EXPECT a tight battle when Tee Jing Yi takes on reigning champion Carolina Marin of Spain in the second round of women's singles at the Badminton World Championships in Jakarta tomorrow.
Jing Yi may not be the favourite but the Malaysian is feeling confident after today’s 21-13, 21-8 victory over Italian Jeanine Cicognini in her first round match.
The World No 1 Carolina, who got a first round bye, could be short of fitness as the Spaniard only returned to training two weeks ago from an injury.
“I will be the underdog and there is no pressure for me. It is different for Carolina as she is the defending champion,” said Jing Yi today.
“The world meet is her first tournament after an injury and her condition may not be so good. However, I just want to focus on my game.”
In mixed doubles, Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying and Tan Aik Quan-Lai Pei Jing reached the second round after winning their respective matches today.
Peng Soon-Liu Ying overcame Howard Shu-Eva Lee of the United States 21-19, 21-18 in 31 minutes to set up a second round match against Hong Kong’s ninth seeds Reginald Lee-Chau Hoi Wah today.
“We made too many mistakes. We could not control the speed of the shuttle and also our understanding was poor as we often collided with each other during the match,” said Liu Ying.
Zulfadli Zulkiffli caused the biggest upset in men’s singles today by defeating sixth seed Chou Tien Chen of Taiwan 21-5, 22-20 in his opening match. The former world junior champion plays Ireland’s Scott Evans on Wednesday.
“I avoided rallies and used my powerful smashes to earn points. I think Tien Chen was slightly nervous today. It is my first world meet so there is no pressure… I just want to gain experience,” said Zulfadli.
The focus tomorrow, however, will be on Lee Chong Wei when he takes on Lithuania’s Kestutis Navickas in the first round. Chong Wei has a blister on his right toe and it may affect his campaign in Jakarta.
Selected results
First round
(Malaysia unless stated)
Men's singles: Tommy Sugiarto (Ina) bt Pablo Abian (Spa) 21-16, P.Kashyap (Ind) bt Erik Meds (Ned) 21-17, 21-10; Tommy Sugiarto (Ina) bt Pablo Aimar (Spa) 21-16, 21-13; Zulfadli Zulkiffli bt Chou Tien Chen (Tai) 21-5, 22-20;
Women's singles: Ozge Bayrak (Tur) bt Lyddia Cheah 25-23, 21-13;Tee Jing Yi bt Jeanine Cicognini (Ita) 21-13, 21-8;
Doubles: Joyce Choong-Yap Cheng Wen bt Victoria Dergunova-Olga Morozova (Rus) 21-18, 21-12; Amelia Alicia Anscelly-Soong Fie Cho bt Sarka Krizkova-Katerina Tomalova 21-8, 21-9; Lim Yin Loo-Lee Meng Yean bt Vanessa Neo-Shinta Mulia Sari (Sin) 19-21, 22-20, 21-19.
Mixed doubles: Ronan Labar-Emilie Lefel (Fra) bt Tan Chee Tean-Shevon Lai 21-18, 22-20; Tan Aik Quan-Lai Pei Jing bt Vitalij Durkin-Nina Vislova (Rus) 15-21, 21-15, 2-3 (Rtd); Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying bt Howard Shu-Eva Lee (US) 21-19, 21-18.
Today
First round
Men's singles: Lee Chong Wei v Kestutis Navickas (Ltu);
Doubles: Goh V shem-Tan Wee Kiong v Phillip Chew-Sattawat Pongnairat (US);
Mixed doubles: Wong Fai Yin-Chow Mei Kuan v Ricky Widianto-Puspita Richi Dili (Ina).
Second round
Women's singles: Tee Jing Yi v Carolina Marin (Spa);
Mixed doubles: Tan Aik Quan-Lai Pei Jing v Lu Kai-Huang Yaqiong (Chn), Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying v Lee Chun Hei-Chau Hoi Wah (Tai).