ZULFADLI Zulkifli hopes to reach the final of the National GP Finals for the first time. But he will first have to defeat national player Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin in the semi-final today.
Zulfadli, a former world junior and Asia junior champion who reached the last four in the previous two editions, feels this is his best chance of reaching the final in Terengganu as he has a history of doing well against Iskandar.
“I have not lost to Iskandar before and the last time we met was back in 2012. I'm not being over confident, but previous records do motivate me.
“Every player wants to be a champion and my priority now is to get to the final," Zulfadli said yesterday.
The 20-year-old advanced to the semi-finals after finishing on top of Group A with three wins out of three. In two of yesterday's matches, Zulfadli beat Cheam June Wei 21-12, 16-21, 21-8 and Chong Yee Han 21-12, 21-8.
Iskandar booked his place in the semi-finals after topping Group C with two wins and one defeat.
In 2012, Zulfadli lost to Misbun Ramdan in the semi-finals and he saw it happen again a year later, this time in the hands of Chong Wei Feng. The Kuala Lumpur shuttler is hoping that his form in the group stage will help carry him to the last stage.
“I am really happy because I won all three of my group matches. I do however realise that I have my own weaknesses as well.
“I will go out and do my best and not waste my chance again. I want to be in the final," Zulfadli added.