Count Liew in for Rio

 

In the nick of time: Liew Daren proved his worth by beating Viktor Axelsen of Denmark in the French Open final last Sunday.

Lady luck is finally smiling on late bloomer Liew Daren.
The 25-year-old men’s singles shuttler was once on the verge of being dropped from the national squad but yesterday won a place in the squad for the next Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro – thanks in part to winning the French Open title on Sunday.
Prior to that, the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) were looking at players who had done well at the Asian and World Junior Championships to be roped into the 2016 Rio squad.
Those identified are all in their early 20s, like Misbun Ramdan Misbun, Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin, KLRC’s Zulfadli Zulkifli, Loh Wei Sheng (boys’ singles); Yang Li Lian, Sonia Cheah (girls’ singles); Ow Yao Han-Chooi Kah Ming, Teo Ee Yi-Nelson Heg Wei Keat (boys’ doubles ); and Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean (girls’ doubles).
The more established shuttlers – and likely to be at their prime in Rio – were Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying (mixed doubles) and Lim Khim Wah-Goh V Shem (men’s doubles).
BAM coaching and training chairman Ng Chin Chai said that Daren has regained their faith to be included in the squad with his consistent performances this year, which culminated with him beating former world junior champion Viktor Axelsen of Denmark for his first senior career title.
“I am aware that he will be 29 at the next Olympics but he has proven to us that he has more to offer by finally winning his first international title in France,” Chin Chai said, after attending the first Road to Rio steering committee meeting in Bukit Jalil here yesterday.
“If he keeps at it, we believe he can grow into a strong contender at the next Olympic Games. He should be given that opportunity. The majority of the 2016 squad, however, will be our World Junior and Asian Junior champions and runners-up. We have not made an official announcement but we have earmarked a few shuttlers.
“They will be given the right exposure in the next four years to nurture them into strong and reliable players.”
Courtesy of The Star