That’s the assessment of Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) technical director Morten Frost at the end of a fruitful Malaysian Open at the Malawati Stadium in Shah Alam on Sunday.
World No. 4 Chong Wei won his 11th Malaysian Open crown while mixed doubles pair Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying finished runners-up to Indonesian world No. 2 Tontowi Ahmad-Liliyana Natsir.
“I think we had a good tournament. It’s fantastic to see Chong Wei win and Peng Soon-Liu Ying perform above expectations,” said Frost.
Last year, Zulfadli Zulkiffli was the only men’s singles representative in the main draw.
Apart from Chong Wei, three others – Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin, Goh Soon Huat and Chong Yee Han – also qualified for the main draw this year.
“Iskandar played extremely well to reach the second round. He’s now steadily playing at a top-20 level,” said Frost.
“Soon Huat also played well despite losing in three games to South Korea’s Son Wan-ho and Yee Han was quite a surprise.
“We were also very unlucky in women’s singles as all four – Lee Ying Ying, Lim Yin Fun, Lim Chiew Sien and Lee Zii Yii – lost close matches to opponents who made it into the main draw.
“There were also some who didn’t do so well. Soo Teck Zhi, in particular, and some of the younger women’s pairs.”
World No. 53 Teck Zhi, who reached the semi-finals of the New Zealand Open last month, lost 21-18, 21-5 to team-mate Lim Chi Wing in the first qualifying round.
It doesn’t augur well for his chances of making the squad for the Thomas Cup Finals in Kunshan, China, from May 15-22.
The 2013 Asian Junior champion can still redeem himself when he competes in the Singapore Open on Tuesday.
He takes on homester Derek Wong in the first qualifying round.
Zulfadli, Soon Huat and Chong Wei Feng are the other Malaysian singles shuttlers in the fray.
SCOURES:www.thestar.com
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