Ying Ying needs to convince selectors
Ying Ying’s wish is to represent Malaysia in the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games in August.
The 20-year-old, however, only has the ongoing Thailand Open and the Taiwan Open (June 27July 2) to convince the national selectors for a spot in the bienn ia l games.
As for now , World No 32 Soniia Cheah and 37thranked Goh Jin Wei hold the advantage over the 51stranked Ying Ying for the Sea Games women’s singles and team competitions.
Ying Ying will open her campaign i n the Thailand Open against 17-year-old Asty Dwi Widyaningrum of Indonesia today.
The Malaysian is drawn in the same half with India’s second seed Saina Nehwal and Thailand’s fourth seed Busanan Ongbamrungphan.
“I need to do well here and in the Taiwan Open to have a chance of making the Sea Games s q u a d ,” s a i d Y i n g Y i n g i n Bangkok yesterday.
“It will not be easy in the first round. I lost to the Indonesian in a lower-tier tournament last year. I am determined to perform well.
“Tomorrow’s match will be an indicator whether I have progressed in my game.”
Compatriot Ho Yen Mei will open against India’s Saili Rane today.
In the men’s singles qualifiers yesterday, independent shuttler Vincent Phuah defeated Thailand’s Ruttanapak Oupthong (2119, 21-8) and Pachaarapol Nipornram (21-18, 21-14) to make the main draw.
Malaysia’s Arif Latif-Syawal Ismail, Lim Khim Wah-Ooi Zi Heng and Tan Jinn Hwa-Wong Wai Jun all negotiated past two qualifying rounds to reach the main draw of the men’s doubles.