# Chong Wei leads Malaysia’s charge
The world’s top badminton players are coming for the 2018 Perodua Malaysia Masters to be held at the Axiata Arena, Kuala Lumpur Sports City in Bukit Jalil from Jan 16-21.
The men’s world number one and reigning world champion Viktor Axelsen of Denmark and women’s world number one Tai Tzu Ying of Chinese Taipei are among the big names who have confirmed their participation. The duo are currently participating in the Premier Badminton League in India.
The upgraded Malaysia Masters to a Grade 2, Level 4 BWF World Tour Superseries carries a prize money of USD350,000. The men’s and women’s singles champions will pocket USD26,250 while the runners-up will take home USD13,300. For prize money for the doubles events is USD27,650 for the champions and USD13,300 for the runners-up.
The star attraction will be Malaysia’s world number two Datuk Lee Chong Wei in the men’s singles and the return of Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong (men’s doubles) and Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying (mixed doubles).
After a brief break-up V Shem-Wee Kiong have been brought back together for Malaysia’s campaign in the Badminton Asia Men’s and Women’s Team Championships in Alor Setar next month. The Asian meet will also serve a continental qualifier for the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup Finals with the semi-finals earning a place in the Finals in Bangkok on merit.
The tournament will also feature the long awaited return of national mixed doubles shuttlers Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying after Liu Ying was kayoed by knee injury which required surgery which resulted in a long layoff.
The other big names in the men’s singles are Chen Long, Lin Dan (China), Chou Tien Chen (Chinese Taipei), Son Wan Ho (Korea) while in the women’s singles include defending champion Saina Nehwal (India), Carolina Marin (Spain), P.V. Sindhu (India), Ratchanok Intanon (Thailand) and Akane Yamaguchi (Japan).
Also confirmed are Christinna Pedersen-Kamilla Rytter Juhl, Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen (Denmark), Li Junhui-Liu Yuchen; Wang Yilyu-Huang Dongping (China) and Misaki Matsumoto-Ayaka Takahashi (Japan).
Also defending their title will be Indonesia’s Hardianto-Berry Angriawan (men’s doubles); Malaysia’s Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing (mixed doubles) and Hong Kong’s Angus Ng Ka Long (men’s singles).
Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) secretary Datuk Ng Chin Chai, who is also the Malaysia Masters organising comittee chairman is pleased with the response from the world’s top ranked players and said:
“Their participation will definitely make the tournament exciting and competitive. It is a great sign to see the Perodua Malaysia Masters so well received by the top players.
“This marks the first time the majority of the top 10 ranked players in the world competing against each other in this tournament’s history,” said Chin Chai.
Meanwhile, Goh Jin Wei, Lim Chi Wing, Soon Joo Ven, Liew Daren, Lee Ying Ying, Ho Yen Mei and several others will have to go through the qualifying round to secure a spot in the main draw. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAHI\O
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