The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- Cricket: New Zealand great Crowe diagnosed with cancer
- Chong Wei stays focused despite his office being burgled
- Soon Hock finds new lease of life with Teik Chai
| Cricket: New Zealand great Crowe diagnosed with cancer Posted: 15 Oct 2012 07:00 PM PDT WELLINGTON: Former New Zealand captain Martin Crowe has been diagnosed with cancer, leaving his family "in shock", the batting great's manager has revealed. Crowe, 50, was still coming to terms with the news he had the cancer lymphoma, his manager Louise Henderson said. "The family is still in shock and obviously dealing with the understanding that life as they know it for the unforeseeable future is different," she said in a statement late Monday. Henderson did not provide details of how advanced Crowe's illness was, saying the family had requested privacy. Crowe, a cousin of Hollywood actor Russell Crowe, played 77 Tests for the Black Caps, averaging 45.36 with the bat. His 17 Test centuries is still a New Zealand record. He worked as a television commentator after retiring from the Black Caps in 1995, with an attempted comeback to first class cricket in Auckland last year cut short by injury. New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White said the qualities which made Crowe such an outstanding batsman would help him in his battle with the disease. "Not only was he probably our greatest ever batsman, he was probably the most courageous and determined batsman ever to play for New Zealand," he told TVNZ. "His determination is never in question. "Our thoughts and feelings are with him and his family and we wish him all the best for his recovery." - AFP |
| Chong Wei stays focused despite his office being burgled Posted: 15 Oct 2012 06:44 PM PDT PETALING JAYA: Everybody, it seems, wants a piece of world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei these days. On Sunday, thieves broke into Chong Wei's office at Bandar Puteri Puchong and carted away several computers, including one which contained pre-wedding pictures of Chong Wei and former national shuttler Wong Mew Choo. But Chong Wei, who is already in Odense for the Denmark Open, has promised he won't let the burglary affect the task at hand. "I informed Chong Wei the minute I heard about the incident, but he was probably still suffering from jetlag and was a little groggy given the time difference," said Chong Wei's elder brother, Chong Hoon. "He was concerned about the theft because it might affect the wedding (scheduled for Nov 10). "Still, he said that it will not affect his performance in Denmark ... we're all hoping for the best. "The good thing is that despite losing several computers and the pre-wedding pictures, we have back-ups of those pictures ... so it's not too bad after all. "We're also fortunate that the thieves did not take the three racquets worth RM74,000 ... we have lodged a police report." The racquets were sold during an auction initiated by Chong Wei last year for the Japan tsunami victims. The racquets are still in Chong Wei's possession because the winning bidder has yet to claim them. Meanwhile, Chong Wei, who is slowly returning to form after winning the Japan Open last month, has a clear shot at making the Denmark Open final. The 30-year-old Penangite will face local talent and former world junior champion Viktor Axelsen in the first round. A win should see him come up against Thailand's Boonsak Ponsana next. In the absence of arch rival Lin Dan, Chong Wei should cruise into the final where he is tipped to face defending champion and second seed Chen Long of China. The other Malaysians in the fray are Liew Daren, Chong Wei Feng and former national shuttler Tan Chun Seang. Reigning world junior champion Zulfadli Zulkifli will start from the qualifiers. |
| Soon Hock finds new lease of life with Teik Chai Posted: 15 Oct 2012 06:45 PM PDT PETALING JAYA: Former national shuttler Ong Soon Hock has definitely found a new lease of life since leaving the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to partner Gan Teik Chai. The 27-year-old Soon Hock, who left BAM in April, has already won three satellite tournaments – the Mauritius International, Argentina International and Brazil International – with Teik Chai. On Sunday, the pair came close to capturing their first Open title but fell short at the final hurdle of the Dutch Open, losing 21-18, 13-21, 14-21 to formidable Indonesians Alvent Yulianto-Markis Kido. Still, it was a solid performance for Soon Hock-Teik Chai, who will now be fired up for the Denmark Open, which starts today in Odense. It is also an encouraging sign for shuttlers who are still trying to prolong their playing careers despite leaving BAM as those who left in the past have generally faded into oblivion. But, in recent times, a string of shuttlers outside BAM's banner have achieved credible results on the international stage. First, there was youngster Zulfadli Zulkifli who did the country proud last year by becoming the first Malaysian to win the Asian and world juniors singles titles. Although the 19-year-old Zulfadli, who is sponsored by KLRC, has yet to make a successful transition to the senior stage, he is definitely full of potential and one to watch in the future. Earlier this month, another KLRC pair – Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif-Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari – ended a two-year title drought by capturing the Taiwan Open. Soon Hock-Teik Chai, who are unseeded in Odense, will take on local pair Jorrit De Ruiter-Dave Khodabux in the first round and should face second seeds Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng in the second round. The other Malaysian pairs in action are third seeds Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong and world No. 20 Hoon Thien How-Tan Wee Kiong. |
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