New Straits Times » Sport Badminton/Malaysia Open: Thai, Indon pairs withdraw K.M. Boopathy Sept 2: TOP Thai pair Pramote Teerawiwatana-Tesana Panvisvas and Indonesian second seeds Eng Hian-Flandy Limpele were among the top names who have withdrawn from the Malaysia Open men's doubles event, and more are expected to follow suit due to the hectic international grand prix schedule. The withdrawals are coming thick and fast, as most of the players have played in the back-to-back Singapore and Indonesian Opens in the last two weeks. Pramote suffered a shoulder injury in the final of the Indonesian Open in Batam on Sunday and Thai coach Siripong Siripul said the 36-year-old shuttler is unable to compete in the Malaysia Open which starts today in Kota Kinabalu. "Pramote has been carrying the injury since the Singapore Open and it got worse in Batam. They were leading 14-8 in the second and were unlucky to lose in three games," said Siripong yesterday. "It was a big waste as they were only a point a way from wining the game but it is important that Pramote does not aggravate the injury." Eng Hian-Flandy, losing quarter-finalists in Singapore and Indonesia, did not give any reason for the withdrawal but it was clear they were not in any condition to play three tournaments in a row. Compatriots Luluk Hadyanto-Alven Yulianto in the main draw has filled the Indonesian's place. Thailand's singles player Anuparp Thiraratsakul, Malaysian Yong Hock Kin and Ardiansyah of Indonesia have pulled out due to injuries. In the women's doubles, joint fifth seeds Shizuka Yamamoto-Seiko Yamada of Japan also withdrew which was reason enough for their first round opponents Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty of Malaysia to smile. Eei Hui-Pei Tty can now look forward to a place in the quarter-finals as they meet Julie Houmann-Helle Nielsen of Denmark, replacements for the Japanese pair, in the first round. Assuming the Malaysians progressed, they will then meet Saralee Thungthongkam-Satinee Changkrachangwong in the second round and have a realistic chance of reaching the last eight. K. Yogendran also benefitted from the spate of withdrawals, as he will replace Anuparp in the main draw. Fairuzizuan Tazari is the only national doubles player to withdraw as he suffered a calf injury during training yesterday. His partner Lin Woon Fui will now combine with Chang Kim Wai in the qualifying rounds. Woon Fui-Kim Wai face a tricky first round match against Koreans Heo Hoon Hoi-Jang Young Soo but should qualify for the main draw. Gan Teik Chai-Koo Kien Keat should also make it to the main draw but Tan Bin Shen-Jack Koh will have a tough time as Singapore pair Denny Setiawan-Hendry Kurniawan stand between them and progressing. Only two national singles players — Hazwan Jamaluddin and Tan Zhao Rong — are in the qualifying rounds and are not expected to face any problems qualifying for the main draw.
