World Badminton Sport: Latest News

But national coach Tey Seu Bock is banking on Malaysia’s world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei and other top stars to wipe the smile off their faces when the action begins in Wembley from Aug 8-14.

He said that China are not only incredibly strong this year but have been quite lucky with the draw.

China are the only country to have four representatives in the men’s singles in Lin Dan, Chen Jin, Chen Long and Du Pengyu.

And the fact that all of them are seeded in the competition underlines their depth in strength in this year’s edition.

Three-time champion Lin Dan is the second seed, followed by Chen Long at No. 5, Chen Jin No. 6 and Pengyu No. 8.

Chen Long and Chen Jin are in the top half with top seed Chong Wei and former Olympic and world champion Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia.

Lin Dan and his younger compatriot Pengyu are in the lower half with a few seasoned campaigners, like Peter-Gade Christensen of Denmark, Lee Hyun-il of South Korea and Malaysia’s Wong Choong Hann.

Seu Bock said that China were fortunate that neither Chen Jin nor Chen Long were drawn in the same half as Lin Dan.

“Lin Dan is probably the luckiest one. He does not have to play either Chen Jin or Chen Long because these two players are going to work doubly hard to derail some of the good ones in the top half of the draw,” said Seu Bock.

“Chen Long and Chen Jin will surely go the distance to try and beat Chong Wei. And if they can’t, then they will at least try to stretch him and tire him out.”

Chong Wei is expected to face Chen Long in the quarter-finals and either Chen Jin or fourth seed Taufik in the semi-finals.

“Taufik has not been in good form. He has lost in two tournaments going into the world meet. I don’t think Taufik is going to go far this time,” said Seu Bock.

Taufik lost to Germany’s Marc Zwiebler in the third round of the US Open two weeks ago and the Canada Open final last week. Taufik did well at the last year’s world meet when he defeated Chong Wei in the quarter-finals in Paris.

Seu Bock expects Lin Dan, who has been drawn in the same quarter as Hyun-il, Pengyu and and Japan’s Sho Sasaki, to have a smooth ride into the quarter-finals.

Although China pose a big threat in the men’s singles, Seu Bock is hopeful that Chong Wei will prevail.

“We are expecting some tough and long matches for Chong Wei. We will prepare him to face such an ordeal. The men’s singles title is precious to China and they will do everything they can to retain it,” he said.

Rexy hopes Koo-Tan will set up repeat final with Chinese pair

Posted by Lucas Liau Latest News 11:51 AM

KUALA LUMPUR: National doubles coach Rexy Mainaky is hoping that Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong will reach the final of the men’s doubles event at the World Championships in London (Aug 8-14) and have a rematch against the world number one Chinese pair of Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng.

Although the Malaysian pair did not win any Grand Prix or Super Series tournaments of late, Rexy said the world No. 4 pair managed to reach the final of a big tournament, namely the All England Championships in March.

“The situation is the same like last year. They never won anything during the GP and Super Series, but they did well during the World Championship. It’s like they have been gearing up for this,” said Rexy yesterday.

The Malaysian No. 1 pair reached the World Championships final last year but lost to Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng 21-18, 18-21, 14-21.

Rexy, who is optimistic of the pair’s performance, said the team were better prepared this year with the training session in Bath, London, almost two weeks prior to the championship.

“However, we are not going to be over-confident about it (reaching the final). Me as the coach, not just Koo and Tan, have learnt from the past that it is better to keep a low profile,” he said.

Koo and Tan, who got a bye in the first round, are expected to meet Chinese pair Liu Xiaolong-Qiu Zihan in the second round.

“They have never met this pair before and they have to be careful with them. This pair might have been taught by their friends on how to face them,” he said on the draw.

Seeded pairs in Kien Keat and Boon Heong’s group include Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen of Denmark, Ko Sung-hyun-Yoo Yeon-seong of South Korea, Mohamad Ahsan-Bona Septano of Indonesia and Chai Biao-Guo Zhendong of China.

