Malaysia's chances in Uber Cup depends on how Mew Choo fares
News 9:57 AM
A LOT will ride on the performance of singles shuttler Wong Mew Choo if Malaysia are to beat the odds to achieve a big breakthrough on home soil in the Uber Cup Finals starting today.
Malaysia may have earned automatic qualification as the hosts but the shuttlers selected will have a single aim of taking the team to the quarter-finals for the third time in six years.
Malaysia qualified on merit for the first time in Jakarta in 2004 and they managed to reach the last eight before bowing out 0-3 to mighty China.
Malaysia again joined the elite ranks in the 2008 Finals in Jakarta and pulled through to the last eight before going down 1-3 to South Korea.
Main hope: Wong Mew Choo has a huge responsibility in setting the tone for the rest of the Malaysian Uber Cup team. For the current Finals, Malaysia are in Group A with title holders China and United States.
The last minute withdrawals of singles shuttlers Lydia Cheah and Julia Wong have weakened Malaysia's chances of breaking into the top four of the biennial tournament for the first time.
Their replacements Sannatasah Saniru and Sonia Cheah together with another singles player Tee Jing Yi have not really made big impressions on the international stage.
How Mew Choo fares in every tie will set the tone for the rest of the Malaysian team.
Singles head coach Rashid Sidek said it will be crucial for Mew Choo to deliver a point from the first singles.
“She is the most experienced singles player in the squad and if she plays well and comes out a winner, it will give her team-mates the confidence they need to fight on.
“If Lydia and Julia were around, we will probably have a 50-50 chance in the second and third singles.
“Now, we will have to depend heavily on the first singles and hope for two points from the doubles if we want to create history by entering the semis in the Uber Cup Finals.
“Our chances are not as good as before but there is still a chance and I hope the shuttlers do not give up. Nobody expected us to win the SEA Games women's gold medal in Laos last year and I hope they show the same fighting spirit,” said Rashid.
Malaysia face United States tomorrow and must win the tie if they harbour hopes of reaching the last eight.
It will be a foregone conclusion in their final group tie against China on Tuesday.
“We will need a little bit of luck too as we have to avoid teams like China, South Korea and Japan when the new draw is made for the last eight,” he added.
World No. 4 Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty will be counted on to deliver another point while either Asian Championships runner-up Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei or Goh Liu Ying-Ng Hui Lin could turn out to be the trump card for Malaysia.
It will be a fierce fight between South Korea, Japan and Denmark to make the final but it will still take a brave pundit to put their money against China not claiming their seventh title in a row on Saturday.
Malaysia may have earned automatic qualification as the hosts but the shuttlers selected will have a single aim of taking the team to the quarter-finals for the third time in six years.
Malaysia qualified on merit for the first time in Jakarta in 2004 and they managed to reach the last eight before bowing out 0-3 to mighty China.
Malaysia again joined the elite ranks in the 2008 Finals in Jakarta and pulled through to the last eight before going down 1-3 to South Korea.
Main hope: Wong Mew Choo has a huge responsibility in setting the tone for the rest of the Malaysian Uber Cup team. The last minute withdrawals of singles shuttlers Lydia Cheah and Julia Wong have weakened Malaysia's chances of breaking into the top four of the biennial tournament for the first time.
Their replacements Sannatasah Saniru and Sonia Cheah together with another singles player Tee Jing Yi have not really made big impressions on the international stage.
How Mew Choo fares in every tie will set the tone for the rest of the Malaysian team.
Singles head coach Rashid Sidek said it will be crucial for Mew Choo to deliver a point from the first singles.
“She is the most experienced singles player in the squad and if she plays well and comes out a winner, it will give her team-mates the confidence they need to fight on.
“If Lydia and Julia were around, we will probably have a 50-50 chance in the second and third singles.
“Now, we will have to depend heavily on the first singles and hope for two points from the doubles if we want to create history by entering the semis in the Uber Cup Finals.
“Our chances are not as good as before but there is still a chance and I hope the shuttlers do not give up. Nobody expected us to win the SEA Games women's gold medal in Laos last year and I hope they show the same fighting spirit,” said Rashid.
Malaysia face United States tomorrow and must win the tie if they harbour hopes of reaching the last eight.
It will be a foregone conclusion in their final group tie against China on Tuesday.
“We will need a little bit of luck too as we have to avoid teams like China, South Korea and Japan when the new draw is made for the last eight,” he added.
World No. 4 Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty will be counted on to deliver another point while either Asian Championships runner-up Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei or Goh Liu Ying-Ng Hui Lin could turn out to be the trump card for Malaysia.
It will be a fierce fight between South Korea, Japan and Denmark to make the final but it will still take a brave pundit to put their money against China not claiming their seventh title in a row on Saturday.
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 9:57 AM.
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