PETALING JAYA: France’s Alex Lanier has set the tempo for badminton as one of the early new faces to stamp his mark as the new Olympic Games cycle begins.
Will there be more from him or is he just a flash in the pan? And will there be more youngsters like him coming to the fore.
Lanier turned heads when the 19-year-old ousted Olympic Games bronze medal winner Lee Zii Jia, world No. 1 Shi Yuqi of China and veteran Chou Tien-chen en route to winning the Japan Open last week.
And he will get a quick chance to keep the momentum going in the Korean Open starting today in Seoul.
He has been drawn to play Angus Ng Ka Long of Hong Kong in the first round and if he wins, the world No. 26 will get to play against Yuqi in the second round.
Based on his style, skills and sheer determination, Lanier looks like he is here to stay and will only grow as a better player through his journey of ups and downs.
And age is on his side to turn up at Los Angeles in 2028 as a worthy opponent.
While Lanier has won his first big title, Malaysia’s Leong Jun Hao will be out to end his title wait in a major tournament when he opens his campaign against Takuma Obayashi of Japan in the first round.
There are several other heavyweights in his lower half like second seeds Anders Antonsen of Denmark, Li Shifeng of China, Kenta Nishimoto of Japan and Lin Chun-yi of Taiwan.
Zii Jia, who lost in the first round to Lanier, is not competing in the Korean Open.
Meanwhile, in the men’s doubles, Malaysia’s hopes will be on reigning Japan Open winners Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun.
