malaysian sent a drop shot into the tin.
Nafiizwan, 31, kept pace with 29-yearold Max in the second game until the latter pulled away with four straight points to 10-6 and the pattern was repeated in the third game with Max winning seven of the match’s last eight rallies to complete the victory in 51 minutes.
Nafiizwan’s 2011 title was the last time a Malaysian won the men’s event, which had been dominated by the country’s top players beginning in 2000 with Ong Beng Hee, whose four consecutive titles were followed by two for Azlan Iskandar in 2008 and 2010.
With Nicol David declining the opportunity to win a 10th Asian women’s title, Hong Kong’s Annie Au has a chance to add to her solitary title in 2013 when she defeated Low Wee Wern in the final.