Tien-chen among stars in Purple League Pro

PETALING JAYA: Top seeds Ampang Jaya BC will parade a few top stars as they get ready to challenge for top honours in the Sennheng RedOne Purple League Professional starting tomorrow at Malawati Stadium, Shah Alam.

They will be counting on Taiwan’s world No. 4 Chou Tien-chen; independent shuttlers Goh Jin Wei (women’s singles), Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai (mixed doubles); and Indonesia’s men’s doubles pair Sabar Karyaman Gutama-Mohd Reza Pahlevi, who are ranked 53rd in the world.

The others in the team are South Korea’s Lee Dong-keun, Chong Ee Jack, Lau Yi Sheng, Lee Yi Bo, Ling Wei Jie, Nur Mohd Azriyn Ayub, Tan Jia Jie, Tan Ming Kang, Erica Hoh and Tang Wen Xin.

Ampang Jaya BC’s team manager Voon Siaw Yee is upbeat despite not having superstar players such as Kento Momota and Lee Zii Jia like they did in the last edition in 2019.

Siaw Yee further expressed that her charges are not competing to make up the numbers.

“We are capable of pulling off a surprise in this tournament. I believe with the strength of our talents, we can go far,” said Siaw Yee.

Ampang Jaya BC, who were the champions in 2018, are in Group A with Petaling Badminton Club, Indonesia Chandra Wijaya Team and Singapore Badminton Team while defending champions Puchong United BC will fancy their chances against Serdang Badminton Club, Sena Bangkok Club and Ho Chi Minh City Badminton Club in Group B.

Ampang, who will face Petaling BC first, are hoping to qualify for the Grand Finals from Oct 8-9 at Arena of Stars, Resorts World Genting. Only the top two teams in the group will square off in the last-four battle next week.