Friday, August 26, 2011

Salam Aidilfitri


Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Cooking up a storm on and off the court

Japan’s Miyuki Maeda has legions of admirers from around the world as not only is she handy with a racquet, but her good looks attracts those who may not normally watch badminton.
Final Miyuki Maeda-Sato Suetsuna 02Still only 25-years-old, the shuttler, who is an avid chef, whenever she has the time, that is, has certainly found the right ingredients with partner Satako Suetsuna as they chase for honours on the badminton circuit.
Currently ranked third in the world, Maeda-Suetsuna have big dreams as they hope to one day retire as world and Olympic champions.
Born in Kirishima, Kagoshima, Japan, Maeda always knew she would be a sports personality – she was heavily into swimming in her younger days – but it was badminton which was always her first love.
“I used to follow my sister to badminton when I was six, and have been playing the game ever since,” said Maeda, recently won her second OSIM BWF World Superseries crown with Suetsuna when they triumphed at the YONEX SUNRISE India Open Superseries on May 1, six months after the pair won their first Superseries title in Denmark.
“For my career, I always try my very best. If possible, I would like to win medals in the World Championships and Olympics. Any medal would do, as long as it is pretty … gold is a pretty colour, yes,” she said with a big laugh, flashing that big smile which has captured many a heart.
“I don’t know how long more I will play for but I want to win as many titles as I can. I love badminton and it would be good to end my career with gold medals from the World Championships and Olympics.”
The 5’7’’ (169cm) tall right-hander admitted some of the attention from her fans can be unerring at times as she doesn’t consider herself pretty at all.
“I’m honoured that some fans may say I’m good looking or that Japan have many pretty badminton players, but honestly, I don’t think I’m special,” she said modestly.
“I don’t do anything out of the ordinary to pretty myself up. I just go out there to play and to have fun. Maybe the fans see us smiling all the time and think ‘that’s pretty’.”
Maeda, however, admitted she does like to dress up away from the court and loves to go shopping, especially for clothes, but has no personal favourite brand.
So, does she have a boyfriend? Maeda turned a little red, started to laugh before replying: “That’s a secret!” When asked if it is a secret because she has too many boyfriends, she put a finger to her lips before laughing out loud and saying: “That’s an even bigger secret!”
Maeda, who loves cooking Japanese food, is also into Korean and Japanese BBQ and said she has no problem eating spicy food.
“I normally cook Japanese dishes but I want to learn to cook other types of food as well,” said Maeda, who followed up her India Open victory by bagging the YONEX SUNRISE Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold a week later. “Cooking is good.”
Maeda should know, as she is certainly quite a dish!

Fairuz: We have gone as far as we can

ZAKRY Latif and Fairuzizuan Tazari believe overstaying in the national team will negatively impact younger pairs hence their decision to quit the BA of Malaysia.
Fairuz, 28, also admitted he and Zakry had progressed as far as they could in the national squad, prompting them to look for other means to lengthen their careers.

Fairuz said although they could have carried on playing until the Olympics next year, it would have been unfair on his current partner Ong Soon Hock, 26, and Zakry's partner Hoon Thien How, 25.
"We have achieved our maximum as a national senior pair together and with others and it is time to move on. We did have an option until the Olympics but that would be unfair on our partners. They can now look for younger partners to prolong their careers," said Fairuz yesterday.
"There are so many back-up pairs coming through but normally, the senior pairs get to compete more due to qualification for major events and this delays the succession process. Now the back-up pairs will definitely get more opportunities to compete.

"My pairing with Soon Hock is ranked World No 18 and I would stand a better chance (of Olympic qualification) but there is no guarantee we can produce results.

"I would rather start afresh with Zakry and if we can qualify for the Olympics, it would be fantastic. However, we don't want to be stumbling blocks to the youngsters anymore."

Zakry-Fairuz made an impact between 2006 and 2008 where they were ranked as high as World No 8 and were in the running to gain an Olympic berth ahead of Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah but the BA of Malaysia (BAM) settled for the veteran pair.

Their performance suffered since then and they were split last year.
Zakry said they will play as an independent pair and select their tournaments based on their form, condition and most importantly, without the pressure of being a national pair.

"Being a national pair comes with high expectations and it was tough when Thien How and I couldn't perform the way we wanted. Now our (Zakry-Fairuz) destiny is in our hands," said Zakry.

"BAM has given us permission to train with the national team three times a week and we will also train on our own. We are both 28 and it would be tough to remain in the national team when we are not doing well.

"At least, the new beginning will give us a chance. Zakry and I have partnered before and gelling will not be a problem.

