NOTHING TO LOSE

redzwank@sph.com.sg

It was as if they were never separated.

Danny Bawa Chrisnanta and Chayut Triyachart split as a men's doubles pair in January last year, when Chayut left the Singapore Badminton Association (SBA).

But the partnership was reunited last November when Chayut rejoined the SBA.

Playing in their fourth tournament since getting back together, the duo made it to the men's doubles final of the Malaysia Grand Prix Gold in Pasir Gudang yesterday, after they beat Indonesia's Andrei Adistia and Hendra Aprida Gunawan 21-14, 26-24 in the semi-finals.

The Singaporean duo will meet Malaysia's world No. 15 Goh V Shem and Lim Khim Wah in the final today.

The Malaysians saw off Indonesia's Gideon Markus Fernaldi and Markis Kido 18-21, 21-18, 21-17.

Goh and Lim are the defending champions, beating compatriots Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong 22-20, 21-15 in the final last year.

They also won the Malaysian Open Premier Superseries in January, defeating China's Chai Biao and Hong Wei 21-19, 21-18 to clinch the title.

UNDERDOGS

Chrisnanta and Chayut (world No. 281) will enter the final as the clear underdogs, but they are up for the challenge.

Said Chayut: "We have nothing to lose and will go all out in the final.

"We will give it our best shot and, if we win, it's a bonus."

Chrisnanta added that keeping their focus will be an important factor against the higher-ranked Malaysians.

He said: "We have to communicate with each other and remind each other to calm down."

Their coach Liu Qingdong believes that his boys have what it takes to cause an upset.

He said: "Today, they played to the best of their abilities and we always enter every tournament with an aim to win it all.

"The boys have played extremely well this whole tournament."

Chrisnanta failed to make it a double doubles final when he and mixed doubles partner Vanessa Neo lost 18-21, 
21-14, 9-21 to Indonesia's Praveen Jordan and Debby Susanto.