The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
- Esther Cheah hits form in step-ladder finals to retain crown
- Malaysia’s biggest ever contingent to world meet
- Scott sees high energy and intensity playing alongside Tiger and Rory
| Esther Cheah hits form in step-ladder finals to retain crown Posted: 11 Jun 2013 05:40 PM PDT PETALING JAYA: National bowler Esther Cheah defied the odds to retain her Hong Open title after beating Singapore's Kimberly Ooi 204-156 and 220-193 at the SCAA Bowling Centre yesterday. Officially alone with no coach, manager or team-mates, Esther managed to do enough to qualify for the top six step-ladder finals in fifth spot after the conclusion of Masters Stage Two. Esther opened with a disastrous 164 game in Stage Two but kept her composure to garner 2,003 pinfalls after 10 games. "I knew that I had to play catch up after the first game and I was just waiting for a break to get back," said Esther. In the step-ladder finals, Esther was more consistent in her game as she emerged tops in the first game against Singapore duo Joey Yeo Ruoqi and Tracy See. Esther knocked down 210 to beat the Singaporean duo Joey (185) and Tracy (148). In the next stage, Esther continued her fine form by knocking down 201 pins to beat Singapore's Ilma Nur Jannah (178) and Hong Kong's Chan Suk Han (181) to set up a showdown for the title against Kimberly. Despite hitting form in both Masters Stage One and Two, Kimberly, however, choked in the final. Esther won the first game 204-156 to set up a shoot-out which she easily won 220-193. Esther can thank her lucky stars in Hong Kong, and also national coach Foong Tak Meng who was, however, not on official duty in Hong Kong. Tak Meng was accompanying some graded bowlers to the competition, but helped out by resurfacing Esther's balls during the step-ladder finals. "I just tried to make good shots throughout the step-ladder and hoped for the best. I was quite fortunate that things worked my way," said Esther who will now rejoin the national squad who skipped the meet in Hong Kong to prepare for the World Championships in Nevada, United States in August. |
| Malaysia’s biggest ever contingent to world meet Posted: 11 Jun 2013 04:39 PM PDT KUALA LUMPUR: With the latest inclusion of women's doubles shuttlers Soong Fie Cho-Amelia Anscelly, Malaysia will have their biggest ever representation (25 players) in the World Championships in Guangzhou in August. Yesterday, Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM)'s president Datuk Seri Nadzmi Mohd Salleh was beaming with pride over the qualification of 21 national players and four independent shuttlers. The four former internationals are Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif-Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari and the Ng sisters – Hui Lin-Hui Ern. Two players will play in two events – Goh Liu Ying and Lim Yin Loo will feature in the women's and mixed doubles. Despite the big number, the only player with a chance of ending Malaysia's wait for the nation's first world title is world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei in the men's singles event. |
| Scott sees high energy and intensity playing alongside Tiger and Rory Posted: 11 Jun 2013 05:34 PM PDT MASTERS champion Adam Scott expects high energy and intensity playing alongside world No. 1 Tiger Woods and second-ranked Rory McIlroy in the first two rounds of the US Open. Scott won his first Major title two months ago at Augusta National and forever shattered the notion of an Australian jinx about winning the Masters, taking the green jacket in a playoff triumph over Argentina's Angel Cabrera. Now Scott takes his place in the primary trio with McIlroy, who won the 2011 US Open and last year's PGA Championship, and 14-time Major champion Woods, who has won four times this year but has not won a Major since the 2008 US Open. "It will be a fun week, absolutely – some energy and electricity, playing with him at any time, there always is," Scott said of Woods. "And given the hype around this grouping and being a Major ... it's going to be an intense couple of days," he said. "But essentially that's what we're playing for. That's a pairing you would hope for on Sunday." "At some point, if you're playing well and winning a tournament, you're going to have to try and beat him. And that's what you want to be out here for. That's why you spend the hours and test yourself. And I'm looking forward to that on Thursday (tomorrow) and Friday." When competition begins at Merion Golf Club, Scott will have some insight into Woods as well from caddie Steve Williams, who began carrying the Aussie's bags after he was dropped by Woods, who now has Joe LaCava at his side. Scott has prior experience with star pairings. This year at Torrey Pines he joined Woods and Phil Mickelson in a feature group for the first two days. "I think anyone would have felt like the third wheel that week. The hype was enormous around that pairing," Scott said. "It was an experience that I'll never forget. I've never seen that many people on a Thursday morning on the first tee. It was a great atmosphere. "This year obviously there's a lot of focus on Tiger and Rory. I know what to expect out there. I'm probably also the third wheel this week as well." But Scott said he feels a boost in confidence coming into a Major for the first time as a Major champion. "I do feel a lot better coming here," Scott said. "It's a good feeling to come here to know that I've achieved that. I've got my first Major. And my sights are definitely set on trying to win more. But it is a nice feeling. "I'm looking forward to seeing how I feel playing for the first time in a Major after having won, to see if there's less pressure or if I'm going to put more pressure on myself. I don't really know." It was another Australian, David Graham, who won the most recent US Open staged at Merion back in 1981. "I'd like to see him," Scott said. "It would be nice to bump into him and absolutely hear what he has to say about his memories of winning here." The course, known for using red wicker baskets atop flagsticks, has a history that includes Ben Hogan's emotional 1950 US Open victory, as well as Lee Trevino's 1971 US Open playoff triumph over Jack Nicklaus. But heavy rains on Monday indicated the course would play soft, failing to produce the test players and organisers had intended. "It's just all very disappointing with the weather, but hopefully we can get a bit lucky and it can dry out," Scott said. "It's nice to come to these places that have played such a big part in golf's history because we don't get to do it that much." — AFP |
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