The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- Nicol David targets seventh world title
- Koo-Tan deserve to stay as a pair based on their world rankings
- Saina fails to cap great year after going down fighting to Xuerui
| Nicol David targets seventh world title Posted: 15 Dec 2012 07:00 PM PST GRAND CAYMAN: Nicol David, who will be seeking to extend her record of world titles to seven in eight years on one of the world's most beautiful beaches, hopes to show that the pack of would-be rivals is not closing in on her. The phenomenal Malaysian is one of the longest-lasting front runners in the whole of sport, but two losses in recent weeks have offered unexpected encouragement to those who believe the hunt may have found a scent. These rare winners were Raneem El Weleily, the world number two from Egypt who has improved markedly during 2012, and Alison Waters, the world number seven from England, who has made a remarkable comeback from injury. Their successes will have galvanised others to believe the chase can succeed. However, David also has reasons for feeling encouraged. Crucial after six-and-a half continuous years as world number one is to ensure she peaks for important events - and she has just done that rather well. It was at the US Open in Philadelphia in October where she avenged herself on the two who had beaten her. "It was a big achievement for me to win it that way," said David, hinting at evolving priorities as she moves into her 30th year. "Recovery is key. It's key to preventing injuries, and keeping the body ready for each day." She has not been helped in her need to prioritise in this way by a section of the media back home which described her losses as "shocking". But David insists her motivation burns bright. "It's that will to improve myself, as a player, also trying to get to perfection, and there is a long way to go," she said. "I just feel old, looking at all those young players, that just keep going!" Weleily is 23, and as the number two seed, is in the other half of the draw of the World Open which starts on Monday. Waters is 28 and seeded fourth but has landed in the champion's half. They may have a semi-final meeting though there are unusually tough hurdles for David before that. Her first round is about the hardest she could have had - against Omneya Abdel Kawy, whom she played in the 2010 final in Sharm El Sheikh. Since then injury has caused the Egyptian to fall from the top 20, until an excellent comeback in the last two months. This opener could prove a thermometer of David's chances, for the champion has occasionally shown signs of vulnerability early on. It may not get any easier though, for David has a likely third round with Nour El Sherbini, the 17-year-old Egyptian schoolgirl who contested this year's British Open final with her. After that El Sherbini was widely touted as the player most likely to succeed David. Insights as to how soon that might happen may shortly be available. - AFP |
| Koo-Tan deserve to stay as a pair based on their world rankings Posted: 15 Dec 2012 06:00 PM PST STATISTICS – or rather the world rankings – don't lie. And that being the case, Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong certainly deserve to stay together for the next two years, at least. The pair will end the season with only the Malaysian Open Grand Prix Gold title under their belt but the way they've responded since failing to secure a medal at the London Olympics shows that all is not lost. They were ranked outside the top five at the beginning of the year and not many believed they would be able to contend for a medal at the London Olympics in July. And they nearly proved their critics wrong. Kien Keat-Boon Heong reached the semi-finals but lost in the playoff for the bronze medal to South Korea's Lee Yong-dae-Chung Jae-sung. Any lesser pair would have crumbled under such a devastating blow but the Malaysians rolled up their sleeves and bounced back stronger to reach the finals of the Japan Open and Denmark Open right after that. Kien Keat-Boon Heong were also quarter-finalists in the French Open, semi-finalists in the China Open last month and finalists again in the Hong Kong Open recently. They have slowly crept up to No. 2 in the world rankings and should continue to be a thorn to the likes of Olympic champions Fu Haifeng-Cai Yun and current world No. 1 Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen of Denmark. Doubles head coach Pang Cheh Chang admitted that Kien Keat-Boon Heong "are no doubt still the best men's doubles pair in the country" judging by their consistency in the second half of the year. "They still combine well. Our only concern is getting them to maintain this consistency. That's the hardest part," he said. "They have the ability to fight and beat the other top pairs who are still around after the Olympics. "It's now about getting them to finish off their opponents. "We also need to take care of their condition as the badminton season is now hectic, with compulsory participation in the five Premier Super Series and five Super Series events. "They played in 15 international tournaments this year. "The ranking is not so important but the goal for them next year will be to shine at the World Championships in Guangzhou and the Sudirman Cup, which we are hosting in Kuala Lumpur," added Cheh Chang, who was pleased with their overall performance in the ongoing World Super Series Finals in Shenzhen. The Malaysian pair were denied a place in the last four despite getting the better of Olympic silver medallists Boe-Mogensen on Thursday. Haifeng-Cai Yun joined Boe-Mogensen in the semi-finals from Group A on better points difference compared to Kien Keat-Boon Heong. Kien Keat-Boon Heong, who will play with different partners in the National Grand Prix Finals in Alor Setar from Dec 27-30, will resume their partnership for the Korean Open and Malaysian Open next month. |
| Saina fails to cap great year after going down fighting to Xuerui Posted: 15 Dec 2012 03:24 PM PST INDIAN star Saina Nehwal failed in her bid to cap her remarkable year after she went down fighting to reigning Olympic champion Li Xuerui of China last night. Saina was unlucky not to clinch the opening game as she reached game-point at 20-16. However, she made unforced errors to allow Xuerui to claw back and the tenacious Chinese went on to level 20-all, completing her stunning comeback with two trademark crosscourt smashes to win the first game. Saina bounced back quickly to take the first game 7-21 but her troubled knee returned to haunt her. Xuerui asserted control in the decider to win 21-13 to set up an-all China affair in the women's singles final against Wang Shixian. It will be a battle of attrition with Shixian determined to prove a point when she faces Xuerui. Shixian, who was left out of the London Olympics earlier this year at the expense of the lower ranked Xuerui, ended the gallant run of Ratchanok Intanon by beating the Thai teenager 21-12, 21-19. Saina made the final last year but lost to Wang Yihan of China. Yihan is not playing this time after pulling out due to injury and was replaced by Shixian. China received a blow to their hopes of bagging the men's doubles crown for the first time after Olympic champions Fu Haifeng-Cai Yun had to hand a walkover to Japan's Hiroyuki Endo-Kenichi Hayakawa in their semi-final. Cai Yun strained his back while the Japanese were leading 13-9. China's Chen Long inched closer to achieving what he failed to do last year after beating Hong Kong's Hu Yun 21-10, 21-18 in a men's singles match played earlier. Chen Long lost to Lin Dan in last year's final. Danish mixed doubles pair Jaochim Fischer Nielsen-Christinna Pedersen will have a chance to secure a second Super Series Finals title after they overcame Thai pair Sudket Prapakamol-Saralee Thoungthongkam 21-19, 21-13 for a final date with reigning Olympic champions Zhang Nan-Zhao Yunlei of China. The Danes were winners in 2009. |
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