Let's give promotion a big Hann
News 9:57 AM
VETERAN shuttler Wong Choong Hann does not want anything to be changed in the way the Thomas Cup Finals is being run except for the hosts to be creative in promoting the event.
“I am not asking for money to be given as prize money nor for a change in the format. The way the three singles and two doubles events are being played alternately is just great for the sport. It is fair and shows the depth of a team,” said Choong Hann.
Choong Hann has been competing in the Finals since his debut in Hong Kong in 1998 and have yet to win the Cup.
“To many of us, it is prestigious to play in the Thomas Cup. It is not about the money or the reward. Striving to be the best team in the world is something that we do with pride,” he said.
“But I would like to see more prominence given to the promotional work.
“I have been here for so long and yet, nothing much has changed in that aspect.
“There should be different kinds of promotion and marketing approaches to create the hype for this team competition by different countries. It should generate great interest in the sport that even those who do not know the sport would want to come and watch it.”
On his seventh campaign in the Finals, which will start today, Choong Hann said: “My toughest battle will probably be against China and Indonesia. I believe I have equal chance with players from Denmark, South Korea and Japan.
The second players that he will likely come across are Chen Jin (China), Sony Dwi Kuncoro (Indonesia), Jan O Jorgensen (Denmark), Shon Wan-ho (South Korea) and Kazushi Yamada (Japan). He will take on Kazushi in the Group B tie with Japan on Tuesday.
“I am not asking for money to be given as prize money nor for a change in the format. The way the three singles and two doubles events are being played alternately is just great for the sport. It is fair and shows the depth of a team,” said Choong Hann.
“To many of us, it is prestigious to play in the Thomas Cup. It is not about the money or the reward. Striving to be the best team in the world is something that we do with pride,” he said.
“But I would like to see more prominence given to the promotional work.
“I have been here for so long and yet, nothing much has changed in that aspect.
“There should be different kinds of promotion and marketing approaches to create the hype for this team competition by different countries. It should generate great interest in the sport that even those who do not know the sport would want to come and watch it.”
On his seventh campaign in the Finals, which will start today, Choong Hann said: “My toughest battle will probably be against China and Indonesia. I believe I have equal chance with players from Denmark, South Korea and Japan.
The second players that he will likely come across are Chen Jin (China), Sony Dwi Kuncoro (Indonesia), Jan O Jorgensen (Denmark), Shon Wan-ho (South Korea) and Kazushi Yamada (Japan). He will take on Kazushi in the Group B tie with Japan on Tuesday.
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 9:57 AM.
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