June Wei Continues Revival To Reach Third Round In Thailand

June Wei Continues Revival To Reach Third Round In Thailand - A healthier and fitter Cheam June Wei (pic) managed to put his injury nightmare behind him to storm into the third round of the Smiling Fish International Challenge in Trang, Thailand.

The 20-year-old was on song as he thrashed homester Noppanai Singrueang 21-11, 21-18 in the second round yesterday.

On Monday, June Wei downed 12th seed Shreyansh Jaiswal of India 21-14, 21-14 in the first round.

The two wins are positive signs for the once-promising junior shuttler, who suffered two serious injuries last year.

The world No. 159 first suffered a knee injury and was laid out for three months. He then fractured his lower backbone and that resulted in the Penangite playing in just four tournaments last year.

June Wei, who scored an impressive win over 2013 world junior champion Heo Kwang-hee of South Korea in the first qualifying round of the Malaysian Open last month, next meets top seed Riichi Takeshita of Japan.

“I had quite a few injuries last year and I’m only slowly getting back to full match fitness ... it’s good progress, but I’m not there yet,” said June Wei.

Two other Malaysians – Lim Chi Wing and Soo Teck Zhi – also made it to the third round.

Two-time national champion Chi Wing eased past compatriot Kai Wun Tee 21-17, 21-12 while Teck Zhi thrashed India’s C. Rohit Yadav 21-17, 21-9.

RESULTS

(Malaysians only)

FIRST ROUND

Women’s singles: Nuntakarn Aimsaard (Tha) bt Lee Ying Ying 21-14, 22-20; Yap Yee bt Crystal Pan (US) 15-21, 21-6, 21-13; M. Thinaah bt Aakarshi Kashyap (Ind) 21-11, 21-18; S. Kisona bt Chananchida Jucharoen (Tha) 21-11, 21-18; Lim Yin Fun bt Piramon Chamnaktan (Tha) 21-11, 21-18; Sung Shuo-yun (Tpe) bt Yap Rui Chen 17-21, 21-14, 21-13.

Women’s doubles: Soong Fie Cho-Tee Jing Yi bt Pattaranan Chamnaktan-Suchanya Kanchanasaka (Tha) 21-13, 21-17.

Mixed doubles: Chen Tang Jie-Tew Jia Jia bt Chaloempon Charoenkitamorn-Chasinee Korepap (Tha) 16-21, 21-16, 21-19; Hoo Pang Ron-Peck Yen Wei bt Mek Narongrit-Supanida Katethong (Tha) 16-21, 21-14, 22-20.

SECOND ROUND

Men’s singles: Cheam June Wei bt Noppanai Singrueang (Tha) 21-11, 21-18; Lim Chi Wing bt Kai Wun Tee 21-17, 21-12; Mithun Manjunath (Ind) bt Lee Zii Jia 21-13, 21-12; Lakshya Sen (Ind) bt Chong Yee Han 21-16, 21-16; Soo Teck Zhi bt C. Rohit Yadav (Ind) 21-17, 21-9; Pannawit Thongnuam (Tha) bt Tan Jia Wei 21-9, 20-22, 21-15; Kunlavut Vitidsarn (Tha) bt Tan Chun Seang 22-20, 21-16; Subhankar Dey (Ind) bt Leong Jun Hao 18-21, 21-5, 21-18.