Kien Keat and Boon Heong had in the past beaten all these pairs, except the Korean pair of Sung-hyun and Yeon-seong who they will likely meet in the quarter-final.

“It will be a tough quarter-final for them but I’m sure they can beat the Koreans this time,” said Rexy. — Bernama

James puts issue with BAM aside to focus on task at Wembley

Posted by Lucas Liau Latest News 11:51 AM

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk James Selvaraj’s future as the high performance director with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) is still uncertain.

But he will not let his personal problems stop him from doing his best to psyche up the players to become champions at the World Championships, which will be held in Wembley from Aug 8-14.

James and team manager Ng Chin Chai left to join the Malaysian team at Bath University yesterday.

The team are undergoing centralised training in Bath Spa, which is situated in Somerset County as part of the final preparations for the world meet. The team will leave for Wembley on Thursday.

The fate of James will be decided after the World Championships when the BAM review the performances of their coaches and players.

Last month, the BA of Malaysia have decided that they preferred a high performance director on a full-time basis but James, a senior manager with Bata Malaysia, had been appointed on a part-time basis last September.

James had met up with the president Datuk Seri Nadzmi Mohd Salleh, secretary Chin Chai and general manager Kenny Goh to look into his predicament but the former Thomas Cupper has yet to make a decision.

Not allowing the matter to pull him down, James said that he would focus on the task of boosting the players’ confidence in the World Championships team.

“There is nothing much we can do as far as their game is concerned. Now is the time to motivate the players and think positively about becoming world champions,” said James.

“This is no longer a Super Series event but it is the prestigious world event.

“I want the players to enjoy themselves but at the same time, they must have that desire to win.

“It is all about psychological warfare now. It can come from outside or within.

“My team of coaches will assist the players in handling the pressure that comes with the expectations.”

James added: “One of my jobs when I was appointed last September was to produce champions. And I hope that the long wait will end at Wembley.”

Realistically, James said that Malaysia’s hopes rested on the shoulders of Lee Chong Wei and Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong in the men’s singles and men’s doubles events respectively.

Koo-Tan face contrasting fortunes after tricky doubles draw

Posted by Lucas Liau Latest News 3:03 PM

KUALA LUMPUR: There were contrasting fortunes for Malaysia’s top men doubles shuttlers Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong when the draw for the World Championships was released yesterday.

First, there were smiles when the fourth seeds found out that they will not have the company of three big names – Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng of China, Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia and South Koreans Lee Yong-dae-Jung Jae-sung in their half.

The Malaysians were drawn together with second seeds Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen of Denmark, South Koreans Ko Sung-hyun-Yoo Yeon-seong, Mohd Ahsan-Bona Septano of Indonesia and China’s Chai Biao-Guo Zhengdong.

Kien Keat-Boon Heong have beaten all these pairs except for Sung-hyun-Yeon-seong.

The Malaysians may meet the Koreans in the quarter-finals and on paper, the odds are stacked against Kien Keat-Boon Heong after having lost four times to pair over the last one year.

Rexy says that his ultimate aim is to see a re-match between Kien Keat-Boon Heong and three-time world champion Cai Yun-Haifeng but he admits that it would not be easy. Last year, Cai Yun-Haifeng came from behind to beat Kien Keat-Boon Heong in the final in Paris.

“Cai Yun-Haifeng are probably in the best condition now. They may be the veterans but their game is solid and they are playing well,” said Rexy.

“It is good that Cai Yun-Haifeng and two other top pairs are not in the same half but it does not make it any easier for Koo and Tan. They have not beaten the second ranked Koreans (Sung-hyun-Yeon-seong) but they can do it during the world meet.

“Last year, they defeated Yong-dae-Jae-sung for the first time (in two years) and they can pull off the same act.”

Besides, Kien Keat-Boon Heong, Malaysia will also have two other pairs – Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif-Hoon Thien How and Lim Khim Wah-Chan Peng Soon – at Wembley but they are unlikely to go far.

Zakry-Thien How have been drawn to play 2005 world champions Howard Bach-Tony Gunawan of United States in the first round. Even if they win, they may have to face two other giants – Markis-Hendra and Lee Sheng-mu-Fang Chieh-min of Taiwan – in their quarter.

