Macau Open: Young Zulfadli goes down fighting to Hu Yun

Former world junior champion Zulfadli Zulkifli came mightily close to claiming his first big scalp but his inexperience showed as he went down fighting to Hong Kong’s Hu Yun in the first round of the Macau Open GP Gold yesterday.
The 19-year-old Zulfadli has yet to make his mark on the senior stage – a year after becoming the first Malaysian to win the World Junior title.
He had his chances against world No. 15 and fourth seed Hu Yun but faltered when it mattered most, losing 21-12, 11-21, 16-21.
The Selangor lad, who is currently ranked 62nd in the world, is gradually running out of time to show that his massive potential has not gone to waste.
It was also a sorry day for the Malaysian singles camp as Chan Kwong Beng and Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub fell by the wayside.
Kwong Beng, who has had a dreadful year which culminated in him dropping to No. 99th in the world, will certainly ponder his future after a tame 18-21, 11-21 defeat to unknown Taiwan’s Chun Shih Kuei.
Loh Wei Sheng, however provided some cheer when he beat Singapore’s Robin Gonansa 21-16, 21-11 to progress into the second round, where he will face fifth seed Wong Wing Ki of Hong Kong.
Former national Wong Choong Hann also showed that he still has some gas left in the tank with a comfortable 21-12, 21-16 win over Australia’s Michael Fariman.
Earlier in the qualifying rounds, all three mixed pairs of Ong Jian Guo-Woon Khe Wei, Lim Khim Wah-Vivian Hoo and Mohd Lufti Zaim-Chow Mei Kuan failed to progress to the main draw.
Courtesy of The Star