It will be another rough ride for her but Malaysia’s top women shuttler Tee Jing Yi is the country’s best bet yet in the women’s singles in next month’s Malaysia Open to be held at the Malawati Stadium in Shah Alam from April 5-10.
Jing Yi’s campaign may come to an end as early as the second round when her likely opponent is top seed and defending champion Carolina Marin of Spain who plays Hong Kong’s Yip Pui Yin in the first round.
Jing Ji’s first round opponent will come from the qualifying rounds.
Her recent form does not augur well. The Malaysian was a first round casualty in the recent Yonex All-England Championships where she lost to Indonesia’s Linda Fanetri 21-11, 21-18 in 40 minutes.
It was no better in the Swiss Open in Basel when she was another first round casualty – losing to Taiwan’s Pai Yu Po who won 15-21, 21-18, 21-10 in 45 minutes.
However, with the home fans rooting for her Jing Yi may just about pull off a surprise or two at the Malawati Stadium. For one there is no questioning about her tremendous fighting spirit.
The Penangite was forced to pullout from last month’s Badminton Asia Team Championships in Hyderabad, India due to injury. Despite her absence Malaysia pulled off a 3-2 win over highly rated Hong Kong to join China in the quarter-finals from Group A.
Jing Yi is certain to feature in the Malaysian Uber Cup team for the Finals in Kunshan, China from May 15-22.
SEEDINGS
Women’s single
- Carolina Marin (Spain)
- Li Xuerui (China)
- Saina Nehwal (India)
- Ratchanok Intanon
- Wang Shixian (China)
- Wang Yihan (China)
- Sung Ji-hyun (Korea)
- Nozomi Okuhara
