Small in size and height Myanmar's 11-year-old Hein Htut failed to get past the first round in the Badminton Asia's Under-15 Championships at the Thuwunna National Indoor Stadium in Yangon, Myanmar on Wednesday.
However, his overzealous parents should take the blame in his 21-19, 13-21, 2-21 defeat at the hands of his bigger sized and taller opponent Pui Chi Chon, 14, of Macau China – feeding him with a heavy breakfast.
After winning the first game at 21-19, much to the delight of the large turnout of the supporters to watch the country hosting their first international tournament in 18-years, things took a negative turn for the 4'11" tall Htut.
Htut vomited on court in the second game which he lost 13-21 and sought medical treatment during the two-minute break for the decider. He was a spent force in the rubber as Chi Chon fully used his size and height (5'5") advantage with his power play for a 21-2 win with Htut hardly able to move on court.
Despite the defeat, Htut, however earned the cheers from the fans for his gutsy performance despite the odds against him.
"His parents forced him to take a heavy breakfast. That was the reason why he vomited on court," said Myanmar coach Zaw Maung Maung Soe, who sees a "bright future" for Htut in his badminton career.
Putting that aside Myanmar, however, had cause to celebrate when Zaw Lin Htoo pulled himself out of deep waters to snatch to 21-10, 13-21, 24-22 win against Vietnam's Nguyen Dinh Hoang in 53 minutes.
It was also a winning start for Malaysia's national Under-14 champion Muhammad Farzriq Mohamad Razif who rode into the second round despite playing with a borrowed racquet from his doubles partner Ong Zhen Yi.
The 13-year-old son of former Malaysian Olympian Datuk Razif Sidek, arrived in Yangon minus his luggage.
He got his racquet only after his 21-16, 21-10 win over Japan's Manato Ikeda and will face fourth seed Vikas Yadav of India. The Indian had first round bye.
RESULTS FIRST ROUND (Selected)
Muhammad Sultan Nurhabibu Mayang (INA) beat Mote Htee Thar (MYA) 21-9, 21-4
Daryl Foo (MAS) beat Krittanai Chantara (THA) 21-12, 21-12
Dumindu Abeywickrama (SRI) beat Zaw Myo Tun (MYA) 21-7. 21-3
Bui Thanh Dat (VIE) beat Thatchapol Jumnong (THA) 23-21. 22-20
Siddhanth Gupta (IND) beat Wei Zheng-chen (TPE) 21-19, 21-16
Muhammad Fazriq Mohamad Razif (MAS) beat Manato Ikeda (JPN) 21-16, 21-10
Kuo Kuan Lin (TPE) beat Phan Phuc Thinh (VIE) 21-14, 21-4
Lee Ming Ho (HKG) beat Myint Myat Paing (MYA) 21-7, 21-11
Ong Zhen Yi (MAS) beat Vanich Chiewchanratanakul (THA) 21-19, 21-9
Ayush Raj Gupta (IND) beat (Moe Thaw Htin (MYA) 21-3, 21-5
Viren Nettasinghe (SRI) beat Ng Ka Seng (MAC) 21-11, 21-11
Jayant Rana (IND) beat Nguyen The Lam Son (VIE) 21-13, 21-12
Chakkaphat Nokhat (THA) beat Tharyar Phone Myat (MYA) 21-7, 21-14
Rizky Raynaldi Oktavianur (INA) beat Hung Kuei Chun (HKG) 16-21, 21-17, 21-10
Iqbal Diaz Saputra (INA) beat Liao Bo-siang (TPE) 14-21, 21-14, 21-14
Pui Chi Chon (MAC) beat Hein Htut (MYA) 19-21, 21=13 21-2
Shoei Noguchi (JPN) beat Nguyen Viet Khang (VIE) 19-21, 21-10, 25-23
Punshiba Yengkhom (IND) beat Jason Gunawan (HKG) 15-21, 21-15, 21-17
Zaw Lin Htoo (MYA) beat Nguyen Dinh Hoang (VIE) 21-10, 13-21, 24-22
Panitchapon Teeraratsakul (THA) beat Chaniru Manmitha (SRI) 21-17, 21-18