Khim Wah-Peng Soon are in the same quarter with Cai Yun-Haifeng of China and Japanese Naoki Kawamae-Shoji Sato.

Without any representative in the women’s singles for the first time, Malaysia will focus their attention on the women’s doubles through Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty and Ng Hui Lin-Ng Hui Ern.

But Japanese players could spoil their party. Eei Hui-Pei Tty are set to take on fourth seeds Mizuki Fujii-Reika Kakiiwa in the second round while the Ng sisters may play 15th seeds Matsutomo Misaki-Ayala Takahashi in the last 32.

Said Rexy: “Pei Tty has been working hard to get back to good form and we still have hopes on them. They can go at least until the quarter-final if they can raise their game.”

In the mixed doubles, where China, Indonesia, England, Denmark and South Korea will be fighting for honours, not much is expected from Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying and Ong Jian Guo-Sabrina Chong.

Chong Wei drawn to meet Lin Dan in final

Posted by Lucas Liau Latest News 3:29 PM

Hendrawan wants his boys to go all out at the Kedah Open

Posted by Lucas Liau Latest News 4:52 PM

ALOR SETAR: National badminton singles back-up coach Hendrawan just wants his boys to try their best in the Kedah Open, which begins today.
With the exception of Goh Soon Huat, who withdrew at the last minute due to an injury, Hendrawan will have seven players at the Kedah Open – Mohd Arif Abdul Latif, Iskandar Zulkarnian Zainuddin, Mohd Syawal Ismail, Loh Wei Sheng, Kuan Kam Chung, Lim Fang Yang and Misbun Ramdan Misbun.
“They have been working hard in training and I have seen the improvements they have made despite the lack of results” said Hendrawan after a training session yesterday.
“Arif, for example, did very well to reach the third round of the Thailand Open GP Gold ... he was just unlucky in the end.
“But I believe my boys still have time on their side and they will produce results soon.
“This Kedah Open will be a good test for them. It is rare that all the top players, like (Lee) Chong Wei, (Wong) Choong Hann and Mohd Hafiz (Hashim), will be playing.”
Hendrawan, however, is aware that his boys will face a tough time and that except for Arif, the rest are not expected to make it through to the quarter-finals.
Arif will face Selangor’s Ho Khee Kong in the first round, with the possibility of facing either Syawal or Kedah’s Lok Chong Chieh in the next round.
If he gets past it, he could face either Zulfadli Zulkifli, who recently won the Asian Juniors on Saturday, or former national shuttler Hafiz in the quarter-finals.
Last year’s Asian Juniors runner-up Wei Sheng will play against Negri Sembilan’s Hoo Kim Long in the first round before world No. 1 and top seed Chong Wei, who has a first round bye, awaits him next.
This is the last tournament for Chong Wei before he leaves for a 10-day centralised training stint at the Bath University (from July 27-Aug 5) ahead of the World Championships in London (from Aug 8-14).
Chong Wei is tipped to meet second seed Choong Hann in the Kedah Open final.
The Kedah Open is the second leg of the National Circuit and will feature all the World Championships-bound players, with the exception of women’s doubles shuttler Wong Pei Tty, who is taking a break to prevent further injuries to her knee.

Christensen takes Lin Dan to the distance before losing

Posted by Lucas Liau Latest News 9:40 AM

PETALING JAYA: Denmark’s Peter-Gade Christensen played one of his best matches ever in recent times but still came up short in the Singapore Open yesterday.

The old, but still energetic, Christensen showed great determination to push three-time world champion Lin Dan of China to the distance before going down 22-20, 17-21, 15-21 in a gruelling one hour and 15 minute men’s singles semi-final match.

It was Christensen second loss to Lin Dan within a month, having also lost to the Chinese in the Sudirman Cup last month.

Despite the narrow defeat, the 34-year-old Christensen showed that he is still a player to be reckoned with and could well be one of the title contenders at this year’s World Championships, which will be held in London from Aug 8-14.

