The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- Malaysia to have biggest representation in Shenzhen
- Vountus finds new lease of life training with Razif
- Coach Peng Huat still going strong even at 75
| Malaysia to have biggest representation in Shenzhen Posted: 01 Dec 2012 03:32 PM PST KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will have the biggest representation at the season finale BWF World Super Series Finals in Shenzhen, China, from Dec 12-16 – thus giving the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) a huge lift. World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei, Liew Daren, Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, Hoon Thien How-Tan Wee Kiong and Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying will represent Malaysia in the US$500,000 tournament. Malaysia's previous biggest representation was six in 2008. BAM coaching and training chairman Ng Chin Chai said that the big number of qualifiers for the Finals was a "small and timely" breakthrough but felt that it was time for Malaysia to start winning major titles. And he has his eyes set on the World Championships in Guangzhou in next August. "It has been a reasonably good year for us. Of course, BAM are happy to have a huge number of qualifiers for the Super Series Finals. It is a testament of some changes that we have made so far this year," said Chin Chai. "We've been giving a lot of emphasis on sending potential players to international tournaments. The back-up players have also been given many opportunities to build the competitive edge in them. "Things are falling into place for us. Most of our players have improved on their world rankings. The qualification of Daren and Thien How-Wee Kiong is certainly a bonus for us at the Finals." Daren is currently ranked 16th while Thien How-Wee Kiong are 15th in the world. Kien Keat-Boon Heong are also back at the No. 2 spot in the world while Peng Soon-Liu Ying are enjoying a career high No. 3 ranking. Except for Chong Wei and Peng Soon-Liu Ying, the others qualified without winning any Super Series titles this year. "Thien How-Wee Kiong are also lucky because some of the top pairs had split up and did not qualify for the Finals. It paved way for the Malaysians to move in. Still, it's a good breakthrough for them," said Chin Chai. "Having a large number (of shuttlers) in the Finals is only a minor success for us. We want more players to win Super Series titles and we also want them to start winning major tournaments." Chin Chai said that he had thrown a challenge to his coaches and players to have the maximum qualification at next year's world meet. The qualifying period for the world meet ends in April. "Realistically, we can push our players to have maximum representation in four events – men's singles and all the three doubles. We can have three representatives each if our players continue to raise their game," said Chin Chai. "The only problem we have right now is in the women's singles. Except for Tee Jing Yi, it may difficult for us to get others to qualify for the world meet. Coach Wong Tat Meng is addressing the issue of lack of depth in the women's singles. "Ultimately, our goal is to have a player become the country's first world champion ... we hope it'll happen soon. This will be our target for next year." |
| Vountus finds new lease of life training with Razif Posted: 01 Dec 2012 05:28 PM PST KUALA LUMPUR: National discard Vountus Indra Mawan is proof that you can make a living as a professional shuttler. On Friday, Vountus competed in his first international tournament as a professional player at the Macau Open. He and partner Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari emerged as Malaysia's best performers in the Grand Prix Gold when they reached the men's doubles quarter-finals. The duo, however, could not sustain their form and went down fighting 15-21, 27-29 to Indonesia's Alven Yulianto-Markis Kido. The 23-year-old Vountus, who was dropped by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) two months ago, said that he had found a new lease of life after training with Razif Sidek. "I had to move on after BAM decided to drop me. Fortunately, coach Razif had faith in me. I still want to do well in badminton. Hopefully, I can do better in the future," said Vountus, who will have to find a regular partner soon. Fairuzizuan's regular partner – Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif – is on a short break after tying the knot recently. Meanwhile, India's rising singles players R.M.V. Gurusaidutt and K. Srikanth crashed out to China's shuttlers in the semi-finals of the ongoing Macau Open yesterday. Gurusaidutt lost 16-21, 17-21 to Chen Yuekun while Srikanth bowed out 8-21, 19-21 to Gao Huan. Results SEMI-FINALS Men's singles: Chen Yuekun (Chn) bt R.M.V. Gurisaidutt (Ind) 21-16, 21-17; Gao Huan (Chn) bt K. Srikanth (Ind) 21-16, 21-17. Men's doubles: Lee Sheng-mu-Tsai Chia-hsin (Tpe) bt Shin baek-cheol-Yoo Yeon-seong (Kor) 21-9, 18-21, 21-16; Vladimir Ivanov-Ivan Sozonov (Rus) bt Alven Yulianto-Markis Kido (Ina) 17-21, 21-10, 21-19. Women's singles: Busanan Ongbumrungpan (Tha) bt Pai Hsiao-mao (Tpe) 21-11, 21-7; Yu Sun (Chn) bt Xuan Deng (Chn) 21-15, 21-10. Women's doubles: Eom Hye-won-Jang Ye-na (Kor) bt Pia Zebadiah Bernadeth-Rizki Amelia Pradipta (Ina) 21-19, 21-14; Choy Hye-in-Kim So-young (Kor) bt Komala Devi-Jenna Gozali (Ina) 17-21, 21-10, 21-19. Mixed doubles: Tantowi Ahmad-Lilyana Natsir (Ina) bt Tao Jiaming-Tang Jinhua (Chn) 21-18, 21-18; Mohd Rijal-Debby Susanto (Ina) bt Riky Widianto-Puspita Richi Dili (Ina) 21-7, 21-16. |
| Coach Peng Huat still going strong even at 75 Posted: 01 Dec 2012 05:20 PM PST ONE look at Teh Peng Huat and you may think that he is just an ordinary septuagenarian. But wait till you really see him! The still agile 75-year-old has boundless energy, which comes in handy as he continues to coach young shuttlers at the Berapit Primary School hall in Bukit Mertajam with the hope of unearthing another Lee Chong Wei – his most famous student. Peng Huat may not be a household name among badminton fans but he has sacrificed so much for the game – all because of his undying love and relentless passion for it. This man, who spotted and shaped national icon Chong Wei into the player that he is, has also worked with the likes of Chin Eee Hui, Goh Giap Chin, Nelson Heg, Tee Jing Yi, Goh Jin Wei and Cheam June Wei. Rising star Jin Wei, who recently scored 7As in her UPSR examination, is already the national champion in her age group. * Full story in your copy of The Star today. |
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