"Our main aim is to aim for a Thomas Cup spot next year and we will also battle for Olympic qualification even though it will be very difficult."

Zakry-Fairuz's first event together will be the Indonesia Open grand prix gold in East Kalimantan on Sept 27-Oct 2. They will also play in the Denmark and French Opens in October.

Courtesy of New Straits Times

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Lee Chong Wei: Down but not out

The Malaysians' heartache continued as they return home empty-handed and still without a World title in any of the disciplines since the tournament's inception back in 1977 but top seed Lee Chong Wei has promised he will be back.
Lin Dan (final)So again, China swept the board at the world championships on finals day on Sunday, winning all five titles for the second year running and for the third occasion in all.
The golden run at the 2011 Yonex BWF World Championships sent a familiar and clear warning to the rest of the world ahead of next year's Olympics which will be held at the same Wembley venue.
Even though, Malaysia did come agonisingly close with world number one Lee Chong Wei who held two match points against old foe Lin Dan (pictured right) only to fall short again, the Chinese edging home on his first match point 20-22 21-14 23-21 to lift his fourth world title.
The match was to be the biggest drama of the finals with an 82-minute marathon that will live long in the sport's annals.
Chong Wei would have been keen to erase the memory of the Beijing Olympic final in 2008 when Lin had swept him aside and repeat some revenge exacted in the All Englands final in March.
And he looked on the way after taking the first game and leading 3-0 in the second.
LCW (Final)
But Lin, ever the battler and making fewer mistakes, took control in the second to set up an exciting finale. Neck and neck in the final stages, Chong Wei edged to his first match point at 20-19 and then again at 21-20.
But Lin survived and when his turn came Chong Wei (pictured left) found the net and it was all over - to the delight of the large Chinese contingent in the arena and the despair of the Malaysians.
Lin was duly crowned amid emotional scenes and his career head-to-head with Chong Wei now stands at 16-8 in favour of the Chinese number two seed.
Chong Wei later suffered severe cramp and left the arena to rest at his hotel. He said: "It was an honour to play in such a great match but I am obviously disappointed that I couldn't quite get over the finish-line.
"This has been my best world championships to date and I am looking forward to coming back to Wembley next year for the Olympics."
Lin said: "The third game was really emotional. I had to fight hard. On the match points I was just hoping he would make a mistake."        
Malaysian singles coach Tay Seu Bock said: "Chong Wei missed out on the two match points because at the end of the game he still dared to gamble on his strokes but mentally Lin Dan was a little stronger."
Wang Yihan (final)
Asked what he would be doing after his latest title, Lin said: "I want to go sightseeing now. I have orders to go shopping for clothes for my wife and friends while I am here."
Wang Yihan (pictured right) was winning her first world title and had to overcome a Taiwanese opponent who had become a big hit with media during earlier rounds.
Wang, seeded two, said: "I've played her many times before and know that she can come back so I had to play my best."
Men's doubles winners Fu and Cai were capturing the title for the third year running to go with their initial success in 2006 in Madrid.
Fu said: "Even though we have won a lot of tournaments this year we could not take this for granted."
Cai-Fu (Final)
Cai (pictured left) said, eyeing the Olympics, said: "It's very important to win this tournament and for us to adjust the venue. The playing hall is very good."
Beaten finalist Yoo said: "This was our first match in a big championships like this. They have been to lots and their experience was the difference today."
Top seeds Wang and Yu had got finals day under way with a 40-minute win over their training partners Tian and Zhao,
Said Wang: "We all play together and know each other so well. We all played really well and the last two points were very exciting."
The day ended in disappointment for the home crowd who had thrilled all week to exploits of England's Adcock and Scot Bankier who had put out three seeded couples on the way.
Adcock said after their loss to the top seeded Zhang and Zhao: "It was amazingly tough. We haven't performed as we did in the last couple of days but it's mostly down to them. They are No. 1 for a reason."
Mixed Doubles (Final)Bankier said: They stepped up their game and on the day they were better than us."
All the winners were helped during the afternoon by the increasingly excited Chinese section in the arena.
"We had the support of passionate friends today," said Zhang.
Finals Results
Mixed Doubles
Zhang Nan-Zhao Yunlei (China) beat Chris Adcock-Imogen Bankier (England-Scotland) 21-15 21-7
Men's Singles
Lin Dan (China) beat Lee Chong Wei (Malaysia) 20-22 21-14 23-21
Women's Singles
Wang Yihan (China) beat Cheng Shao Chieh (Chinese Taipei) 21-15 21-10
Men's Doubles
Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng (China) beat Ko Sung Hyun-Yoo Yeon Seong (Korea) 24-22 21-16
Women's Doubles
Wang Xiaoli-Yu Yang (China) beat Tian Qing-Zhao Yunlei (China) 22-20 21-11

