Next Generation Shines in VICTOR Malaysia Masters - VICTOR Badminton

Next Generation Shines in VICTOR Malaysia Masters

2016-01-26

Team VICTOR’s 20-year-old Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo and teammate Markus Fernaldi Gideon, 24, fended off the challenge of local stars Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong on Sunday, who have once ranked no.1 in the world, to win their biggest title to date at the VICTOR FAR EAST Malaysia Masters.

Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo, Markus Fernaldi Gideon, Malaysia Masters

Markus Fernaldi Gideon launches a smash in VICTOR Malaysia Masters final.

Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo (L) and Markus Fernaldi Gideon take their first GPG victory.

This is the third Grand Prix Gold final the young Indonesians have reached. Sukamuljo and Gideon was one point from defeat in the quarterfinals against VICTOR Taiwan star Lee Sheng Mu and Tsai Chia Hsin but bounced back to pulled off the 15-21, 22-20, 21-13 comeback in style.

1991-borned Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin is another big story of the week. The World Junior Champs silver medalist in 2009 from Malaysia tallied four quality wins in a row over Son Wan Ho, Song Xue, Ng Ka Long, and Srikanth Kidambi to book his place in his first career GPG level tournament, ultimately losing to compatriot, former no.1 Lee Chong Wei.

23-year-old Lai Pei Jing and her new partner, Tan Kian Meng, who’s just 21, fought their way past the qualifying rounds and went all the way to the finals, upsetting world no.8 team Susanto/Jordan and Asian Champs, 8th-seeded Goh Liu Ying /Chan Peng Soon on the way. In the finals, the young combo lost to Chinese pair Li/Zheng but certainly impressed and earned themselves lots of fans this week. Lai now owns three GPG level silver medals in her resume. She won her first two with Tan Aik Quan.

VICTOR is the title sponsor and official equipment of the 2016 VICTOR FAR EAST Malaysia Masters, the first big event on the 2016 BWF Tour calendar, providing all matches with the finest quality VICTOR MASTER ACE shuttlecock.