The final today will be an all-China affair between Lin Dan and Chen Jin, who defeated world junior champion Wang Zhengming 21-17, 21-11 in the other semi-final.

There was joy in the Danish camp after all when Tine Baun stepped up confidently to pack off top seed Wang Shixian of China 21-15, 21-16 in just 35 minutes in the women’s singles semi-final.

The Dane will face another Chinese Wang Xin today.

Meanwhile, Indonesia are in the running for two titles today through Alven Yulianto-Hendra Gunawan and Tantowi Ahmad-Lilyana Natsir in the men’s and mixed doubles events respectively.

Alven-Hendra will face China’s Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng while Tantowi-Lilyana will be up against Taiwan’s most improved pair of Chen Hung-ling-Cheng Wen-hsing in their respective finals today.

Semi-final results

Men’s singles: Lin Dan (Chn) bt Peter-Gade Christensen (Den) 20-22, 21-17, 21-15; Chen Jin (Chn) bt Wang Zhengming (Chn) 21-17, 21-11.

Men’s doubles: Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng (Chn) bt Lee Yong-dae- Jung Jae-sung (Kor) 21-16, 23-21; Alven Yulianto-Hendra Gunawan (Ina) bt Chai Biao-Guo Zhengdong (Chn) 21-19, 24-26, 21-14.

Women’s singles: Tine Baun (Den) bt Wang Shixian (Chn) 21-15, 21-16; Wang Xin (Chn) bt Yao Jie (Ned) 21-13, 21-11.

Women’s doubles: Ha Jung-eun-Kim Min-jung (Kor) bt Mizuki Fujii-Reika Kakiiwa (Jpn) 21-16, 21-18; Tian Qing- Zhao Yunlei (Chn) bt Shizuka Matsuo-Mami Naito (Jpn) 23-21, 21-17.

Mixed doubles: Tantowi Ahmad-Lilyana Natsir (Ina) bt Zhang Nan-Zhao Yunlei (Chn) 23-21, 21-16; Chen Hungling- Cheng Wen-hsing (Tpe) bt Nathan Robertson-Jenny Wallwork (Eng) 21-12, 21-15.

BWF blunder sends media in China into a frenzy

Posted by Lucas Liau Latest News 9:39 AM

World No. 1 wants BAM to solve two problems

Posted by Lucas Liau Latest News 7:17 PM

PETALING JAYA: World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei hopes that the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) will solve two of his problems in his preparations for the world championships in August.

Chong Wei is concerned over the constant change of venue from the national training centre at the Juara Stadium in Bukit Kiara to other locations.

And he hopes that the BAM will minimise unwarranted difficulties for the players - especially those preparing for the world championships.

Due to the Sukma (Malaysia Games) netball competitions at the Juara Stadium, the BAM had to move the training sessions for all groups of shuttlers – elite, back-up and Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) – to different venues this week.

“The players have been moving around this week. But this is not something new. Whenever, there are events at Juara Stadium, we have to be like nomads,” said Chong Wei yesterday.

“We wait for the coaches to tell us the training locations every day. Sometimes, it is at Wangsa Maju, Petaling Jaya and Bukit Jalil,” he said. “The best for all players is to train at one place. It is nothing like being ‘home’ at a familiar training ground. Now, we also have to spend extra time on the road.”

Chong Wei hoped that BAM would expedite their big plan to build their own national training centre, which was proposed to be off the Kesas Highway at Awan Besar.

“I am speaking on behalf of all the players. Ad hoc arrangements are cumbersome. Hopefully, we do not have to change training venues anymore after this. And it is also my hope that the BAM would work fast on getting their own national centre.”

Chong Wei also wished that the BAM would reschedule the Johor Open slated for July 14-17, which will be held just two weeks before the world championship-bound shuttlers leave for centralised training in Bath.

It is compulsory for all the national shuttlers to compete in the annual domestic event.

“I would rather skip the Johor Open and focus on my preparations for the world championships. Hopefully, the BAM can set new dates for the event,” said Chong Wei.

