SO CLOSE AND YET SO FAR

Soniia almost gives former world champ a shock

NATIONAL shuttler, Soniia Cheah, was so close to a historic win over a former world champion but her finishing let her down as she crashed out in the first round of the Hong Kong Open yesterday.

The 25-year-old women’s singles led in both games but couldn’t find the killing touch as she went down 23-21, 21-18 in 42 minutes to seventh seed, Nozomi Okuhara of Japan.

“I am so disappointed with myself, I could have defeated her,” lamented Soniia, when contacted in Kowloon.

“In the first game I was up 19-16 while in the second 16-13. She (Okuhara) was running all over the court and I gained points from killing her shots.

“But I made too many simple mistakes and gave her the winning points. I am so angry with myself,” added Soniia, who will not play in any more tournaments this year.

When asked to comment on her chances next season, Soniia said it’s back to the drawing board as she gears up for the Olympic qualifying period that starts in May.

“Instead of maintaining this form, I want to come back stronger and better. I need to go back and train harder to improve myself.”

There were more casualties for the Malaysian camp on the second day of the competition as independent men’s singles shuttler, Liew Daren and national men’s doubles pair, Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi, also failed to clear the first hurdle.

World Championships’ bronze medal winner, Daren, was shown the exit by China’s Chen Long, who won 21-16, 21-16, while Yew Sin-Ee Yi went down 22-20, 21-13 to Japan’s Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi.