Daren Liew’s semi-finals in the World Championships in Nanjing, China has earned him a place in the national team for the Asian Games in Jakarta later this month.
The former Thomas Cupper, who turned 31 on Monday, takes the place of Datuk Lee Chong Wei as the first singles in both, the team and individual events said Badminton Association of Malaysia president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria.
Earlier the BAM had picked Cheam June Wei as Chong Wei’s replacement. Chong Wei was forced to pull out of the World Championships and the Asian Games because of respiratory problems after playing in the Indonesia Open in July.
Meanwhile, Norza also announced that mixed double player Goh Liu Ying has been given the nod to compete in the Asian Games with Chan Peng Soon.
The Olympics silver medallists reached the quarter-finals in the World Championships and Malaysia is counting on the tested pair to win a medal in Jakarta.
Malaysia has set a two-medal target of any color. It was a three-medal target of any color before Chong Wei’s injury.
Liu Ying’s left Achilles injury is not that serious and the National Sports Institute (ISN) gave her the clearance after doing a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). With the Asiad badminton competition still two weeks away Liu Ying should be fit after rehabilitation.
However, rising men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik will not play in the Asian Games although the youngsters were early touted as replacements for Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