“I do not plan to compete if they are unable to do so. I guess, I will just miss out on an opportunity to compete in this year’s National GP Finals.”

Chong Wei did not take part in the opening leg of the circuit in Kuala Lumpur in April because of other obligations. Only the top 16 players after the two-leg circuit qualify for the Finals.

Last year, Chong Wei competed in one of the two legs and went on to nail a ninth national title.

Rule requiring skirts in badminton suspended(update)

Posted by Lucas Liau Latest News 9:00 AM

QINGDAO, China: The Badminton World Federation has indefinitely suspended a controversial regulation that would have required women to wear skirts or dresses in competitive matches, a move that many female athletes considered sexist.

The BWF said in a statement posted on its website Monday that it accepted a recommendation from the Women In Badminton Committee to further study the general clothing regulations. The mandatory ruling was initially set to be implemented on May 1, but had been deferred until June 1 after criticism of the plan.

The Women In Badminton Committee, headed by former world champion Nora Perry of England, said the recommendation was also based on feedback from the sport's Athletes Commission.

Some players had accused the game's administrators of sexism, but badminton officials said they were trying to improve the profile of the women's game and help attract more sponsorship. In the past, women had been allowed to wear either skirts or shorts, with players opinions' differing on which were more comfortable.

"There (has) been various feedback from many quarters and after taking into account all these comments, especially those from the Athletes Commission, it is our recommendation to council to do further study before implementing new clothing regulations," Perry said in a statement after the group met at Qingdao during the Sudirman Cup competition.

"It is still our intention to focus on a better presentation of the game, but we will like to broaden the scope to include both men and women, and the feedback will also include views from various stakeholders such as the clothing manufacturers."

The BWF statement said the clothing regulation was one of the steps being taken to raise the profile of women in badminton.

The statement said other initiatives already in place are offering equal prize money for men and women, standardized 21-point rally system for men and women and equal male and female participation across the events offered in singles, doubles and mixed doubles. - AP

Earlier report

Badminton chiefs shelve skirts ruling

QINGDAO: Badminton chiefs yesterday said they had indefinitely shelved a controversial new ruling forcing women to wear skirts or dresses after uproar from countries including China and India.

The new regulation, which sparked the worst internal wrangling in years and saw badminton gain unprecedented media coverage, had already been delayed once but had been due to come into effect on June 1.

The sport’s governing body, the Badminton World Federation (BWF), met on Saturday to find a solution to the emotive issue.

Some players had accused the game’s administrators of sexism, but badminton bosses countered that they were merely trying to boost the profile of the women’s game and help attract more sponsorship. — AFP

Chong Wei, Koo and Tan excused from SEA Games

Posted by Lucas Liau Latest News 10:30 AM

Lin Dan: I want to emulate Peter Gade

Posted by Lucas Liau Latest News 10:29 AM

Sudirman Cup: Malaysia fails to qualify for semis

Posted by Lucas Liau Latest News 1:13 PM

Malaysia go down fighting against South Korea in quarter-finals

Posted by Lucas Liau Latest News, Top News 1:13 PM

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s doubles shuttlers gave stronger performances yesterday but failed to keep Malaysian interest alive in the Sudirman Cup world mixed team championships.

Their challenge in Qingdao ended in a four-hour battle with South Korea, losing 2-3 in a quarter-final tie that went down to the wire.

The only consolation for Malaysia yesterday was in taking a point from the men’s doubles match in which South Korea featured the formidable Lee Yong-dae-Jung Jae-sung.

Malaysia got off to a losing start with Chin Eei Hui-Koo Kien Keat beaten 17-21, 17-21 by Ko Sung-hyun-Ha Jung-eun in just 29 minutes.

But they took a 2-1 lead with victories by Lee Chong Wei and the scratch men’s pair of Tan Boon Heong-Hoon Thien How.

Chong Wei overcame strong resistance from Park Sung-hwan in the first game before romping home for a 21-18, 21-14 win.

