Thursday December 21, 2006

Lim Kenn provides the only cheer for Project 2010-12 camp
KUALA LUMPUR: Youngster Lim Kenn was the only bright spark for the Project 2010-12 camp in the Kuala Lumpur Open when he reached the men’s singles quarter-finals at the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium (KLBA) here yesterday.
The 19-year-old Lim Kenn went the distance to beat teammate Tan Chun Seang 21-10, 13-21, 21-17 in the second round to set up a match against second seed Mohd Hafiz Hashim.
Hafiz chalked up a hard-fought 21-14, 21-18 win over Lim Kenn’s teammate Beryno Wong.
Credit must also be given to Chong Wei Feng and Liew Daren for making it difficult for two national players – K. Yogendran and James Chua.
After a great start, Wei Feng ran out of steam, losing to Yogendran 21-23, 21-12, 8-21 while Daren kept pace with James throughout the match before going down 16-21, 19-21.
In the quarter-finals today, Yogendran will take on top seed Lee Chong Wei while James will play against Kuan Beng Hong.
Bukit Jalil Sports School’s (BJSS) Mohd Arif Abdul Latif and Chan Kwong Beng showed their potential, giving the senior players a run for their money.
Arif, who won the boys’ Under-18 title in the 100 Plus National Junior Circuit in Ipoh on Saturday, kept Wong Choong Hann longer on the court before losing 21-18, 10-21, 7-21 while Kwong Beng gave Beng Hong a scare before going down 16-21, 21-14, 14-21.
Choong Hann will take on Yeoh Kay Bin in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, Lydia Cheah stayed on track in her bid to win her first senior Open title when she knocked out Pahang’s Tan Sin Lan to set up a match against Stephanie Shalini. The winner will take on second seed Julia Wong.