Sabasports Match Preview
Perodua Malaysia Master 2024
2024-05-21 to 2024-05-26
Source: REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane
The Perodua Malaysia Master 2024 is set to be fiercely contested from May 21 to 26. This prestigious event, classified as an International Badminton Federation Super500 level tournament, offers a substantial prize pool of up to US$420,000. The competition has garnered significant attention from top players worldwide and has captivated a global audience.
In the men’s singles category, the top half of the tournament features notable players such as Viktor Axelsen (seeded first), Kunlavut Vitidsarn (seeded fourth), Loh Kean Yew (seeded sixth), and Chinese player Lu Guang Zu. Meanwhile, the second half includes Anders Antonsen (seeded second), Li Shifeng (seeded third), Lee Zii Jia (a prominent Malaysian player), and rising star Lee Cheuk Yiu from Hong Kong. Each player will face formidable opponents throughout the tournament.
The distribution of seed players suggests that both halves of the competition are filled with talented individuals. Exciting matchups in the first round include Axelsen against Koki Watanabe, Li Shifeng against Toma Junior Popov, Kunlavut against Wang Tzu Wei, and Zhao Junpeng against Li Zii Jia. These matches promise thrilling highlights. Axelsen’s recent form has been average following his unexpected loss in the quarter-finals of the Thomas and Uber Cup. It remains uncertain whether he can regain his form this time. Similarly, Li Shifeng aims to avenge his previous defeat against Popov. He is considered a promising talent and has emerged as a prominent figure since Shi Yuqi’s transition out of the Chinese national team. Additionally, Kunlavut is expected to easily advance against Wang Tzu Wei, given his winning streak in their previous six encounters. Furthermore, Zhao Junpeng, with his commendable strength, will face off against Lee Zii Jia, who will attempt to prove his status as Malaysia’s top player on home turf.
Considering the overall strength and form of players in both halves, Axelsen and Li Shifeng undoubtedly possess the best chances of reaching the final. Despite Axelsen’s somewhat disappointing performance in the just-concluded Thomas and Uber Cup, as the current world number one player, his talent and capabilities are unquestionable. Moreover, Li Shifeng demonstrated exceptional performance in the Thomas and Uber Cup, albeit falling short in a 1-2 defeat against Jonatan Christie in the men’s singles final. If Li Shifeng can maintain this impressive form during the Malaysia Badminton Masters, he is likely to surpass Axelsen and potentially secure a odium finish.