Nanjing: Daren Liew, who won a remarkable feat of his career on Friday after surviving a huge scare to advance to the World Championships semi-finals, beating Kanta Tsuneyama of Japan in a three-set thriller 22-20, 21-23, 22-20.
Although Liew walked away with victory in the quarter-finals, he injured his right ankle during the second set. He went on to lose the second before winning the decider. Liew insisted he would not waste his chances of making history by pulling out of the tournament despite suffering the ankle injury.
“When I fell it was very painful. The opponent took advantage of this to rack up some points to win the second set. But in the third set, I was feeling better and could play as usual.”
“Unless I am not able to walk, otherwise I would not pull myself out of the tournament. It’s the best chance I’ve had in my career to go as far as possible in the World Championships, so I have to take this opportunity and fight for it,” said Liew.
However, a tough test is awaiting Liew in the semi-final as he will take on the red hot Kento Momota from Japan.
“I’m going to look back at his game (Momota) and think of the best strategy to fight him. I promise to give the best in the semi-finals, tomorrow,” added Daren.
In men’s doubles, the young pair from Malaysia – Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik ended their World Championships run when they lost to No. 4 seeds Li Junhui/Liu Yuchen in the quarter-finals.
Both Chia/Soh showed a high level of courage and strong fighting spirits throughout the match before bowing out 14-21, 22-24 in the 40-minute game at the Nanjing Olympic Sports Center in China.
Malaysia’s Chan Peng Soon/Goh Liu Ying also fizzled out in the mixed doubles quarter-finals after they were sent packing by Tang Chun Man/Tse Ying Suet of Hong Kong 12-21, 21-11, 10-21.
