Saturday, April 30, 2011

Misbun decides not to take up BAM’s lucrative offer

By RAJES PAUL
Dejection, pride and disappointment must have led Misbun Sidek to end his decade-long service as a national coach.
The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) deputy president, Tengku Kamil Ismail Tengku Idris Shah, confirmed after the exco meeting yesterday that Misbun had rejected a new contract with them to train the back-up shuttlers even though it offered good salary and perks.
Misbun: Did not state any reason for turning down the offer.
Kamil, who chaired the meeting in the absence of the president, Datuk Seri Nadzmi Mohd Salleh, said that Misbun did not state any reason for turning down the offer.
The decision of the 51-year-old Misbun marked an end to a colourful and controversial career as a national coach.
He now has an option to return to the Nusa Mahsuri professional club to train youngsters but close sources say that Misbun has had enough of badminton.
“The exco respected his decision and unanimously accepted it,” said Kamil.
“And we take this opportunity to appreciate him for his services and contributions to the many successes in Malaysian badminton over the years with the BAM.”
Misbun had remained silent since retracting his decision to quit the national team last month.
He must have felt very hurt when his prized player, Lee Chong Wei, announced that it was all right not to be under his charge.
His about-turn came as a shock because immediately after Misbun tendered his resignation as national coach last Dec 31, Chong Wei said that he would follow his coach.
It is learnt that Chong Wei had grown tired waiting for Misbun to make his return for more than three months and made a public declaration that he was comfortable under the guidance of Teh Seu Bock and Rashid Sidek and would like the arrangement to stay.
And BAM, who placed great priority on what their Olympic Games gold medal prospect wanted, offered Misbun to coach some of the back-up players, including his son Ramdan.
When asked whether Ramdan had also quit the team to join his father, Kamil said: “No.”
One of the exco member, Datuk Sayed Abu Bakar Abdullah, a good friend of Misbun, was disappointed that the latter had turned down the challenge to groom new stars for the country.
“Misbun should have accepted this offer. This was an opportunity for him to develop new talent and be a prominent coach in the national team,” said Sayed, who is also the president of the Terengganu Badminton Association.
“At this moment, any coach can train Chong Wei. He has reached a level that he does not need much help from a coach.
In fact, in the absence of Misbun, Chong Wei remained focused to win the Super Series Masters Finals, Malaysia Open and All-England (beating Lin Dan of China in the final).
“I think, Misbun has taken too long to think over all these and was distracted along the way. Misbun has the calibre and he should have stayed on with the BAM. It is a waste to see him leave like this.”
For the record, when Misbun was in charge, Chong Wei won the 2010 All-England title and the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games silver medal.
Three other players – Rashid Sidek, Mohd Hafiz Hashim and Mohd Roslin Hashim – also enjoyed high points in their careers when they were under Misbun’s guidance.
Courtesy of The Star

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Badminton's new skirt rules cause unease

A new ruling that requires female badminton players to wear skirts on court is causing unease among players as they prepare to adopt the new compulsory dress code.
The Indian Open, which begins next Tuesday, will be the last tournament in which women can wear shorts on court before the skirt requirement comes into force on May 1.
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) announced the change in 2009 in a bid to boost the sport's profile among viewers and sponsors.
Doubles specialist and Indian glamour girl Jwala Gutta, who has always played in skirts, said the new dress code might help to raise interest but players should not be forced to conform.
"You cannot make it compulsory for everyone to wear skirts. It depends on each individual and their comfortable level. I am not sure people will like being told what to wear and what not to," she said.
World number three Saina Nehwal, the top seed at the April 26-May 1 Indian Open, is one of the many players in India who prefers to wear shorts on court.
Gutta, who won the Commonwealth Games gold last year with her partner Ashwini Ponnapa, endorsed efforts to make the sport more glamorous.
She said that interest in tennis was greater partly because of the attraction of female stars such as Maria Sharapova or the Williams sisters, whose on-court outfits are often as remarked about as their game.
India's top female tennis player Sania Mirza came under fire from Muslim clerics four years back for wearing short skirts on court.
"Anything that helps makes the sport attractive should be welcomed," said the 27-year-old Gutta, whose eye-catching looks and daring dress sense on and off court have won her a loyal following at home.
"But instead of enforcing rules on players, the federation should ask sponsors to come up with innovative dresses.
"You can add a lot of colour, experiment with styling and stuff like that. That way it will ensure players' comfort and take care of the glamour aspect as well."
Another Indian player, who asked not to be named, said she was uncomfortable with the new ruling.
"I wear skirts or dresses only on special occasions, but never in tournaments," she said. "Skirts hamper my movement when I play."
Despite rapid modernisation, India remains a generally conservative country where public displays of sexuality are taboo and women are expected to dress modestly.