Then, 2004 world junior champions Boon Heong-Thien How took the applause, scoring a surprise 21-15, 14-21, 21-14 win over the highly successful Korean pair of Yong-dae-Jae-sung.

Boon Heong was thrilled with the results.

“Thien How and I used to pair up in training and we played once in the local circuit last year. We were the underdogs and there was no pressure on us,” he said.

“We did not feel nervous although we dropped the second game.

“We started well in the rubber game and controlled well in the first three rallies and this helped us to stay focused throughout the match.

“Thien How and I still remember beating Yong-dae (in a partnership with Cho Gun-woo) in the 2004 world junior championships. But it feels special to beat him here today.”

South Korea were back in the business when Bae Youn-joo sent Tee Jing Yi packing, winning 21-11, 21-11.

It was all on Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty to win the tie for Malaysia but they went down 21-19, 16-21, 10-21 to Kim Min-jung-Ha Jung-eun in a 54-minute battle.

Eei Hui was disappointed that they could not help take Malaysia into the semi-final again after pulling off the feat two years ago.

“We beat this Korean pair in the semi-finals of the China Open in 2008. We had the confidence but we did not take our chances well today. We should have finished them off in straight games,” lamented Eei Hui.

“But this was one of my best performances with Pei Tty since she made a comeback after recovering from a knee surgery. We hope to be more consistent and improve on our physical condition to enable us to last the pace,”

South Korea will take on defending champions China in the semi-final tomorrow. China defeated India 3-1 yesterday to advance.

Chong Wei wants team to reach first ever final in Sudirman Cup

Posted by Lucas Liau Latest News 10:12 AM

KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 1 men’s singles shuttler Lee Chong Wei is banking on team spirit to help Malaysia achieve their best-ever result in the Sudirman Cup badminton championships, which begin tomorrow at Qingdao, China.

Malaysia have never gone beyond the semi-finals in Division One of the world mixed team competition, usually due to the team’s lack of depth in the women’s department.

Skipper Chong Wei, however, is hoping that his team-mates, including the debutants, will rise to the occasion.

“It’s time to show the world that we have a united team. Team morale is high and we will do our best to support and push one another to give our best,” said the 29-year-old Chong Wei.

The others in the team are Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, Hoon Thien How, Tee Jing Yi, Lydia Cheah, Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty, Vivian Hoo and Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying.

Jing Yi, Thien How, Vivian and Peng Soon-Liu Ying will be making their Sudirman Cup debuts.

“I will try to win a point in every tie so that I can give the team a good start. Koo and Tan also have a good chance to win. We have a fighting chance in other events,” said Chong Wei.

“Our mixed doubles pair of Peng Soon-Liu Ying have improved and this will be another big stage for them to prove themselves. I hope they will deliver.

“Eei Hui-Pei Tty may not be in the best of conditions but they are experienced and never give up. We can rely on them to pull off the unexpected.

“It will be a good experience for either Jing Yi or Lydia and all that matters if for them to give a good fight.”

The team’s strength has been diluted following the absence of Wong Mew Choo, who is currently a coach with the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS).

Chong Wei hoped that Malaysia, who are in Group B with Indonesia and Russia, would top the group.

“Indonesia and Russia have good women players and I am sure that every tie will be keenly contested. Hopefully, we will make it to the quarter-finals,” he said.

Indonesia have decided against naming their Olympic and world champions Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan, prefering instead Taufik Hidayat to spearhead the team.

“We should make the top eight and we hope the draw will be favourable for us. China will be the favourites as they have a balanced team.”

Top seeds China are in Group A with Japan and Germany. In Group C are Taiwan, Thailand and India and Group D comprises Denmark, South Korea and England.

The top two teams in each group will advance to the elimination round. A fresh draw will the be conducted to determine the quarter-final match-ups.

Koo and Tan to stay together until after 2012 London Games

BWF to monitor suspicious withdrawals

Lin Dan downs Chong Wei to win world title

First WBC final for Chong Wei

BAM agree to draw up a clear guideline for independent shuttlers

Coach wants Chong Wei to wipe smile off Chinese players’ faces