The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- Shuttler will no longer fool around following punishment by BAM
- PBSI hire Rexy but BAM still dithering
- Coach Dharmaraj blasts Dangerous for pulling out again
| Shuttler will no longer fool around following punishment by BAM Posted: 07 Jan 2013 05:44 PM PST KUALA LUMPUR: Being a champion is great – more so if you show the right attitude on court. That's the lesson men's singles shuttler Liew Daren will take to heart this year after being banned from competing in the Korean Open, which starts in Seoul tomorrow, following his lackadaisical attitude at the National Grand Prix Finals in Alor Setar last month. The reigning French Open champion was banned by the coaching and training committee (CNT) for the apathetic approach that led to his defeat by eventual champion Misbun Ramdan Misbun in the group stage. World No. 16 Daren, currently the national No. 2 behind Lee Chong Wei, said that the ban would spur him to get his act right – starting with the Malaysian Open at the Putra Stadium from Jan 16-20. "I was very tired towards the end of last year – especially after winning the French Open. It must shown in my game during the National GP Finals ... but I did give my best," said Daren. "I was disappointed with the decision as I was looking forward to the Korean Open. The incident has taught me a good lesson. I'll take local tournaments seriously and be more determined on court no matter what. "I don't want to be banned from any tournament again ... this is certainly not the way I wanted to start the New Year." Daren, who is hoping to make the top 10 by the end of this year, is hoping to put the unfortunate episode behind him by achieving his best result in the Malaysian Open – at least a semi-final spot. "Since I won't be going to the Korean Open, I'll have one extra week to brush up my game at home. My best outing in the Malaysian Open is a quarter-final finish (in 2009) .. I hope to go one step better this time," he said. "The crucial part will be in the second round and, hopefully, I can step it up." Daren faces Ajay Jayaram of India in the opening round either Indonesia's Taufik Hidayat and Vietnam's Nguyen Tien Minh for a place in the last eight. He is in the same half as top seed Chong Wei and they could meet in the semi-finals. Meanwhile, with Daren banned, Malaysia's hopes in the men's singles event of the Korean Open will rest on defending champion Chong Wei and Chong Wei Feng. Chong Wei will take on China's former world junior champion Wang Zhengming in the first round. The others in his half are Wei Feng, Viktor Axelsen of Denmark, Chen Jin of China, Taufik and Hong Kong's Hu Yun. Those in the lower half with Chen Long are compatriot Du Pengyu, Japan's Kenichi Tago, Thailand's Boonsak Ponsana and Denmark's Jan O Jorgensen. For the record, the Korean Open and Malaysian Open are the first two legs of the Super Series Tour this season. |
| PBSI hire Rexy but BAM still dithering Posted: 07 Jan 2013 03:50 PM PST KUALA LUMPUR: Perhaps the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) can learn something from the All-Indonesia Badminton Association (PBSI) when it comes to taking decisive action. While BAM are still dithering over the appointment of a national coaching director, the PBSI have got their man – appointing the popular Rexy Mainaky as the supremo. The move could see the re-emergence of Indonesia as badminton powerhouses and serve as a warning to Malaysia, and even China. The PBSI have somehow weaved their magic wand to coax Rexy out of his lucrative job as the national coaching director in the Philippines. The former Olympic Games champion, who left Malaysia to join the Philippines early last year, began work in Indonesia on Jan 1. Indonesia have also engaged former world champion Susi Susanti to coach their women's singles shuttlers. With mastermind Christian Hadinata as their advisor, Indonesia are clearly on the right path as they seek to restore their nation's battered pride. The revamps comes in the wake of Indonesia's worst-ever year. Last year, none of their players won an Olympic medal in London for the first time and they also failed to make the semi-finals of the Thomas Cup Finals for the very first time. Malaysia's national doubles chief coach Tan Kim Her expects Rexy's return to boost Indonesia's bid to find able replacements for their aging men's singles and doubles stars – Taufik Hidayat and Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan. "Rexy's coaching expeiences in England and Malaysia will stand him in good stead as he assesses Indonesia's situation from a different perspective. It's a good move for Rexy and Indonesia," said Kim Her. "These changes should motivate us to strive harder. We must redouble our effort and work as a team." And what about BAM's search for a national coaching director? According to BAM general manager Kenny Goh there's been no progress since their failure to hire South Korean legend Park Joo-bong. "For now, Kim Her and Rashid Sidek have full mandate to manage the singles and doubles departments while we continue our search," said Kenny. |
| Coach Dharmaraj blasts Dangerous for pulling out again Posted: 07 Jan 2013 05:46 PM PST KUALA LUMPUR: Coach K. Dharmaraj is furious with forward Dangerous Lee for pulling out of the Project 2013 hockey squad for the third time in three years. The Sarawak-born player first withdrew from the team in 2010 after featuring in the Surjit Singh Memorial Cup in India. He felt that he didn't stand a chance of being selected. In 2011, the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) player decided to play for the team again and Dharmaraj took him back. But Lee pulled the same trick again early last year, citing his pre-university studies in BJSS. The 21-year-old then wrote to Dharmaraj last October asking to be given a third chance. Dharmaraj obliged. Lee, who featured in the All India Ubaidullah Khan Gold Cup in Bhopal last month, then dropped the third bombshell on Sunday – sending a text message to Dharmaraj. It read: "Coach I will not attend training tomorrow (Monday) morning. I am pulling out of the team. I believe that I don't stand a chance against the other players. I am sorry coach. I hope you can understand." And Dharmaraj has had enough. "I almost blew my top when I read the text message on Sunday," he said. "He has made me look like a fool by taking him back three times. I don't need players like him in the team. I'm really disappointed with him." The Project 2013 squad resumed their next phase of training yesterday. They are preparing for the Junior World Cup in Chandigarh, India, from Dec 5-16. |
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