The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- Pandelela must improve in order to get medal in Edinburgh
- Chong Wei told to skip tourneys in India and Malaysia
- Malaysian shuttlers now in upbeat mood
| Pandelela must improve in order to get medal in Edinburgh Posted: 15 Apr 2013 05:41 PM PDT KUALA LUMPUR: Pandelela Rinong needs to get over the 80-point barrier when she competes in the third leg of the FINA Diving World Series in Edinburgh, Scotland, this weekend. Pandelela returned to competition for the first time since the London Olympics to clinch a bronze in the individual platform in last month's opening leg in Beijing. She scored 337.75 points. But she had a good wake-up call in the following leg in Dubai. Despite scoring higher in Dubai, Pandelela had to be contented with only a fifth placing with a 353.50 total. In both the legs, Pandelela failed to break the 80-point barrier. Each dive is worth 100 points. Only the Chinese divers are capable of breaking the 80-point barrier. Pandelela, the Olympic bronze medallist, is aware that the standard of the 10m platform individual is higher than ever. She has no other options but to further improve on her dives if she wants to finish on the podium. Pandelela will be up against a tougher field this weekend. China have entered a second diver – untested rookie Si Yajie – alongside reigning world and Olympic champion Chen Ruolin. Canadian Meaghan Benfeito, who took silver behind Ruolin in Beijing and Dubai, is skipping the third leg but Australia's Olympic silver medallist Brittany Broben, Mexico's Orozco Alejandra and Russia's Yulia Koltunova, bronze medallist in Dubai, will be present. "It's a good wake-up call. I was blown away by all of them in Dubai. "In Edinburgh, I need to produce at least one or two good dives that can get me past the 80-point barrier or at least maintain an average of 75 points to stand a chance to win a medal. "I have been training really hard for the past few weeks to get myself prepared for Edinburgh and then in the fourth leg in Moscow the following week. I hope for better things," said the 20-year-old, who will also compete in the 10m platform synchro with Cheong Jun Hoong. Jun Hoong will also dive in the 3m springboard synchro with Wendy Ng Yan Yee while Ahmad Amsyar and Ooi Tze Liang will compete in the men's 3m springboard synchro. The divers left for Edinburgh last night, except for Pandelela. Pandelela is staying back for today's National Sports Awards. She is the hot favourite to claim the Sportswoman of the Year award for the second straight occasion. |
| Chong Wei told to skip tourneys in India and Malaysia Posted: 15 Apr 2013 05:42 PM PDT KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei has done his job well to help Malaysia win the US$1mil Axiata Cup on Sunday. And now the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) coaching and training committee chairman Ng Chin Chai wants him to have enough rest before two major tournaments – the Sudirman Cup at the Putra Stadium from May 19-26 and World Championships in Guangzhou in August. As such, Chin Chai has advised Chong Wei to skip two upcoming back-to-back tournaments – the India Open Super Series in New Delhi from April 23-28 and Malaysian Open GP Gold at the Juara Stadium from April 30-May 4. Chong Wei is the top seed in both tournaments. "Chong Wei has come out of his way to help his team and nation at the Axiata Cup. His wife gave birth to their first child (on Friday) but he still agreed to help the team," said Chin Chai. "We, at the BAM, appreciate his good gesture. He is really doing his best to keep the team together. I, however, feel that he should take some rest now. "I have spoken to the coaches and also Chong Wei and we have advised him not to go to the India Open. He can also skip the Malaysian Open GP. I would rather he compete in the Sudirman Cup. "He can take part in one Super Series in Indonesia (in July) before zeroing in on the World Championships. "Ultimately, Chong Wei's focus is to peak at the world meet and this could be his best chance to win it," said Chin Chai. Meanwhile, Chin Chai said several decisions would be made at their coaching and training committee meeting on April 27. "The BWF (Badminton World Federation) will release the list of qualifiers for the World Championships on April 26. We need to look into that list," said Chin Chai. The Asian Badminton Championships (ABC) starting in Taiwan tomorrow is the last tournament that offers qualifying points for the World Championships. Currently, only men's doubles pair Lim Khim Wah-Goh V Shem, ranked 16th in the world, have yet to confirm their ticket and they will be out to improve their ranking in Taiwan. Khim Wah-V Shem are in a close tussle with professionals Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif to win the third spot for the world meet. Two other Malaysian pairs – world No. 2 Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong and world No. 7 Hoon Thien Hoon-Tan Wee Kiong – are already assured of their places. "We will name the Sudirman Cup squad and review the players' performances in the national team. Some players will be dropped based on the coaches' recommendations," said Chin Chai. |
| Malaysian shuttlers now in upbeat mood Posted: 15 Apr 2013 03:27 PM PDT KUALA LUMPUR: The Axiata Cup victory on Sunday has whetted the appetite of the Malaysian team. Led by world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei, Malaysia whipped Thailand 3-1 at the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium to emerge champions. On Sunday, Chong Wei returned to court just two days after becoming a proud father of his first child Kingston to strengthen Malaysia's chances of winning the title. He dutifully delivered a point by beating Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk in straight games in the men's singles. Motivated by Chong Wei's presence and commitment, Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying and Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong also rose to the occasion with convincing wins in the mixed doubles and men's doubles matches. Even Sonia Cheah gave a spirited display in the women's singles before going down to the All-England runner-up Ratchanok Intanon. En route to the final, she twice upstaged world No. 9 Tai Tzu-ying of Taiwan – in the preliminary round and semi-finals. Now, the Malaysians are eager to record their best ever performance in the Sudirman Cup at the Putra Stadium from May 19-26. Malaysia's best achievement in the premier world mixed team event was a semi-final finish – at the 2010 edition in Guangzhou, China. Chong Wei, the two-time Olympic silver medallist, believes that Malaysia now have the depth and desire to outdo themselves in the Sudirman Cup. Malaysia are expected to retain the same team for the Sudirman Cup. Woon Khe Wei-Vivian Hoo, who finished runners-up in Sunday's New Zealand Open Grand Prix, will also return to bolster the team. "We have always done well in team events at home. We will be banking on the same team spirit to achieve our best results in the Sudirman Cup," said Chong Wei. "The world mixed team will be tougher because China and several other strong countries will parade their best teams. In the Axiata Cup, we pulled through because of team unity. We will be banking on the same camaraderie spirit to do well at the Sudirman Cup. All, however, must be injury free." Chong Wei also praised Sonia's contribution to the team. "We used to struggle in the Sudirman Cup because of the lack of depth in the women's singles event. But Sonia has proven at the Axiata Cup that she has more substance in her game now. We now know that she will at least give her opponents a run for their money," he said. For Peng Soon-Liu Ying, they will be hoping to live up to expectations at the Sudirman Cup. The duo have never done well in the world mixed team event. "We played one of our best matches in the Axiata Cup and it has given us lots of confidence," said Liu Ying. "Hopes will be high on us at the more challenging Sudirman Cup but we will be ready. If we set our minds, we can do well in team events too." Malaysia have been drawn with Germany and Taiwan in Group C in the Sudirman Cup. The top two teams will qualify for the quarter-finals. A fresh draw will be conducted to determine the quarter-final line-ups. |
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