Allan retains title with easy win

JOHOR BARU: Defending champion Allan Tai used his speed and power to retain his men’s singles Open title in the second Asiatic Indahpura Badminton Championship on Sunday. 

The Kuala Lumpur-born Allan walked away with an easy 21-8, 21-15 victory over Pahang’s Abdul Razak Ibrahim in the final at the Asiatic Indahpura Sports City in Kulai. 

The former international who donned national colours from 1997 to 2003 took only 30 minutes to pocket the RM2,000 prize money that came with the title. Abdul Razak’s efforts won him RM1,000. 

The 27-year-old Allan, now a coach at the Daiman Johor Jaya Sports Complex here, was hardly stretched by Abdul Razak although he faced some resistance in the second set. Still, Abdul Razak found no answer to Allan’s speed on the court and his power-packed smashes. 

“Yes. Badminton is in my blood. I might have retired from the international scene but I will try to compete in as many tournaments as possible in the country if my work commitments allow me,” said Allan, who was a semi-finalist in the recent Rakan Muda Yonex Sunrise Malaysia International Challenge tournament in Alor Star before losing to eventual champion Sairul Amar Ayob. 

Hardlystretched:File photo ofAllan inaction at theMen's singlesof the KedahOpenBadmintonChampionshipin Alor Star.

Indonesia’s Hani Puspa Indra beat P. Taroshwara of Kuala Lumpur 21-14, 21-19 in the playoff for third place and took home RM600. Taroshwara settled for RM400. 

In the men’s doubles final, Ng Kean Kok-Teo Kok Seng battled their way to a 21-15, 21-19 win over Johor Baru’s Ng Choon Kang-Tay Cheng Fei to win the title and were RM3,000 richer. 

Melvin Chai Boon Wai-Wong Keng Loon outplayed Danny Ong Beng Tiong-Poh Kawu Yaw 21-15, 21-10 to take third place. The winners won RM800 while the losers took home RM600. 

In the juniors’ events for those below 18 years, Chiang Jiann Shiarng beat Johor Baru’s Muhammad Aiman Husin 21-14, 21-15 for the boy’s singles title. The champion was RM500 richer while Muhammad Aiman won RM300.  

In the playoff for third place Perak’s Yip Wah San got a walkover from local hopeful Chan Yuan Jin. Both got RM150 each. 

However, he was not to be denied a title when he partnered Hoo Wei Chang to win the boys' doubles title in a three-set thriller beating Haw Yong Yuan-Lee Mun Fei (Johor Baru) 21-13, 19-21, 21-18 for the RM800 prize money.  

The runners-up won RM600 while the other Johor Baru pair of Ng Tiat Meng-Wong Yit Fei got a walkover from Kulai’s Boo Kuo Tuan-Chan Yuan Jin in the playoff. Both pairs got RM200 each. 

This year’s championship also saw the girls’ events being held after last year’s events were called off due to poor response. In the women’s singles Johor Baru made a clean sweep with Lim Chiew Sien winning the title and RM500 without lifting the racket when Leow Sau Pay (RM300) conceded a walkover. In the playoff for third place Tan Rok Bin beat Amilia Chang Xin-Yi 21-8, 21-4. The duo earned RM150 each. 

The doubles was a round robin affair with Haw Chious Xian-Lim Chiew Sien of Johor Baru taking the title and the winners’ purse of RM800.  

Runners-up were Low Wan Joe-S’ng Yun Xuan of Muar (RM600).  

Kew Si Na-Lye Zi Rui (Johor Baru/Kulai) came in third and Lee Ee Ling-Lee Zi Ze (Skudai/Kulai) fourth. Both pairs won RM200 each.