Shuttler Angus Ng inspired by Manchester United heroics as he kicks off World Tour finals campaign

The 26-year-old Hong Kong No 1 says he stayed up late to watch the Red Devils beat Liverpool but faces a tough assignment in Bangkok

Ng has never made it to the knockout rounds in two previous World Tour Finals and is eager to improve his performance

3-MIN READ3-MIN

Angus Ng reacts after beating Taiwan's Chou Tien-chen to reach the final at the Yonex Thailand Open tournament in Bangkok. Photo: AFP/Badminton Association of Thailand

Published: 7:44pm, 26 Jan 2021Updated: 10:10pm, 26 Jan 2021

Diehard Manchester United football fan Angus Ng Ka-long says he’s been inspired by the Red Devils’ recent FA Cup success and hopes to go further than he has ever gone when he kicks off his HSBC World Tour Finals campaign in Bangkok on Wednesday.

“I watched the match live in my hotel room and the result has definitely lifted my spirits,” said the Hong Kong number one, who stayed up late to watch United beat Liverpool 3-2 in their fourth-round FA Cup clash. “I have been in the Tour finals twice before but never have I reached the semi-final stage. Hopefully I can make it this time in Bangkok.”

Ng is Hong Kong’s sole representative in the lucrative US$1.5 million tournament, where the top eight tour men’s singles players will be vying for the biggest purse in world badminton. The men’s and women’s singles champion will go home with a US$120,000 cheque.

Ng has been drawn in group B, where he will meet Denmark’s Anders Antonsen, Taiwan’s Wang Tzu-wei and Srikanth Kidambi of India. Group A features top seed Viktor Axelsen of Denmark, Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen, Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia, and Indonesia’s Anthony Ginting.

Viktor Axelsen of Denmark is the hottest player at the moment after clinching both Thailand Open titles in Bangkok. Photo: AFP/Badminton Association of Thailand

“Axelsen may be the hottest player at the moment with two successive [title] wins in Bangkok but the other players are more or less on similar par [with him] as only the best players can book their places in the finals,” said 26-year-old Ng, the fifth seed. “It does not make much difference playing in either group A or B as any player can win if he is in form.

“I might have lost a bit of match fitness after reaching only the round of 16 in the second tournament in Bangkok with other players reaching the later stages, but at the same time, it has given me more time to recover after a tense first week when I reached the final. It would definitely be good experience playing in three consecutive tournaments with a lot at stake.”