Coach wants Kien Keat-Boon Heong to make semis in all events leading up to Olympics

Koo Kien Keat (left) and Tan Boon Heong

THE BA of Malaysia (BAM) had initially allowed Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong to compete in tournaments without any setting targets but men's doubles chief coach Tan Kim Her wants them to make the semi-finals of the India Open which begins in New Delhi tomorrow.
The coach also wants Kien Keat-Boon Heong to target top four finishes in their remaining tournaments in order to reach peak condition in the Olympics in July.
After getting a free run since January, the pair's performance at the India Open will be evaluated.
The BAM, due to Kien Keat-Boon Heong's poor form earlier in the year, had to make adjustments to its programme and secretary Ng Chin Chai had even stated that results were not important in their run-up to the Olympics.
However, Kim Her feels the time has come for Kien Keat-Boon Heong to start delivering decent results which is vital if they are to fight for medals in London.
Kien Keat-Boon Heong begin their India Open campaign against England's Chris Adcock-Andrew Ellis before a likely meeting with China's Liu Xiaolong-Qiu Zihan.
A quarter-final clash against another China pair Chai Biao-Guo Zhendong looms large, and a win will pit them against South Korean bogey pair Jung Jae Sung-Lee Yong Dae in the semi-finals.
"We didn't want to put Kien Keat-Boon Heong under pressure earlier but they have to start improving on their results. This is why I set them a semi-final target for the India Open. It is crucial they show progress if they want to peak in the Olympics," said Kim Her.
"They played well in the Thomas Cup qualifiers in February and All England in March but their form dipped after that. However, they have been working very hard over the last three weeks and are in good condition.
"This is the reason I believe they can make the semis in India by beating the two China pairs."
Kim Her added: "The Olympics is just three months away and this is the time for them to get quality results. It will be tough for them in London if they struggle in the preliminary rounds of their remaining tournaments."
Kien Keat-Boon Heong will play in the Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold in Johor Baru on May 1-6 and Thomas Cup Finals in Wuhan on May 20-27. The Indonesia Open Premier Super Series on June 12-17 will be their last event before the Olympics where badminton will be held on July 28-Aug 5.
Reaching the last four in New Delhi will also prevent Kien Keat-Boon Heong, currently ranked World No 8, from slipping down the ranking.
Goh V Shem-Lim Khim Wah, who reached the quarter-finals of the Badminton Asia Championships in Qingdao, will also be competing in New Delhi.
They open against a qualifying pair before taking on Indonesia's World No 6 Mohammad Ahsan-Bona Sepatano.
Courtesy of New Straits Times

Chen Jin wins Asian Badminton Championships title to edge closer to Olympic spot

China’s Chen Jin nailed his first Asian Badminton Championships title in Qingdao yesterday to take a big leap towards his Olympic Games dream.
Yesterday, former world champion Chen Jin, who had an easy ride into the final when compatriot Lin Dan conceded a walkover due to injury a day ago, defeated Du Pengyu 21-12, 21-18 in a 36-minute final to win his third consecutive international title after the Opens in Switzerland and Australia.
The world No. 5 will now be out to confirm his place with another good showing in the India Open in New Delhi on Wednesday. The Olympic qualifying period ends with this Super Series event.
If Chen Jin takes over the place of world No. 4 Peter-Gade Christensen of Denmark in the world ranking on May 3, he will join world No. 2 Lin Dan and world No. 3 Chen Long to London.

