Players’ rivalry set to climax in Hyderabad

Thursday, 06 August 2009

The intense and healthy rivalry among the three back-up doubles shuttlers – Chan Peng Soon, Ong Jien Guo and Mohd Razif Abdul Latif – is expected to reach its pinnacle at the World Championships, which will be held in Hyderabad, India from Aug 10-16. All three are determined to make a name for themselves with their mixed doubles partners – Goh Liu Ying, Sabrina Chong and Woon Khe Wei respectively – and next week’s world meet will be an ideal platform to gauge where they stand. The trio have had their share of good results this year but the one holding a slight edge is Peng Soon, who reached the Thailand Open semi-finals with Liu Ying last month. Peng Soon will be competing for the second time in the world meet, having lost in the third round with Haw Chiou Hwee at Bukit Jalil in 2007. Razif and Jien Guo, meanwhile, will be making their debuts. Peng Soon, who aspires to be like former South Korean great Kim Dong-moon, said he was bracing for a tough time in Hyderabad. That is understandable as Peng Soon-Liu Ying will take on China’s formidable combination of Zheng Bo-Ma Jin in the second round. “After a first round bye, we will be playing against a China pair for the first time. At the last world meet, I lost to Zheng Bo too. Then, he partnered Gao Ling,” said Peng Soon. “Liu Ying and I have played together for nine months but we have never come up against a Chinese pair. We are studying Zheng Bo and Ma Jin’s game through video sessions (compiled by coach Jeremy Gan). “There is no pressure on our shoulders but we will be happy if we can give them a good fight.” Jien Guo said that the rivalry among the back-up shuttlers was intense but it had done them a world of good and keeping everyone on their toes. “We are all good friends. But it is good to have this competition among us. It helps us to raise our game to a higher level,” said Jien Guo. “This is my first major tournament with Sabrina. We have a tough draw but the most important thing is to play without any fear.” Jien Guo-Sabrina’s opening match in the tournament will be against fourth seeds He Hanbin-Yu Yang in the second round. Of the three, Razif probably has the easiest draw. And he is bent on capitalising on the opportunity to make it a memorable outing. “The draw is not too bad. There is a fighting chance for us in the early rounds and, hopefully, we will clear the hurdles,” said the 24-year-old Razif, who is the younger brother of elite player Mohd Zakry. Razif-Khe Wei are expected to face 12th seeds Robert Mateusiak-Nadiezda Kostiuczyk of Poland in the second round. If they make it, they should take on either India’s V. Diju-Jwala Gutta or England’s Nathan Robertson-Jenny Wallwork for a place in the quarter-finals. “This is my first major tournament. Khe Wei is recovering from an ankle injury and we are playing better as a pair every day. I hope this outing will be a memorable one,” said Razif. Besides the three pairs, Malaysia’s other mixed doubles pair in the draw are the country’s top combination of Koo Kien Keat-Ng Hui Lin. Courtesy of The Star

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