Giant-slayer Chun-yi makes Axiata Arena his happy hunting ground

KUALA LUMPUR: There’s something about playing in Malaysia that gives Taiwan’s Lin Chun-yi the power to topple giants.

The world No. 21 shuttler has been smashing personal records here at the Axiata Arena after securing a spot in the semi-finals of the Malaysian Open, the furthest he has progressed in a Super 1000 tournament.

He did this in only his third attempt in a tournament of this level by causing an upset to third seed Chinese shuttler Li Shifeng, beating him 21-12, 21-18 in 49 minutes in the quarter-finals yesterday.

Chun-yi lost to the Asian Games champion at the last year’s German Open quarter-finals but won in their first encounter at the 2019 US Open.

Chun-yi went down in early rounds of the last two outings in the Super 1000 tournament – at last year’s Opens in China and Indonesia.

He has left behind a trail of fallen giants on his path to the semi-finals, taking down reigning world champion Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand in the second round and another Thai Kanthapon Wangcharoen in the opener.

He has also done well in the Axiata Arena before when he defeated reached the semi-finals of the Malaysian Masters last year.

“I played well here last year too, I do believe I have some luck here in Malaysia,” said Chun-yi.

“I don’t think too much about these statistics, but it is quite unexpected to have played well and progressed into the semi-finals here.”

Chun-yi added that his mindset going into fixtures with higher-ranking shuttlers is to drown out the noise and stay focused on the task at hand.

“I try not to overthink situations, they are out of my control. I just analyse my opponents and used that knowledge to play at my very best,” he said.

“I don’t think about becoming a champion just yet, I know I am still behind some of the world’s best players, but I just stay focused on being consistent,” added Chun-yi, who will face Denmark’s Anders Antonsen for a place in the final.