Canada Open Grand Prix: Breakthrough Week for VICTOR Young Guns

2014-07-08

2014 Canada Open Grand Prix | June 30- July 5 | Vancouver, Canada

For the 20-year-old Hong Kong prodigy Ng Ka Long, although again bearing a “bridesmaid” fortune in his self-deprecating humor, a runner-up finish at the Grand Prix event in Vancouver has made the best highlight of his young career.
 
Ng, lost to two-time Olympic semifinalist Lee Hyun Il 21-16 21-14 in the finals, however, already achieving his biggest success to date in singles. Ng’s first professional victories both came in this year at two International Challenge level event, with a Grand Prix final added to his resume, Ng looks poised to soon make a statement on the main stage.
 
Ng Ka Long
Hong Kong's next badminton star Ng Ka Long just turned 20 two weeks ago.
 
Reflecting on a similar breakthrough was Taiwan’s 23-year-old Pai Yu Po, whose dream run was ended by top seed and local favorite Michelle Li in a 21-16 23-21 final battle. 
 
Pai Yu Po
Pai Yu Po has a sister Pai Hsiao Ma also a professional player on the tour.
 
Pai, the younger sister of the 29th-ranked Pai Hsiao Ma, had shown some great signs to take it up to the next level this year, when she enjoyed a major upset over Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi in the qualifying rounds at the All England in March. She also took world no.3 Wang Yihan to a decider before losing in her maiden Uber Cup experience.
 
( Edit by VICTOR Badminton )