Ak Fauzi Pg Salleh
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
NATIONAL shuttler Jaspar Yu Woon Chai is focusing on upcoming tournaments and is aiming to give his best to achieve his ultimate goal – to make it into the top-100 in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings.
The 28 year-old has been steadily working his way up the BWF rankings for the past months and had since climbed to a career best of 244.
Yu's remarkable rise has been largely due to his active participation and consistent performance at international tournaments.
“At the beginning of the year I have set a personal target of reaching the 100's in world ranking,” Yu told BruSports yesterday.
“After being in the 300+ and 400+ last year, I wanted to better my ranking a little to allow me more choices in different levels of tournaments.
“Barring any sudden changes…I think I'll be in the 170's next week and that is a very positive sign,” he added.
Yu bowed out of the China Masters in Changzhou after losing 21-11, 21-14 to China's Zhou Zeqi in the second round last week.
While at the Badminton Asia Championships in Wuhan, he lost 21-13, 21-15 to Amir Jabbari of Iran and 21-6, 21-11 to Japan’s Kenta Nishimoto in the qualifying rounds yesterday.
“Competing two weeks in China was very tough. The Chinese players alone are already tough let alone the international players,” continued Yu.
“The match against Zhou Zeqi in the 2nd round, the shuttle was slow. Whenever it's slow, fitness level will be put to test as more rallies are expected.
“The BAC is a Super Series level event, and I saw Lee Chong Wei, Lin Dan, Chen Long and all top players here competing," added the 28-year-old.
“Once again, I think Super Series is a very difficult level but it's great that I have another taste of it after Korea last year.
“I'll take it one step at a time for now. I still continue to fully self-fund myself and I cannot afford to do so for so many times. I have a dream to compete in next year's Commonwealth Games, but I cannot do it alone,” concluded the Rio Olympian.
