Teck Zhi finally nails senior singles title – since turning independent in August

Breakthrough: Soo Teck Zhi downed top seed Pham Cao Cuong of Vietnam to win the men’s singles title at the Bangladesh International Challenge in Dhaka yesterday.

PETALING JAYA: Former Asian junior champion Soo Teck Zhi has finally done what he failed to achieve when he was with the national team – winning a senior tournament.

The 23-year-old bagged his first men’s singles crown by triumphing in the Bangladesh International Challenge in Dhaka yesterday.

Teck Zhi powered past top seed Pham Cao Cuong of Vietnam 21-17, 21-17 in 31 minutes.

It was a well-deserved victory for Teck Zhi, who began his independent career after being released by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) in August. And since then he has reached the finals twice, losing on both occasions at the Sydney International Series in September and last week’s Nepal International Series.

World No. 39 Vivian Hoo-Yap Cheng Wen made it a double joy for Malaysia by emerging victorious in the women’s doubles event.

It’s Vivian-Cheng Wen second title in three finals in their four-month flourishing partnership since winning the Macau Open last month.

“It’s always great to win a title, even if it’s a small one,” said Vivian.

“It’s certainly a fruitful outing. We came here looking for a win that will move us up by a few rungs in the ranking and it’s a mission accomplished.

“Hopefully it would be enough to edge us closer to the top 32 bracket so that we can avoid playing in qualifying rounds in the tournaments next year.”

Hoo Pang Ron-Cheah Yee See made the mixed doubles final but they were beaten by Indonesia’s Leo Rolly Carnando-Indah Cahya Sari Jamil 16-21, 15-21.

 

FINAL RESULTS

Men’s singles: Soo Teck Zhi (Mas) bt Pham Cao Cuong (Vie) 21-17, 21-17.

Men’s doubles: Leo Rolly Carnando-Daniel Marthin (Ina) bt Supak Jomkoh-Wachirawit Sothon (Tha) 21-16, 21-11.

Women’s singles: Nguyen Thuy Linh (Vie) bt Putri Kusuma Wardani (Ina) 21-18, 21-19.

Women’s doubles: Vivian Hoo-Yap Cheng Wen (Mas) bt Aparna Balan-K.P Sruthi (Ind) 21-14, 21-13.

Mixed doubles: Leo Rolly Carnando-Indah Cahya Sari Jamil (Ina) bt Hoo Pang Ron-Cheah Yee See (Mas) 21-16, 21-15.