Badminton

Shuttler Faiq in a dilemma over what he should play

KUALA LUMPUR: Faiq Haziq Masawi is in a dilemma: should he stick to men's singles or switch to doubles?

At the recent World Junior Championships (WJC) in Nanchang, China, he made it to the quarter-finals of the singles but only reached the last 16 in the doubles with Lok Hong Quan.

Faiq admitted that he prefers the doubles despite having better results in singles.

"Many ask me this question as I have transitioned to the senior squad after the WJC. My name is currently on the singles roster but I want to play doubles.

"But (national coaching director) Rexy Mainaky wants me to focus on singles for a year. I see my future is brighter in the doubles. Who knows, maybe after a year I can play doubles," he said at Stadium Juara today.

Faiq-Hong Quan booked their spot in the main draw of the Malaysia Super 100 today after defeating Dickon Khoo-Lye Jun Cheng 21-7, 21-9 in the first round and

Ng Chen Chang-Wong Zhi Kang 21-9, 21-5 later.

"We ran into a little issue as the shuttle is quite fast here, and as a result, we needed to be more patient.

"The surroundings are very familiar as we spent more than three years training here before this," said Hong Quan.

Faiq and Hong Quan will play Kok Jia Cheng-Siau Yu Hang in the first round of the main draw tomorrow.

Earlier, Faiq could not make it to the main draw of the men's singles after losing to Taiwan's Chu Chen Jia 21-18, 21-17.

Results:

Malaysians unless stated

Qualifying round

Men

Singles: Purirat Arree (Tha) bt Tan Mun Dick 21-6, 21-8, Ariffuddin Radin bt Alif Ahmad Fairuzly 19-21, 21-19, 21-13, Naim Ahmad Fairuzly bt Shubh Krishan (Can) walkover, Surasit Ariyabaraneekul (Tha) bt Ng In Qin 21-19, 21-13, Varot Uraiwong (Tha) bt Ting Wen Xuan 21-14, 21-13, Chu Chen Jia (Twn) bt Faiq Haziq 21-18, 21-17, Ong Tae Ern bt Lee Jan Jireh 21-18, 21-8, Hafiz Sikkander bt Sean Ngu 21-17, 8-21, 21-19.

Doubles: Tor Bolherry-Jing Xuan Fan bt Nontakorn Thong-On-Thanadol Yunmongkol (Tha); Choi Jian Sheng-Liew Xun bt Beh Chun Meng-Goh Yi Qin 21-19, 21-13; Faiq Haziq-Lok Hong Quan bt Ng Chen Chang 21-9, 21-5; Carlester Cleve James-Neville Baptist Nosius Luaran bt Dibble Arnold-Aaron Kok 21-9, 21-18

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