Thailand Open: Chance for junior players to show they can make the grade

With the search for world No.1 Lee Chong Wei’s successor on the way, the Thailand Open GP Gold which starts tomorrow in Bangkok presents a good opportunity for several backup and junior players to stand up and be counted.
BJSS trainee Soong Joo Ven, who nailed his first senior title – the Smiling Fish Thailand International Series – last month, has all the makings of a top shuttler and will be looking to state his case.
The 17-year-old Selangor lad meets Japan’s Shu Wada in the first round and a win should pitch him against compatriot Mohd Arif Abdul Latif next.

Spotlight: Mohd Arif Abdul Latif will have the chance to prove his worth at the Thailand Open GP Gold in Bangkok.

The 22-year-old Arif, whose career has hit a snag since making the Thomas Cup qualifying squad in February, faces Korean Park Sung-min in the first round.
Misbun Ramdan Misbun and Iskandar Zulkarnian Zainuddin both face tough first round hurdles.
World No. 70 Ramdan takes on third seed Pablo Abian of Spain and an upset could see him up against either Hong Ji-hoon of South Korea or China’s Chen Yuekun.
Iskandar plays England’s Andrew Smith and a win could see him taking on 14th seed R.M.V. Gurusaidutt of India in the second round.
Another talented youngster, reigning world junior champion Zulfadli Zulkifli, meets India’s K. Srikanth in the first round with a potential clash against top seed Lin Dan next.
The other singles shuttlers in the fray are veteran Mohd Hafiz Hashim, who is seeded fourth, Chong Wei Feng (8th), Loh Wei Sheng, Goh Soon Huat and Chan Kwong Beng.
In men’s doubles, Mohd Lufti Zaim-Vountus Indra Mawan are the seventh seeds and will face Andrei Adistia-Christopher Rusdianto of Indonesia in the first round with a possible quarter-final clash against top seeds and world No. 15 Liu Xiaolong-Qiu Zihan of China.
Former world junior doubles champions Chooi Kah Ming-Ow Yao Han and Nelson Heg-Teo Ee Yi are also in the fray and the Thailand meet will be a good chance for them to step up.
Kah Ming-Yao Han meet Singaporeans Terry Yeo-Liu Yi in the first round while Nelson-Ee Yi take on Taiwanese Huang Po Jui-Liao Ming Chun.
The other Malaysian pairs in the tournament are Low Juan Shen-Tan Yip Jiun, Hoon Thien How-Tan Wee Kiong, Mak Hee Chun-Teo Kok Siang, Jagdish Singh-Yew Hong Kheng, Gan Teik Chai-Ong Soon Hock and Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif.
Courtesy of The Star