KUALA LUMPUR: After falling flat in last year’s final, national No. 2 Mohd Nafiizwan Adnan is hungry to win the TC National Championships this time.
The 27-year-old Nafiizwan booked his place in the final with an 11-7, 11-7, 11-7 win over former national player Timothy Arnold.
The pair had also met in the final of the Malaysian Tour in Malacca last week, with Nafiizwan winning in five sets.
This time, the Terengganu-born Nafiizwan got his A-game out early to disrupt Timothy’s plan.
And that allowed the hard-working world No. 30 Nafiizwan to run out with a comfortable win.
“I definitely played better than I did last week in Malacca,” said Nafiizwan, who set up a repeat final against national No. 1 Ong Beng Hee.
“I kept my shots tight and I made sure he ran more ... Tim is not as fit as I am.
“Now, I’m eager to win the national title. I wanted to win it badly last year but I wasn’t prepared mentally and (Beng Hee punished me).
“But I’m better prepared this time – mentally and physically – and I’m also fresher and fitter than Beng Hee.
“I know his (Beng Hee’s) game all too well as I travel a lot with him to tournaments.
I also know my strategy for the final ... I’ll make him run a lot as well.”
Defending champion Beng Hee made the final after ousting youngster Mohd Addeen Idrakie 11-5, 11-3, 11-3.
“It was tougher than the scoreline suggests because he was a young guy with nothing to lose,” said Beng Hee.
“He started a little nervous ... guess I scared him a little. But, overall, he did well and he wasn’t afraid to go for his shots.”
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