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Julia as good as in team for Sudirman Cup

By RAJES PAUL

KUALA LUMPUR: Women’s singles shuttler Julia Wong is virtually assured of a place in the Malay­sian team for the Sudirman Cup world mixed team championships in Guangzhou from May 10-17.

But the race is open for the re­­maining spot in the team for a men’s back-up squad player.

National chief coach Rashid Si­dek said that Julia had justified her selection with good performances in the India Open while the men’s back-up squad singles player will only be named after the Asian Championships (ABC) in Suwon, South Korea, from April 7-12.

The 21-year-old Julia came close to winning her first international Open title in Hyderabad on Sunday. She went down fighting to Pi Hongyan of France in the final.

Julia Wong posing on the podium with her medal and cheque in Hyderabad on Sunday. - AFP

“Julia used to be a drab player and known for engaging her opponent in long rallies. But she now has more flair in her game,” said Rashid.

“She now dares to attack her opponents with powerful smashes. But there is still a lot more for her to improve on to become a complete player.

“We will name her in the team for the Sudirman Cup together with Wong Mew Choo. The mixed team event will be another platform for her to show what she is capable of.”

If Mew Choo, who was beaten in the quarter-finals at the India Open, is unable to raise her game, it is likely that Julia will be given the task to play a more prominent role for the team in the Sudirman Cup.

Rashid added that Tan Chun Seang was currently the front-runner for a place in the team based on his commendable showing in the India Open.

He knocked out two seeded play­ers — Nguyen Tien Minh of Vietnam and Anup Sridhar of India — before going down to Indonesian Tommy Sugiarto in his first quarter-final appearance in an international tournament.

Currently, only world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei takes the men’s singles spot in the team.

“In the last few tournaments, different back-up players showed good results. It is not easy to make a pick. But on current form, Chun Seang is ahead,” said Rashid.

“I will wait until after the ABC before naming the top back-up player for the team to Guangzhou. This is the last chance for them to make an impression.”

Besides Chun Seang, three other back-up players — Chong Wei Feng, Mohd Arif Abdul Latif and Liew Daren — will also compete in the ABC. Wei Feng, probably, will have more to prove after losing to compatriot Chan Kwong Beng in the third round of the India Open.

The team for ABC

Men’s singles: Mohd Hafiz Hashim, Kuan Beng Hong, Chong Wei Feng, Mohd Arif Abdul Latif, Tan Chun Seang, Liew Daren.

Men’s doubles: Lin Woon Fui-Hoon Thien How, Mak Hee Chun-Tan Wee Kiong, Khoo Chung Chiat-Ong Soon Hock.

Women’s singles: Wong Mew Choo, Julia Wong, Lydia Cheah, Tee Jing Yee, Sanntasah Saniru.

Women’s doubles: Woon Khe Weo-Marylen Ng Poau Leng, Goh Liu Ying-Nairul Suhada Abdul Latif, Amelia Anscelly-Lim Yin Loo.

Mixed doubles: Mohd Razif Abdul Latif-Woon Khe Wei, Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying, Ong Jian Guo-Sabrina Chong, Lim Khim Wah-Marylen Ng Poau Leng.

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