Friday, April 22, 2011

Pengenalan Umum Badminton

   Sejarah Badminton
Sejarah sukan badminton akan dilihat dari segi sejarah awal badminton dan juga sejarah sukan badminton di Malaysia.

 Sejarah Awal Sukan Badminton

Badminton telah diperkenalkan pada zaman Yunani silam dan Mesir. Di Jepun, sukan berkaitan iaitu Hanetsuki dimainkan seawal abad ke-16. Di kawasan barat, badminton muncul daripada sebuah sukan yang dipanggil battledore and shuttlecock, iaitu dua atau lebih pemain memukul bulu tangkis di udara menggunakan raket kecil. Sukan ini dikenali sebagai "Poona" di India semasa abad ke-18, dan pegawai tentera British mengaplikasikan versi India semasa kembali ke England pada 1860an, dan seterusnya dimainkan di rumah kediaman kebangsaan seperti kediaman kelas atasan. Isaac Spratt, penjual anak patung London, menerbitkan sebuah risalah iaitu, "Badminton Battledore - a new game" pada 1860.
Sukan baru ini telah diperkenalkan pada tahun 1873 di Badminton House, Gloucestershire, yang dimiliki oleh Duke of Beaufort. Sukan tersebut merujuk kepada "The Game of Badminton" dan nama rasmi sukan ini kemudian menjadi Badminton. Pada tahun 1893, Badminton Association of England diterbitkan sebagai set peraturan pertama dan secara rasmi dilancarkan sebuah peraturan iaitu "Dunbar" di 6 Waverley Grove, Portsmouth, England pada 13 September tahun yang sama. Mereka mula menganjurkan Kejohanan Badminton Terbuka Seluruh England, kejohanan badminton pertama di dunia tahun 1899.
Pertubuhan Badminton Antarabangsa (IBF) (kini dikenali sebagai Persekutuan Badminton Dunia) ditubuhkan pada 1934 dianggotai Kanada, Denmark, England, Perancis, Belanda, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, dan Wales sebagai anggota pengasas dan seterusnya India pada tahun 1936. Presiden pertama persatuan ini ialah Sir George Thomas, bekas jaguh England.  Beliau memegang jawatan sebagai Presiden IBF dari tahun 1934-1955. Pada tahun 1939, IBF ingin menganjurkan pertandingan antara negara-negara di dunia.  Presiden IBF, Sir George Thomas menghadiahkan piala perak untuk pertandingan ini. Piala perak itu dinamakan Piala Thomas. Malangnya, oleh kerana suasana dunia yang kurang memuaskan apabila berlakunya Perang Dunia Kedua, kejohanan Piala Thomas pertama hanya diadakan pada tahun 1949 di Preston, England.   
Perjumpaan Tahunan yang diadakan di Madrid pada 24 September 2006 menyepakati penukaran nama baru IBF kepada Persekutuan Badminton Dunia (BWF). Pertubuhan BWF kini merupakan sebuah badan atau pertubuhan badminton antarabangsa dan menguruskan sukan ini secara global. Meskipun asal-usul sukan terletak di England, badminton di peringkat antarabangsa mempunyai rekod tradisi yang didominasi oleh beberapa negara Asia, termasuk Denmark dari Eropah. China, Indonesia, Korea Selatan, dan Malaysia merupakan antara negara yang mempunyai pemain bertaraf dunia secara konsisten sejak beberapa dekad yang lalu dan mendominasi pertandingan peringkat antarabangsa, apabila China sering menjadi pendominasi sejak kebelakangan ini.

