UNDER-PERFORMING Kuan Beng Hong had to produce his best before securing a place in the men’s singles main draw of the Indonesia Open in Jakarta yesterday.
Beng Hong came from one game down to beat China’s Yanbo Qiu 18-21, 21-17, 21-7 in the first round of qualifiers before securing a tough 21-23, 21-17, 21-19 victory over Petr Koukal of the Czech Republic.
His performance, despite staying at home for extra training over three weeks, did not look convincing and the World No 35 needs to improve his performance in order to make an impact in Jakarta.
Beng Hong faces an uphill battle against World No 6 Chen Jin of China in the first round today.
In the mixed doubles, Fairuzizuan Tazari-Wong Pei Tty also made the main draw yesterday.
The Malaysians defeated scratch pair Adrian Liu of Canada and Indonesia’s Jo Novita 21-10, 21-7 in their opening match before edging Taiwan’s Lee Sheng Mu-Chien Yu Chin (Tai) 21-12, 12-21, 24-22 to qualify for the main draw.
They face Indonesia’s Hendra Aprida Gunawan-Vita Marissa in the first round today.
Meanwhile, World No 1 Lee Chong Wei, after his shocking second round defeat to Vietnam’s Nguyen Tien Minh in last week’s Singapore Open, is hoping to make an impact in Jakarta to maintain his ranking before the World Championships in Hyderabad in August.
The Malaysian opens accounts against World No 29 Marc Zwiebler of Germany today.
Hafiz Hashim and Wong Choong Hann will face Denmark’s Hans Vittinghus Kristian and Thailand’s Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk respectively in their first round matches.
RESULTS (Malaysia unless stated) — Men’s singles qualifiers (1st round): Kuan Beng Hong bt Yanbo Qiu (Chn) 18-21, 21-17, 21-7.
2nd round: Kuan Beng Hong bt Petr Koukal (Cze) 21-23, 21-17, 21-19.
Doubles (2nd round): Howard Bach-Tony Gunawan (US) bt Gan Teik Chai-Tan Bin Shen 21-19, 21-15.
Women’s singles (1st round): Amelia Pradipta (Ina) bt Anita Raj Kaur 19-21, 21-18, 21-15.
Mixed doubles (1st round): Fairuzizuan Tazari-Wong Pei Tty bt Adrian Liu (Can)-Jo Novita (Ina) 21-10, 21-7; Lee Sheng Mu-Chien Yu Chin (Tai) bt Zakry Latif-Chin Eei Hui 21-16, 22-20.
2nd round: Fairuzizuan Tazari-Wong Pei Tty bt Lee Sheng Mu-Chien Yu Chin (Tai) 21-12, 12-21, 24-22.
