Chong Ming-Choon Eng get a berth in world meet
News 12:41 AM
PETALING JAYA: Doubles shuttler Chan Chong Ming bade farewell to the World Championships in Madrid in 2006 without getting on court because he had to rush home following the demise of his father.
He must have thought then that there would be no more world championships for him. But he has earned another appearance with Chew Choon Eng after the second phase of selection made by the Badminton World Federation for the world meet in Hyderabad from Aug 10-16.
Malaysia will now have a maximum of four pairs in the men’s doubles competition. The others in the fray are Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif and Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah.
In the latest world rankings, Chong Ming-Choon Eng are in 11th spot — six rungs higher than Tan Fook-Wan Wah. Kien Keat-Boon Heong and Fairuzizuan-Zakry are ranked third and fifth respectively.
Chong Ming is certainly glad that his decision to come out of retirement to renew his partnership with Choon Eng has paid off. Chong Ming quit the national squad at the end of 2007 but returned to play competitive badminton after securing a two-year sponsorship from sports equipment company Victor.
“It has been one-and-a-half year since we started playing on the world circuit again and our hard work to go through the grind has not gone to waste,” he said.
“In fact, I never thought that I would get another chance to play in the world championships as there are many younger pairs who have made the breakthrough. But we now have a confirmed berth and we will make the best of what should be our last campaign. We have to thank our sponsors for supporting us to play in the world circuit.”
Chong Ming won the bronze medal twice in the world championships — with Choon Eng in Seville in 2001 and with Kien Keat in Anaheim four years later. In his aborted outing in Madrid in 2006, Chong Ming-Kien Keat were the fifth ranked pair in the competition.
“Kien Keat already had the experience then and we stood the better chance to do well. But we never got into competition because I had to go home for my father’s funeral,” said Chong Ming.
Inspired by the second chance to play in the world championships, Chong Ming, a two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist, said that they would try to do well in the upcoming Singapore and Indonesian Opens.
“There is a chance for us to get among the top eight seeds (for the world championships) if we do well in the two tournaments,” he said.
“They are the last two Super Series tournaments offering ranking points before the world meet. It will be great if we make it to the top eight.”
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 12:41 AM.
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