M'sia go down 0-3 to China in Thomas Cup semi

Posted by Lucas Liau News 4:46 PM

THOUSANDS of cheering Malaysian fans created an electrifying atmosphere at the Putra Stadium.
But their efforts failed to lift the spirit of the Malaysian players, who succumbed to three quick blows to go down 0-3 to defending champions China in the Thomas Cup semi-finals last night.
The defeat shattered Malaysia's dream of ending an 18-year wait to lift the Cup they last won in 1992.

The semi-final was an anti-climax tie for Malaysia as the top players - world No. 1s Lee Chong Wei and Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong - failed to live up to expectations.
After playing so confidently in his previous two ties, Chong Wei wilted under pressure and went down tamely 17-21, 8-21 to his nemesis Lin Dan.
Hopes were then high on Kien Keat-Boon Heong to level the tie but they too found Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng too hot too handle, going down 15-21, 10-21 in just 36 minutes.
The hopes of the nation was then on the shoulders of veteran Wong Choong Hann to save the tie but he too crumbled under the weight of expectations, going down 16-21, 7-21 in 41 minutes.
And it was all over for Malaysia.
China will take on Indonesia in the final tomorrow.
The tame defeat of skipper Chong Wei came as a surprise and the Malaysian said that Lin Dan's aggressive display at the start of the match broke his rhythm.
“He took a 10-3 lead in the opening game and that rattled me. I lost my focus and found it hard to narrow the gap,” said Chong Wei.
It was Chong Wei's 15th defeat to Lin Dan in 21 meetings over the last six years.
“It suddenly felt like the court was too small and I could not see any space to hit the shuttle. I was demoralised when he retrieved all my attacking shots,” said Chong Wei.
“All of a sudden I felt that my standard had dropped. Lin Dan was too good today.”
National coach Rexy Mainaky pinned high hopes on Kien Keat-Boon Heong but, instead of enjoying the home advantage, they were beaten mercilessly by the fast attacking Chinese pair.
Boon Heong admitted that “we lost to a better pair”.
“They were good in all departments today. They were fast in their attack, solid in defence and able to read our game,” said Boon Heong.
“Overall, they were more solid. Kien Keat and I tried our best but it just did not happen for us.”
Said Kien Keat: “We have lost to them in team events for four times. It is not because we are not good team players. We are but they were just too good today. We will work harder to get the better of them.”
After the defeats of Chong Wei and Kien Keat-Boon Heong, Malaysian fans knew the battle was all over.
As expected, Choong Hann, despite pockets of brilliance, found his younger opponent Chen Jin a tough nut to crack.
With his defeat, Malaysia's agonising wait for the Thomas Cup which they last won in 1992, continues.