Daren vows to exact revenge on Japan if fielded

THE disappointment of losing a crucial tie against Japan is still fresh in Liew Daren’s mind even after eight years.

Daren fell in the deciding match and Malaysia lost to Japan in the final at the Thomas Cup in New Delhi in 2014. Malaysia needed that win badly as they had been waiting to end the long wait for the Cup, which they had last won in 1992 in Kuala Lumpur.

Now Daren is back in the team event and may be fielded in the tie against Japan again.

Malaysia are out to beat Japan in Group D to reach the quarter-finals as the group champions.

“Of course, I remember that defeat, it was painful but I don’t want to think about it now. It’s already over,” said Daren.

“Instead, if I’m fielded, I will use the opportunity as a motivation to erase the defeat against Japan. I will go all out to win, whoever I will face,” said the 34-year-old.

He will either play Kanta Tsuneyama or Kenta Nishimoto. He does not have good records against either one of them.

Yesterday, Daren played as the first singles instead of Lee Zii Jia in the tie against United States. He toyed around with his opponent Enrico Asuncion before sealing the match 21-13, 21-16 in 37 minutes.

Malaysia also rested Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani but the others in team went on to beat the unheralded United States 5-0.