Oleh Ku Mohd Lufti
Melepasi pusingan kelayakan sudah dianggap satu bonus buat pemain badminton Malaysia Chong Yee Han di kejohanan badminton Superseries Premium Terbuka Malaysia 2016.
Nasib mungkin tidak memihak Yee Han apabila hanya mampu beraksi di pusingan pertama sebelum tewas kepada pilihan keempat kejohanan, Lin Dan 21-10, 21-15.
“Peluang bermain dengan pemain terbaik dunia bukan mudah, menang atau kalah tidak penting, saya mahu cari pengalaman. Saya perlu pertingkatkan lagi aspek fizikal kerana memerlukan tenaga yang banyak untuk meraih mata,” kata Yee Han.
Malah, Lin Dan turut memuji persembahan Chong Yee Han ketika di pusingan pertama.
Beliau merasakan Yee Han masih memerlukan banyak pendedahan di kejohanan antarabangsa.
“Saya tidak kenal beliau ( Chong Yee Han). Dia memerlukan lebih banyak pendedahan di kejohanan. Saya melihat dia ( Yee Han) bermain dengan Kenichi Tago dan ia adalah hebat.,” kata Lin Dan.
Chong Yee Han menewaskan rakan senegara, Muhd Hafiz Hashim dan Kenichi tago dari Jepun di pusingan kelayakan untuk menempatkan diri ke undian utama bagi kategori perseorangan lelaki.
SWEET OUTING FOR YEE HAN DESPITE FIRST ROUND EXIT
It was a sweet outing for Malaysia’s Chong Yee Han at the Celcom Axiata Malaysia Open 2016 despite him being the first round casualty to China’s Lin Dan this evening at the Stadium Malawati.
The 22-year-old said after his straight set 21-10, 21-15 loss to the Chinese super star that having made the main draw of the tournament itself was already an achievement.
“For me, to get the chance to play in the main draw is already an achievement although it was a little unfortunate that I get drawn to play one of the best players in the world,” said Yee Han.
“It was certainly not easy to play against Lin Dan. But I felt that winning or losing was not important. I needed to taste the chance of playing against one of the best to get the experience.
“I need to improve in several aspects especially physically where I feel that I have to work very hard for every point.”
Yee Han made the main draw of the Celcom Axiata Malaysia Open after defeating compatriot Muhd Hafiz Hashim and Kenichi Tago from Japan in the qualifiers yesterday.
