The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- Chong Wei urges team-mates to bounce back from shock defeat to Taiwan
- Kien Keat-Boon Heong may not play in Group C tie against Germany
- Koo-Tan’s stunning loss rocks Malaysian camp
| Chong Wei urges team-mates to bounce back from shock defeat to Taiwan Posted: 19 May 2013 05:57 PM PDT ALTHOUGH visibly shocked and disappointed, world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei made a clarion call to his team-mates to bounce back from their surprise 3-2 defeat to Taiwan. Yesterday, Chong Wei and Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying were the only winners in Malaysia's Group C opening tie against Taiwan at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil. Hosts Malaysia had hoped for a flying start but top doubles pair Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong were blown apart 18-21, 18-21 by Lee Sheng-mu-Tsai Chia-hsin in 31 minutes. Sonia Cheah was expected to salvage the situation but she only lasted 28 minutes before bowing out at 7-21, 13-21 to a determined Tai Tzu-ying. Like the saviour he had been for countless times, Chong Wei restored some order when he blew away Yang Chih-hsun 21-8, 21-13 in just 24 minutes to the delight of the home fans to keep Malaysia's hope alive at 1-2. Then, all hoped rested on top women doubles shuttlers Woon Khe Wei-Vivian Hoo to defy the odds against the more experienced Cheng Wen-hsing-Hsieh Pei-chen but they lost 17-21, 19-21 despite playing their hearts out. In a match that had no bearing, Peng Soon-Liu Ying beat Lu Ching-yao-Lai Chia-wen 25-23, 21-11, for the overall 3-2 score in favour of Taiwan. Chong Wei admitted that the shock defeat of Kien Keat-Boon Heong had rattled the team. "I did not expect Koo and Tan to lose. They did not play to the rhythm of their game. They committed plenty of mistakes," said Chong Wei. "Sonia too could not handle the pressure although she had beaten Tzu-ying twice during the Axiata Cup. Playing in the Sudirman Cup is different. "But I hope the team will not give up. The road has become tougher but we can still rise from this defeat. "We will be playing Germany next (tomorrow). We need to win to keep alive our hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals. We will support and encourage each another. The battle is not over." Vivian-Khe Wei was disappointed that they could not save the tie for Malaysia although they knew the team depended on them. "We have never met them and tried our best but it was not good enough," said Khe Wei. Vivian, who was only a reserve in the team two years ago, said: "We lost but this is not the time to cry over it. We still have a chance and we must re-focus on the next tie against Germany." "There was certainly more pressure playing than sitting on the bench but it was certainly a great experience for me. We will only get better from here." ·Division 1 Group A: China bt India 5-0. Group B: Thailand bt Hong Kong 3-2. Group C: Taiwan bt Malaysia 3-2 (Lee Sheng-mu-Tsai Chia-hsin bt Tan Boon Heong-Koo Kien Keat 21-18, 21-18; Tai Tzu-ying bt Sonia Cheah 21-7, 21-13; Yang Chih-hsun lost to Lee Chong Wei 8-21, 13-21; Cheng Wen-hsing-Hsieh Pei-chen bt Woon Khe Wei-Vivian Hoo 21-17, 21-19; Lu Ching-yao-Lai Chia-wen lost to Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Yong 23-25, 11-21.) Group D: Denmark bt Singapore 4-1. ·Division 2 Group A: Scotland bt Russia 4-1. Group A: Sweden bt United States 3-2. ·Division 3 Group A: Sri Lanka bt Turkey 3-2; Philippines bt New Zealand 3-2. Group B: Vietnam bt Kazakhstan 5-0, Australia bt Lithuania 4-1. n TODAY'S FIXTURES ·Division 1 (12 noon) Group A: Indonesia vs India Group D: Japan vs Singapore (6pm) Group B: South Korea vs Hong Kong Group C: Germany vs Taiwan ·Division 2 (12 noon) Group B: Holland vs Australia (6pm) Group B: France vs Canada ·Division 3 (12 noon) Group A: Ukraine vs Philippines, New Zealand vs Sri Lanka (6pm) Group B: Switzerland vs Kazakhstan, Vietnam vs Lithuania |