 Sejarah Badminton di Malaysia

Pada awal tahun 1900, permainan Poona dibawa ke Pulau Pinang oleh pegawai-pegawai Kompeni Hindia Timur. Permainan Poona dimainkan di Suffolk House, rumah kediaman Kapten Francis Light di Pulau Pinang. Pada tahun 1925, Persatuan Badminton Pulau Pinang ditubuhkan, dan seterusnya Persatuan Badminton Perak pula ditubuhkan. Minat mendalam yang ditunjukkan oleh pemain negeri-negeri Malaya menyebabkan Persatuan Badminton Malaya ditubuhkan pada tahun 1934, apabila J.I.Woods dari Perak sebagai Presiden yang pertama. Pada tahun 1937 Persatuan Badminton Malaya bergabung dengan Persekutuan Badminton Antarabangsa. Sejak itu, imej negara dalam permainan badminton telah dipertingkatkan dengan memenangi kejohanan berprestij seperti Piala Thomas dan Kejohanan Seluruh England.
Pada tahun 1960, Persatuan Badminton Malaya (BAM) telah ditubuhkan, dengan Tan Sri Mohd.Khir Johari iaitu selaku Menteri Kabinet sebagai presidennya yang pertama. Pada era kepimpinannya, Malaysia pada tahun 1967 telah memenangi semula Piala Thomas.  Beliau memimpin BAM selama 25 tahun, iaitu dari tahun 1960-85. Pada tahun 1985 hingga 1993, Datuk Bandar Kuala Lumpur, Tan Sri Elyas Omar dilantik sebagai Presiden BAM yang kedua. Tugas utama BAM ialah memajukan permainan badminton negara, melalui pelbagai perancangan dan aktiviti seperti menganjurkan:
*                Kejohanan Badminton Asia
*                Kejohanan Terbuka Malaysia
*                Kejohanan Peringkat Remaja
*                Sirkit Grand Prix Kebangsaan dan Dunia
*                Kejohanan Piala Thomas/Uber dan sebagainya

Friday, April 15, 2011

Drama Misbun bersambung?

Oleh HELMI TALKAH

BERAPA lama agaknya kali ini Datuk Misbun Sidek akan mengambil masa bagi membuat keputusan berhubung kontrak baru yang telah ditawarkan Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM) kepada beliau?
Jika sebelum ini jurulatih perseorangan negara itu memerlukan tempoh tiga bulan untuk membuat keputusan kembali semula ke pangkuan BAM, tidak mustahil skrip yang sama bakal berulang.
Menurut Setiausaha Kehormat BAM, Ng Chin Chai, badan induk tersebut telah pun menyerahkan kontrak baru kepada Misbun dan beliau diberikan tempoh sehingga 27 April depan bagi menyatakan persetujuannya sama ada menerima ataupun sebaliknya.
"Kami (BAM) telah menyerahkan kontrak baru itu kepada Misbun dan kini terpulang kepada beliau sama ada mahu menerimanya ataupun tidak.
"Kami juga memintanya membuat keputusan sebelum mesyuarat Exco BAM diadakan pada 28 April kerana segala keputusan nanti akan dibincangkan pada mesyuarat tersebut," kata Chin Chai ketika dihubungi Kosmo! semalam.
Sehingga semalam, Chin Chai turut mengesahkan bahawa pihaknya masih belum menerima sebarang keputusan daripada Misbun.
"Sehingga hari ini (semalam), kami masih belum menerima sebarang jawapan daripada Misbun.
"Kami akan tetap menunggu kerana masih ada lagi masa buat Misbun untuk membuat keputusan dan diharapkan beliau akan tampil dengan sesuatu yang positif," jelas Chin Chai.
Ditanya apakah kemungkinan yang bakal berlaku sekiranya Misbun tidak memberikan sebarang jawapan sebelum 28 April depan, Chin Chai menjawab: "Perkara itu akan dibincangkan dalam mesyuarat Exco nanti.
"Buat masa ini, saya tidak boleh memberikan sebarang komen mengenai hal tersebut kerana apa-apa keputusan hanya boleh dibuat dengan persetujuan kesemua barisan Exco sahaja," ujarnya.
Difahamkan, kontrak baru yang ditawarkan kepada Misbun itu bakal menyaksikan beliau menjadi jurulatih kepada skuad pelapis negara dalam usaha melahirkan lebih ramai pemain yang mampu diketengahkan di pentas antarabangsa.
Misbun menggegarkan arena sukan badminton tanah air selepas secara mengejut menyerahkan surat peletakan jawatannya pada 31 Disember tahun lalu.
Namun, BAM telah meminta beliau kembali mempertimbangkan keputusan yang dibuatnya itu yang mana menyaksikan kemelut tersebut berlanjutan sehinggalah segala-galanya berakhir minggu lalu.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Tough test ahead for shuttlers in Asian meet

