Tze Yong aims for Welsh domination after bagging third title at Scottish Open

Not content after landing a third title in a pandemic-filled year, fast-rising national men’s singles shuttler Ng Tze Yong has set his sights on gunning for the Welsh International Championships.

On Sunday, Ng completed a hat-trick of titles this year after he brushed aside fellow Malaysian Soong Joo Ven 21-18, 21-14 to win the Scottish Open title.

This was also Ng’s third title on European soil, having won the Belgian International in October and the Polish Open earlier this year.

The victory marked another splendid outing for the 21-year-old, who won all his matches in straight games.

“It was a tough match against Joo Ven because we know each other and have trained together in the national team. It was a final where we tested each other to see whose performance was better.

“I’m thrilled to have won but this is not the end. I will try my best in Wales to get my hands on another title,” he said.

The world number 63 plays India’s sixth seed Subhankar Dey in the opening round.

If he wants to go all the way, Ng would have to contend against several top shuttlers including top seed Mark Caljouw, South Korea’s Lee Dong Keun and Tokyo Olympics semi-finalist Kevin Cordon.

But Ng should fancy his chances nonetheless, having established himself as one of the most improved players in the national team after his steady rise to the world top 60, having risen from 108th back in May.

?? Tze Yong pleased to capture third title of the season, looks forward to Welsh International#ScottishOpen2021 #DemiMalaysia #BadmintonMalaysia pic.twitter.com/vOnB1daxp6
— BAM (@BA_Malaysia) November 29, 2021

Malaysia, meanwhile, missed out on another two titles at the Scottish Open as both the men’s and women’s doubles lost in their respective final duels.

Junaidi Arif-Muhammad Haikal were beaten 20-22, 16-21 by Scotland’s eighth seeds Chritopher-Matthew Grimley in the men’s doubles, while Canada’s Rachel Honderich-Kristen Tsai beat Anna Ching-Teoh Mei Xing 21-14, 21-12 in the women’s doubles.