| Kien Keat-Boon Heong may not play in Group C tie against Germany Posted: 19 May 2013 03:18 PM PDT IT looks like men doubles shuttlers Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong may not get a chance to play in Malaysia's next Group C tie against Germany in the Sudirman Cup tomorrow. Although a decision has not been made, all indications show they may be rested if the comments by chief coaches Rashid Sidek and Tan Kim Her are any indication during a post press conference after Malaysia's shocking 2-3 defeat to Taiwan in their opening tie yesterday. Rashid said that Kien Keat-Boon Heong's 18-21, 18-21 loss to Lee Sheng-mu-Tsai Chai-hsin had sent a rippling effect on the team's performances yesterday. "I did not expect this. Our plan was to win the men's doubles, men's singles and mixed doubles but we could not deliver because of Koo-Tan's defeat," said Rashid. "In fact, even Sonia (Cheah) felt the effect. She had beaten her opponent (Tai Tzu-ying) before but she could not play her game at all. We will discuss on what is the best strategy against Germany next (tomorrow)," he said. Kim Her was more subdued despite the defeat and said that Boon Heong had lost his concentration mid way through the match. "No, there is no misunderstanding or any other problems. I spoke to Boon Heong and he said that he lost his concentration and he did not have the feel of the game," said Kim Her. "But of course, we will discuss their performances in the team meeting. We will decide our best line-up against Germany," said Kim Her. When asked whether his other players – Hoon Thien How-Tan Wee Kiong and Goh V Shem-Lim Khim Wah were ready to play if Kien Keat-Boon Heong were rested, Kim Her said: "As I said before, all three pairs are ready to play. The back-up players are ready. For now, we have to decide which pair will best suit our strategy against Germany." |
| Koo-Tan’s stunning loss rocks Malaysian camp Posted: 19 May 2013 03:18 PM PDT THE misery for Malaysia's beleaguered doubles pair Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong continued at the Sudirman Cup yesterday. The world No. 3 Kien Keat-Boon Heong took another huge beating to their morale when they went down 18-21, 18-21 in a horrid 31-minute match to Taiwanese Lee Sheng-mu-Tsai Chia-hsin. Theirs was the first match during Malaysia's opening Group A tie against Taiwan in the Sudirman Cup at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil. Malaysia had hoped for a flying start – as the duo had beaten the same pair en route to reaching the final of the Hong Kong Open last year but they failed – big time. Their awful defeat came just two weeks after they to their younger compatriots Lim Khim Wah-Goh V Shem in the final of the Malaysian Open Grand Prix Gold tournament at the Juara Stadium in Bukit Kiara. Now, their confidence is seriously at their lowest ebb ahead of the World Championships in Guangzhou in August. Kien Keat, dejected with their defeat, said that they did not underestimate the world No. 26 Taiwanese pair although they were a scratched combination. "Our front court play was a letdown. We could not control them and their attacking play was good. We lost control," lamented Kien Keat. "No, we did not underestimate our opponents. Lee is a old timer and has been playing since the same time I started." The stocky Kien Keat said that although demoralised, he was not ready to give up his fight with Boon Heong with the world championships just three months away. "I will play with Boon Heong as long as the trust is there. I admit that we seriously need a boost ahead of the world meet but the only way to do that is to never give up," said Kien Keat. "I am not panicking. After the Olympic Games in London, there was no expectations on us and we were enjoying ourselves. Now, when there is expectations, we are finding it hard." Boon Heong was utterly disappointed and he had left it to the coaches to determine his future in the ongoing Sudirman Cup mixed team event. "This defeat has affected my confidence and I will leave it to the coaches to decide whom they want to field for the other ties," said Boon Heong. The coaches – Tan Kim Her and Paulus Firman – have the option of fielding Lim Khim Wah-Goh V Shem or Hoon Thien How-Tan Wee Kiong for the tie against Germany tomorrow. |
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