Caption: (From left) Jaspar Yu, Mohamad Fairie Syah Ruslan and Ahmad Mahyuddin Hj Abas at the 2018 Badminton Asia Championships in Wuhan, China. Picture: Courtesy of Jaspar Yu
Yee Chun Leong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
JASPAR Yu Woon Chai missed out on a chance to face Chen Long in the opening round of the Badminton Asia Championships (BAC) in Wuhan, China after falling short in the qualifiers yesterday.
The national shuttler got off to a shaky start and fell to second seed of the qualifiers Bahaedeen Ahmad Alshannik of Jordan 21-18, 21-15 in the first match at the Wuhan Sports Centre.
He then bounced back with a victory over Mongolian Batdavaa Munkhbat 21-15, 21-13 but it was not enough to set him up against the current World No 3 and reigning Olympic champion in the first round.
"I was quite tense for the first game and only settled down in the second where I had full control and full range,” said Yu in an interview with BruSports News yesterday.
“My target here was to proceed to the main draw. Playing Chen Long in the main draw would be exciting to test myself at the highest level again but sadly I was one win short.
“So overall I am one step short of my target. But I will be better as the days go and my shoulder has full range of swing now,” he added.
The 29-year-old only returned to action during the Brunei National Badminton Tournament in March, where he finished with a bronze medal in the men’s singles event, after a six-month layoff to nurse a shoulder injury.
He feels that things are getting better and hopes to peak in the upcoming months.
“The national championship was a bit too rushed as I didn’t have full range of swing at the time,” said the 2016 Rio Olympian.
“I’m better now and I’m starting to compete again and will strive to achieve my best form,” he added.
Yu has also set his sights on the Asian Games to be held in Indonesia in August.
“I’ve done fitness testing for Asian Games, and I have a possibility of featuring there if permitted,” said Yu.
“Before that, I hope to make some adjustments and play one or two more tours but the hope is to peak in August,” he concluded.
Menawhile, The duo of Ahmad Mahuyddin Hj Abas and Mohamad Fairie Syah Ruslan competed in the men’s doubles event and also fell in the qualifiers.
They started out with a 21-8, 21-15 defeat to Indonesia’s Mohammad Ahsan and Hendra Setiawan.
Their campaign then came to an end after a 21-8, 21-19 loss to Nepal’s Dipesh Dhami and Ratnajit Tamang.
