END OF FAIRY TALE RUN

Daren hopes to build on his impressive showing in World Championships

LIEW Daren’s fairy tale run in the World Championships in Nanjing, China, finally came to an end yesterday. Malaysia’s independent men’s singles shuttler fell in the semi-finals.

Daren, 31, like every other Malaysian, was hoping for a miracle, but former World No 2 Kento Momota of Japan, was just too strong.

The fiery Japanese wrapped up the match 21-16, 21-5 in just 37 minutes.

Daren’s exit from the world meet also marked the end of Malaysia’s interest in the pretigious competition.

Nonetheless, the 2012 French Open champion can hold his head up high, as he became only the third Malaysian men’s singles shuttler to win a World Championships medal, after Wong Choong Hann and Lee Chong Wei.

Momota, who looks set to win his maiden world crown, will face China’s Shi Yuqi in today’s final.

The third seeded China shuttler had earlier dumped compatriot and Olympic champion Chen Long out of the tournament with a convincing 21-11, 21-17 win.

Daren, who fought tooth and nail with Japan’s Kanta Tsuneyama in the quarterfinals on Friday, admitted that the injury he picked up during the match, affected his performance in the last four.

“My aim was to try for the first game because my fitness is also low after yesterday’s match (against Tsuneyama), but I couldn’t.

“In the second game, my foot started bothering me and I couldn’t push anymore. I was about 80 per cent off and in the second game, my ankle was swollen,” said Daren, who is sponsored by AirAsia.

The former BAM shuttler now hopes to build on his consistency following his impressive run at the world meet.

“I hope to maintain this form, because before this I have not been consistent. Hopefully after this, I can keep the momentum going.