LIEW Daren (right), who surprised most by reaching the quarter-finals of the Malaysia Open last week, failed to keep up his momentum and was eliminated in the qualifying rounds of the Korea Open yesterday.
Liew Daren, who also played in the qualifiers in Malaysia, beat Liao Sheng Shiun of Taiwan 29-27, 21-6 in the first round but then lost to South Korea’s Shon Wan Ho 16-21, 21-7, 21-15 to miss out on a place in the main draw.
However, his fellow back-up players Kuan Beng Hong, Chong Wei Feng, Tan Chun Seang and Arif Latif were promoted to the main draw after the withdrawal of several players including Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia and Malaysian duo Roslin Hashim and Lee Tsuen Seng.
Wei Feng, who lost in the first round of the Malaysia Open, has an opportunity to go one better when he plays South Korea’s back-up player Kim Sa Rang today.
Assuming Wei Feng advances, he will next play either Indonesian Simon Santoso or Beng Hong.
Hafiz Hashim, soundly beaten by Simon in the Malaysia Open, plays Denmark’s Joachim Persson and could be an early casualty.
Favourite Lee Chong Wei, whose task of winning his second Super Series event has been made easier by Taufik’s absence, received more encouraging news when it was learnt that Taufik’s compatriot, Sony Dwi Kuncoro has also withdrawn.
Chong Wei, winner of the Malaysian Open, opens his campaign against Hong Ji Hoon of South Korea, but his big test will come in the quarter-finals where he is down to meet another Korean, Park Sung Hwan.
The Malaysian had it all his way when beating Sung Hwan in the Malaysia Open final but it will be much tougher this time as the Korean will be looking to even the score in front of his home crowd.
In the women’s singles, Julia Wong and Lydia Cheah will find the going tough.
Both have easy first round matches with Julia playing Aditi Mutatkar of India, while Lydia meets Pia Zabedah of Indonesia, but in the second round, Julia meets Wang Chen of Hong Kong, a semi-finalist in Malaysia, while Lydia will take on Malaysia Open winner Tine Rasmussen.
Malaysia’s leading pairs have withdrawn from the doubles which means the country will be represented by former national pairs.
Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah will play Ko Sung Hyun-Kon Yi Goo while Chan Chong Ming-Chew Choon Eng will meet Kim Ki Eung-Kim Ki Jung in the first round.