Saturday, August 13, 2011

World Championships: Lee sets up last four clash with Chen Jin, says may retire after Olympics

Malaysia's World No. 1, Lee Chong Wei moved closer to his ambition of becoming the first Malaysian to win a world badminton title — and then said he may retire after next year's London Olympics.
Lee reached the semi-finals by beating Kevin Cordon of Guatemala 21-7, 21-13 at the Wembley Arena, which is serving as a test event for the 2012 London Games.
"So far I think I am in top form," Lee said. "But I may retire after the Olympics. It will depend on my fitness and injuries."
Cordon, who eliminated fifth-seeded Chen Long of China earlier in the tournament, led 9-8 in the second game and got the fans behind him. But Lee won five straight points to take control.
Victory wave or 'sayonara'? Malaysia Lee Chong Wei had an easy win over in the quater finals of the World Badminton Championship in Wembley London on Friday night. Lee says he may say 'sayonara' after the olympics. - STARPIC BY KAMARUL ARIFFIN
"I lost to the best player in the world, and it's difficult to play against him," Cordon said. "But this is my best tournament ever and it will help me to aim higher."
Lee's now plays Chen Jin, the sixth-seeded defending world champion from China, who beat Hans-Kristian Vittinghus, the unseeded Dane, 21-17, 21-13.
Lee's closest rival, Lin Dan, the Olympic champion and three-time former world champion from China, also reached the semi-finals. He did so with a 21-14, 21-16 revenge win over Sho Sasaki, the 11th-seeded Japanese player, bringing closer the prospect of a dream final between Lee and Lin.
Sasaki beat Lin in the Indonesian Super Series in Jakarta in June, when Lin claimed he was sick.
"I was really focused to win this time," Lin said.
Lin next plays Peter Gade Christensen, the 34-year-old former world No. 1 from Denmark who needed one hour and 23 minutes to beat seventh-seeded Tien Minh Nguyen of Vietnam, 17-21, 21-19, 21-13.
In the women's section No. 1-ranked Wang Shixian missed out on a world championship medal when she lost in the quarterfinals to Cheng Shao Chieh of Taiwan at the Wembley Arena on Friday.
Wang lost 21-16, 21-17 to Cheng, a tattooed extrovert with dyed blonde hair and an aggressive attitude.
"I get bored and need to have a new look, so maybe she didn't know who I am and thinks I am a new player," Cheng joked.
Cheng beat Wang at the Indonesian Super Series in Jakarta in June, and played as though confident of repeating it, pressuring the favourite relentlessly in the same arena where the Olympic badminton tournament will be played next year.
Cheng's only setback came when she spent time wiping sweat from her brow, and was penalized by the umpire with a yellow card for taking too long.
Cheng will face Juliane Schenk of Germany in the semifinals. Schenk beat Tine Baun, the former No. 1 from Denmark, 21-9, 21-11.
"Tine wasn't at her best, but now everything is possible for me," said Schenk, only the third German to win a world championship medal.
Chong Wei is the only one left to carry Malaysia’s flag after the defeat of Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, the men’s doubles top seed, and the singles ace has vowed to go all out to reach his first-ever final.
Since a semi-final finish at the 2005 outing in Anaheim, the 29-year-old Chong Wei has failed to get past the quarter-finals in 2006 (Madrid), 2009 (Hyderabad) and 2010 (Paris). His worst result was a third round loss at the home tournament in 2007.
Chong Wei was also quick to shower praise on the 24-year-old Cordon, who has shown marked improvement since losing to the Malaysian in the opening round in Paris last year.
“I don’t even remember having played against him in the world meet last year. He was insignificant then,” said Chong Wei.
“This time, there was a lot of focus on him, especially since he beat Chen Long (of China in the first round) and he seems more confident on court.
“He played well against me, especially in the second game, and I hope he will continue to make his country proud.”
Chong Wei said he would continue to stay focused and not put undue pressure on himself although he is the only Malaysian player left in the tournament.
“It is unfortunate that Koo and Tan crashed out. I came here with one mission – to win the world title – and I will try to achieve it,” he said.
The only Malaysian player to have reached the final of the world meet is Wong Choong Hann, who went down to China’s Xia Xuanze in Birmingham in 2003.
Courtesy of The Star