PETALING JAYA: National shuttlers Eogene Ewe (pic) and Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing made it a day of double joy at the Malaysian Junior International Challenge.
Top seed Eogene made a winning start by clinching the men’s singles title after beating compatriot and fifth seed Jan Jireh Lee 10-21, 21-19, 21-18 in the final at the Dewan Wawasan 2020 in Perlis yesterday.
Eogene showed strong fighting spirit in the energy-sapping 69-minute match, where he had to dig deep and come from behind to win.
It was Eogene’s first title of the year after settling for silver in the German Junior Open in March.
As for Jan Jireh, winning the silver was a breakthrough for him as it was his first final appearance after competing in seven tournaments so far.
His best performance was reaching the quarter-finals in the Bonn International in June and Junior International Grand Prix in July, where he went down fighting to Kuo Kuan-lin of Taiwan and Indonesian Bismo Raya Oktora respectively.
Meanwhile in the men’s doubles, Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing survived a nail-biting all-Malaysian final clash against teammates Mohd Faiq Haziq-Lok Hong Quan before prevailing 16-21, 22-20, 21-17 to win the title.
It was Aaron-Khai Xing’s second title after winning the Italian Junior in February while the gold medal remained elusive for Faiq-Hong Quan after finishing as silver-medalist in the Junior International Grand Prix.
Judging from their achievements in Perlis, the shuttlers are warming up well ahead of the World Junior Championships in the United States from Sept 25-Oct 8.
FINAL RESULTS
(Malaysians unless stated)Men’s singles: Eogene Ewe bt Jan Jireh Lee 10-21, 21-19, 21-18.
Men’s doubles: Aaron Tai-Kang Khai Xing bt Mohd Faiq Haziq-Lok Hong Quan 16-21, 22-20, 21-17.
Women’s singles: Anayapat Phichitpreechasak (Tha) bt Sarunrak Vitirsarn (Tha) 21-14, 22-20.
Women’s doubles: Isyana Syahira Meida-Rinjani Kwinara Nastine (Ina) bt Velisha Christina-Bernadine Anindya Wardana (Ina) 21-19, 21-15.
Mixed doubles: Anselmus Breagit Fredy Prasetya-Bernadine Anindya Wardana (Ina) bt Low Han Chen-Chong Jie Yu 14-21, 21-16, 21-16.
