New Straits Times » SportPahang Open: Hafiz, Chong Wei renew rivalry K. M. Boopathy June 16:

New Straits Times » SportBADMINTON/
THE fierce rivalry between National No 1 Lee Chong Wei and his closest rival Hafiz Hashim in the local circuit will be the highlight again in the Pahang Open badminton championships which begins at the Sukpa Stadium in Kuantan today.
Chong Wei will have a double mission as he will be attempting to maintain his two-year unbeaten run at home, beating Hafiz three times last year. Chong Wei's impressive run at home began with the National Grand Prix finals men's singles crown in January 2003 and the 22-year-old has never looked back since then.Hafiz was on the receiving hand in the finals Selangor and Malacca Opens as well as the 2004 National GP finals. The only time Hafiz had beaten Chong Wei was in the semi-finals of the German Open in March but based on current form, the latter looks to be in prime form.In the Kedah Open, the local circuit's curtain raiser in April, Chong Wei defeated Wong Choong Hann for the title as Hafiz withdrew from the tournament due to a knee injury. However, Hafiz has recovered and will be hoping to reproduce his form on the international stage, which saw him win the Swiss and Thailand Opens this year, in Kuantan. Chong Wei received a bye in the first round and likely to meet back-up player Liew Darren in the second round while Hafiz is expected to meet Beryno Wong of Sabah in the second round. In the last eight, Hafiz is likely to face Lim Kenn or Chong Wei Feng, both from the 2008-2010 project squad, but his biggest test will be against joint third seed Choong Hann in the semi-final. Hafiz is expected to meet fellow national player Yeoh Kay Bin in the last eight and should set up a semi-final showdown against joint third seed Kuan Beng Hong. In the men's doubles, injury-prone veterans Choong Tan Foo-Lee Wan Wah are finally back together since competing in the Athens Olympics last year. Wan Wah underwent a knee surgery in December while Tan Fook suffered a knee injury two months ago and it will interesting to see if the duo can sustain their dominance against their much improved national teammates. They are expected to go past back-up pair Razif Latif-Razif Rahman but a tougher battle awaits them in the quarter-final against second seeds Tan Bin Shen-Ong Soon Hock. Bin Shen-Soon Hock are fired up after qualifying for the world championships, to be held in Anaheim, California in August, and are capable of beating Tan Fook-Wan Wah.The winners of the match are likely to meet another national senior pair Lin Woon Fui-Fairuzizuan Tazari in the last semi-finals.

Thursday June 16, 2005

PETALING JAYA: Youngster Lim Kenn turned the tables on national men’s singles shuttler Lee Tsuen Seng in the quarter-finals of the Kedah Open two months ago.
And national chief coach Yap Kim Hock hopes to see the youngsters chalking up upset victories over the seniors in the Pahang Open, which begins today at the Sukpa Indoor Stadium in Kuantan.
Lim Kenn is one of the players in the Project 2010-12 squad, who are under the charge of Rashid Sidek.
“This is a good opportunity for the juniors to strut their stuff. This is also a platform for coaches to measure the gap between the seniors and juniors in the country,” said Kim Hock.
For the Pahang Open men’s singles event, Lim Kenn has been drawn to meet another junior, Azrihanif Azahar, in the first round.
If Lim Kenn advances, he is tipped to play against Asian Juniors team member Chong Wei Feng. A place in the quarter-finals will give him a match against top seed Lee Chong Wei.
Another youngster, Tan Chun Seang, also has the opportunity to prove himself. He is drawn to play against national discard Ismail Saman in the first round. Chun Seang’s opponent in the second round is national player Kuan Beng Hong.
The other youngsters in the fray are Law Yew Thien, Chong Li Qun, Beryno Wong and Liew Daren