TheStar KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Open, being the last international circuit badminton tournament before the World Championships, has drawn a record number of entries. The Malaysian Open will be held at the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium (KLBA) from July 5-10 and all the World Championships-bound players from China, Indonesia, South Korea and Denmark have confirmed their participation. The entries of the big guns ahead of the world championships, which will be held in Anaheim, California, from Aug 15-21 are good and bad news for the Malaysian shuttlers. The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) secretary, P. Ganga Rao, said that the overwhelming response to the tournament meant that they needed to reject many entries and the most affected would be the Malaysian juniors. “There were 137 entries for the men’s singles and we had to reject 57. In the women’s singles, we will have to say no to 36 players,” said Ganga. “For the men’s and women’s doubles, we will have to turn down 30 and 15 pairs respectively. Fourteen pairs will have to be dropped from the mixed doubles. “We usually name a big squad for the home tournament, giving all our back-up players the opportunity to compete. But this time, we have to reduce the number. More can only get in if there are withdrawals.” However, the quality of tournament will certainly be the best in recent times. The seedings for the world championships will be based on the world rankings after the Malaysian Open and all the shuttlers will be going all out to maintain or improve on their positions. Among the top men’s players in the fray are world number one Lin Dan of China; Indonesia’s Olympic gold medallist Taufik Hidayat; Denmark’s Peter Gade-Christensen; and South Korea’s Shon Seung-mo. The top women from China will also be making their presence felt. Malaysian players have always done well in their home Open. Lee Chong Wei and Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah were the men’s singles and doubles champions in Kuantan last year. Malaysia’s world championships-bound players who will feature in the tournament this time are Chong Wei, Mohd Hafiz Hashim, Wong Choong Hann; Chan Chong Ming-Koo Kien Keat, Tan Bin Shen-Ong Soon Hock, Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Lin Woon Fui; Wong Mew Choo; Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty and Ooi Sock Ai-Mooi Hing Yau. Prior to the Malaysian Open, the national squad will take part in a friendly tie against Denmark tomorrow and they will also compete in the Singapore Open from June 27-July 3.