Malaysian shuttlers face tough hurdles in the Asian Badminton Championships in Chengdu from April 19-24 when the draw was released yesterday.
Chong Wei Feng (pic) who won his first significant title, the Kuala Lumpur Open last Sunday, is up against second seed Chen Long of China.
Wei Feng has never played the two-time world junior champion before and it will be an uphill task for him to topple the world No. 4.
KL Open finalist Mohd Arif Abdul Latif is up against Sourabh Verma of India in the first round but even if he gets through to the second round, Japan’s Sho Sasaki, fresh from his Australian Open success over veteran Malaysian Wong Choong Hann on Sunday, awaits.
The draw also pits Tan Chun Seang against 15th seed Chan Yan Kit of Hong Kong and he is not expected to progress.
The other men’s singles shuttlers Liew Daren, Chan Kwong Beng and Goh Soon Huat face an easier task in the first round but will be up against seed players in the second round.
World No.1 Lee Chong Wei is skipping the tournament and China, who are fielding a full strength squad spearheaded by Lin Dan, are expected to dominate the championships.
Meanwhile, in the men’s doubles, All-England quarter-finalists Hoon Thien How-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif are drawn against second seeds and Asian Games champions Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan in the first round.
If they manage to defeat the Indonesian pair, they will have a clear run until the quarter-finals where they will face eighth seeds Hirokatsu Hashimoto-Noriyasu Hirata of Japan.
Two other pairs also have tough first round opponents.
Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Ong Soon Hock will be facing another Indonesian pair, fourth seeds Alvent Yulianto-Hendra Gunawan while the newly form combination of Lim Khim Wah-Goh Wei Shem are drawn against Lee Yong-dae-Chin Baek-cheol of South Korea.
In the women singles event, KL Open winner Lydia Cheah, Tee Jing Yi and Julia Wong will have to go through two rounds of qualifying to get into the main draw.
Courtesy of The Star

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Misbun back as coach, but may not get lucrative ‘package’

