Hasrat pemain perseorangan negara, Cheam June Wei, untuk mara ke pusingan pertama Terbuka Malaysia tidak kesampaian apabila tumpas, 12-21, 19-21, kepada pemain Perancis, Brice Leverdez, dalam perlawanan kelayakan di Kuching, Sarawak, hari ini.
June Wei turun dengan motivasi tinggi selepas menumbangkan pemain Korea, Heo Kwang Hee, dalam perlawanan sebelum itu.
Menentang Leverdez, June Wei menghadapi kesukaran pada awal permainan dan banyak melakukan kesilapan sehingga akur dengan keputusan 12-21.
Namun, berbekalkan sokongan padu penonton di Stadium Perpaduan Petra Jaya, June Wei mempamer kebangkitan untuk mengejar Leverdez sehingga mata 20-19.
Pukulan terakhir Leverdez dikira pengadil perlawanan untuk mengakhiri perlawanan 19-21 dan ia ternyata menghampakan June Wei yang memasang impian untuk mara ke pusingan pertama Terbuka Malaysia buat kali pertama dalam kariernya.
Bagaimanapun, kekecewaan penyokong Malaysia ditebus pemain profesional negara, Liew Darren, yang mempamer aksi bertenaga untuk mengatasi lawan dari China, Zhao Junpeng, 17-21, 21-15, 21-18.
Pada set pertama, Darren menghadapi kesukaran untuk membaca permainan lawan dan akhirnya tewas 17-21.
Kebangkitan mula dipaparkan Darren dengan menjerat lawan untuk mengheret perlawanan ke set penentuan dengan keputusan 21-15.
Dan pada set terakhir itu, Darren akhirnya mengesahkan kemaraan ke pusingan pertama Terbuka Malaysia dengan catatan kemenangan 21-18.
Menantinya dalam pusingan pertama adalah pemain pilihan keempat dari Denmark, Victor Axelsen.
Dalam pada itu, Cong Wei Feng ditunjukkan jalan keluar seawal pusingan kelayakan apabila tewas kepada pemain Jepun, Takuma Ueda, 19-21, 11-21.
Stadium Astro
Tue Apr 04 2017
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