Sydney: Takuma Ueda is the winner again after fighting his way past Daren Liew to clinch the first round victory of the Australian Open badminton championships in Sydney. 
The Japanese’s start to the match offered plenty of cause for concern when Daren took the first set easily with 21-9 win.
But Ueda was much the stronger towards the end of second set when he fought back from 20-19 down to triumph at 23-21.
In the decider, Ueda was simply too strong, too relentless and too confident in himself; Dismembered by Ueda’s endless offense, Daren simply wilted with 15-21 lost.
“I want to beat him so badly after my Thomas Cup defeat. I was leading 20-19 in the second set, but I just couldn’t finish. Despite the lost, I’ve regained my confidence after the Thomas Cup setback,” said the dissapointed Daren Liew.
Other Malaysian singles shuttlers – Mohd Arif Abdul Latif, Zulfadli Zulkiffli and Chiang Jiann Shiarng – also crashed out in first round.
Malaysia will have four men’s doubles playing in the second round on Thursday. Hoon Thien How-Tan Boon Heong will take on compatriots Lim Khim Wah-Ow Yao Han, Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong will clash against world number nine Markis Kido-Gideon Markus Fernaldi of Indonesia, and Chan Kwong Beng-Chiang Jiann Shiarng of Kawasaki Badminton Club will play former All England champion Liu Xiaolong-Qiu Zihan of China.