After three months in seclusion, Misbun Sidek is back to serve as a coach once again with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM).
But one thing is for sure – there will be some changes in his role when he signs a new contract with the national body.
He may be reunited with his blue-eyed boy and reigning All-England champion Lee Chong Wei but at the same time he may be given additional tasks to unearth new talents.
And Misbun’s new “package” may not be as lucrative as what he had enjoyed before. He was the highest paid coach in the national team before his shocking decision to leave the national team on Dec 31.
Misbun Sidek(right) is back as national coach with the Badminton Association of Malaysia. Yesterday, BAM’s president Datuk Seri Nadzmi Mohd Salleh said Misbun, who controversially resigned on Dec 31, had withdrawn his resignation and would return as coach without any conditions. While Misbun makes a return, Wong Mew Choo(right), the women shuttler who turned the odds around to win the China Open in 2007, is calling it a day on her badminton playing career, but is to become a coach.
Whatever the arrangement made or whichever way they try to re-fit him in the national team, Misbun is expected to resume his duty on BAM’s terms.
Yesterday, BAM president Datuk Seri Nadzmi Mohd Salleh said that Misbun had agreed to withdraw his resignation and return without setting any conditions.
“I met Misbun twice and spoke to him several times on the phone. Four days ago, he sent a letter to me acknowledging his decision to withdraw his resignation,” said Nadzmi after a council meeting at The Summit Hotel here yesterday.
“And today, the council, unanimously, decided to offer him new terms of employment. No, we were not divided in making this decision, The details of the contract will be drafted later.”
“We will not make any changes in our coaching and training structure to accommodate Misbun’s return.”
Nadzmi, however, was non-committal when asked to state the “official” reasons behind Misbun’s resignation and on why he had taken such a long time to make a comeback.
“Misbun left on his own accord. He will be the best person to explain on why he left and why he is coming back again,” he said.
“Misbun is now back and it is our responsibility now to look into ways to assist him towards preparing Chong Wei for the Olympic Games (in 2012).”
Misbun’s return will, however, put several people in an awkward position.
In his absence, Rashid Sidek and Tey Seu Bock have done well to manage Chong Wei and four other elite shuttlers – Tan Chun Seang, Chong Wei Feng, Liew Daren and Chan Kwong Beng.
When asked whether it was a good move to have three coaches to handle a five-member elite team, Nadzmi said: “I will leave it to the coaching and training committee (headed by Ng Chin Chai) to look into it.”
Chong Wei also made a quick adjustment in the absence of Misbun although the world number one had made a bold statement that he would follow his coach if BAM failed to coax his coach to make a return.
The 29-year-old entered four finals – Super Series Masters Finals, Malaysia Open, South Korea Open and All-England – in the last three months. Except for the South Korea Open, he won the other three, including his famous straight-game win over Lin Dan en route to retaining his All-England title last month.
Courtesy of The Star

Sekalung Tahniah Di Atas Kehadiran Cahaya Mata!!!

PNBC seluruhnya mengucapkan tahniah kepada 2 Ahli yang menerima ahli keluarga baru dalam keluarga masing-masing iaitu Shahrul Nizam yang mendapat anak kedua pada 16 Mac lalu, dan Cik Li yang turut mendapat anak pertamanya pada 23 Mac 2011. Kedua-duanya bayi lelaki....Tahniah!!! Di harap agar sumbangan hadiah yang tak seberapa diterima seadanya...Tahniah!!!

Friday, April 1, 2011

Taufik to take on Chong Wei in charity fundraiser for Japan

Former Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia has confirmed that he will play an exhibition match against two-time All-England champion Lee Chong Wei at the Juara Stadium in Bukit Kiara on April 3.
The match is the highlight of a charity fundraiser initiated by the world No. 1 Malaysian to help raise funds for the victims of the recent earthquake and subsequent tsunami that laid waste to Japan’s north-eastern coast on March 11.
There is also another fund raising event to be held in Penang at Dewan Tuanku Geodesic Dome in Komtar on April 2.
Tickets are available on event day and the entrance charge is RM10 per person for adult. It is free of charge for children under the age of 12.
Charges for the booth rental during the event is RM1,000 for corporates and RM100 for personal use. All the proceeds will go to the fund.
A minimum 30% of the profit from each booth will be collected and transferred directly as charity donation.
Chong Wei will donate the black and yellow shirts he wore during his victorious showdown against China’s Lin Dan at the All-England final two weeks ago together with his shoes and racquets for public auction.
Chong Wei, who became the first Malaysian to lift back-to-back All-England titles since Eddy Choong’s efforts in 1956-57, is targeting to raise RM1mil through the charity events and the donation will be given to the Red Cross in a cheque presentation later.
The public wishing to be volunteers for the events can contact David Koh at (016-7643305) and Kate Ng (016-2085262).
Courtesy of The Star