Daren shrugs off injury fear to advance at All-England.
Independent shuttler routs Suppanyu to set up clash with Yuqi
PETALING JAYA: Liew Daren brushed aside any fear of a recurring foot injury when he strolled into the second round of the All-England.
The 31-year-old independent shuttler, who was bugged by a left foot problem, whipped Thailand’s Suppanyu Avihingsanon 21-13, 21-17 to set up a last-16 clash with defending champion Shi Yuqi of China.
The win kept Daren’s 100% perfect start for this year.
He won his first three matches including beating Yuqi - en route to the semi-finals of the Malaysian Masters in January.
He injured his foot when he faced Yuqi, forcing him to concede a walkover to South Korea’s Son Wanho in the last four.
“I’m really surprised that I won convincingly. I wasn’t too confident in the beginning,” said Daren, whose best achievement in his previous three All-England appearances was reaching the quarter-finals in 2012.
“But I felt good throughout the match. My foot didn’t give me problem, I guess that’s what’s important.”
Asked if he fancies his chances against Yuqi and repeat a similar run to his bronze medal-winning World Championships in Nanjing last year, Daren said: “It’s going to be tough. Yuqi will be pumped up to defend his title.
“Furthermore, I’m not exactly 100% fit as I was focusing on recovery and didn’t train much prior to coming here. So I don’t really expect much from myself. I’m going to take it one match at a time.”
Meanwhile, mixed doubles ace Chan Peng Soon was a relieved man after he and partner Goh Liu Ying survived an early scare to see off Japan’s Takuro Hoki-Wakana Nagahara 19-21, 21-10, 22-20.
“It might be just the first round but it did our confidence a world of good. We were affected a little after being eliminated in the first round at the German Open last week,” said Peng Soon.
He added that the presence of newly-hired coach Chew Choon Eng made a lot of difference.
“It’s great to have Choon Eng with us.
“We need guidance and advice from a coach who could see clearly from the back and point out to us what issues we need to address during the match,” explained Peng Soon.
“For instance today, we were able to prevail in the deuce thanks to him.”
The world No. 5 and 2017 runners-up face Tontowi AhmadWinny Oktavina Kandow of Indonesia today and a possible last eight clash against defending champions Yuta Watanabe-Arisa Higashino of Japan awaits them.
Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai, fresh from their semi-final finish in Germany, were in their element as they downed Indonesia’s Ronald Ronald-Annisa Saufika 21-16, 21-11.
The world No. 14 pair want to bring the momentum into their next match against home pair Marcus Ellis-Lauren Smith whom they have never beaten before in their last two meetings.
“We’re looking forward to challenging them again and it’s even tougher this time as they have home support,” said Shevon.
“But we’re playing well currently so hopefully we can put up our A game and end our losing streak.”
Malaysia’s challenge in the women’s singles ended early with the defeats of Goh Jin Wei and Soniia Cheah.