Giant leap: Chen Jin of China returns a shot to compatriot Du Pengyu during the men’s singles finals at the Asia Badminton Championships in Qingdao, China yesterday. Chen Jin won 21-12, 21-18. — AFP

A country can have a maximum of three singles players if all of them are ranked in the top four of the world.
Rather than worrying about the presence of a third Chinese player in London, national coach Tey Seu Bock now sees it as a good thing for Malaysia – especially when the competition will be played under the new format at the Games.
Seu Bock said Malaysia’s world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei may have Chen Jin as company in the top half of the draw while Lin Dan and Chen Long will be in the lower half.
“Chen Jin’s qualification may actually turn out to be good for us,” said Seu Bock before leaving for India with Chong Wei for the Super Series event yesterday.
This year’s competition format at the Olympic Games is not a straight forward elimination round. Singles players will be divided into 16 groups – from Group A to Group P.
Only the group winners will advance to the knockout round. The winners from Group A to Group H will be placed in top half while the winners from Group I to Group P will be in the lower half.
Chong Wei and Lin Dan will be automatically placed in Group A and Group P by virtue of being the top and second seeds. The third and fourth seeds will be drawn by lot into either Group E or Group L.
“If Chen Jin is drawn in Group E and tops the group, he will be in the same half with Chong Wei in the knockout stage. It will be good for us if this happens as the two other stronger Chinese players will be lumped in the other half,” said Seu Bock.
“If Chen Jin does not qualify, China will have two representatives and usually, they will not put two players from the same country in the same half because of the national separation rule.”
“The luck of draw helps but we will not be too overly worried if it does not happen. Ultimately, our focus is to get Chong Wei to be in his best form to meet anyone at any stage.”
In the India Open, defending champion Chong Wei is in the top half with reigning European champion Marc Zwiebler of Germany, Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia, Sho Sasaki of Japan and Simon Santoso of Indonesia. In the lower half with Christensen are Chen Jin, Lee Hyun-il of South Korea, Jan O Jorgensen of Denmark and two other Malaysians – Mohd Hafiz Hashim and Liew Daren.
Chen Jin is expected to reach the final as Christensen is not at his best form. The Dane is still battling ankle problem and would rather take it easy and give his best at his last Olympic Games.
All finals results
ASIAN BADMINTON CHAMPIONSHIPS
Men’s singles: Chen Jin (Chn) bt Du Pengyu (Chn) 21-12, 21-18.
Men’s doubles: Kim Ki-jung-Kim Sa-rang (Kor) bt Hiroyuki Endo-Kenichi Hayakawa (Jpn) 21-12, 21-16.
Women’s singles: Chen Jin (Chn) bt Du Pengyu (Chn) 21-12, 21-18.
Women’s doubles: Tian Qing-Zhao Yunlei (Chn) bt Bao Yixin-Zhong Qianxin (Chn) 21-14, 21-15.
Mixed doubles: Zhang Nan-Zhao Yunlei (Chn) bt Xu Chen-Ma Jin (Chn) 21-13, 21-12.
EUROPEAN BADMINTON CHAMPIONSHIPS
Men’s singles: Marc Zwiebler (Ger) bt Henri Hurskainen (Swe) 21-15, 21-13.
Men’s doubles: Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen (Den) bt Michael Fuchs-Oliver Roth (Ger) 21-11, 21-11.
Women’s singles: Tine Baun (Den) bt Julianne Schenk (Ger) 21-19, 16-21, 21-19.
Women’s doubles: Christinna Pedersen-Kamilla Ryter Juhl (Den) bt Line Damkjaer Kruse-Marie Roepke (Den) 21-17, 24-22.
Mixed doubles: Robert Mateusiak-Nadiezda Zieba (Pol) bt Mads Peiler Kolding-Julie Hourmann (Den) 21-12, 24-22.
Courtesy of The Star

Taufik warns of English challenge after winning Axiata Cup

Taufik Hidayat has taken on the persona of elder brother to his teammates and like an elder sibling, he knows when to encourage and when to chide them.

As such, after guiding the Indonesia Garuda team to a comprehensive 5-1 victory over Indonesia Rajawali in the finals of the inaugural Axiata Cup on Sunday, the former world and Olympic champion urged his younger teammates in the Rajawali team to step their game up if they want to do well in their career and next month’s Thomas Cup.
Tommy Sugiarto, Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka and Shesar Hiren Rhustavito were the three singles players in the Rajawali squad, a team made up of Indonesia’s up and coming talents.
Tommy and Dionysius are fighting to make the Thomas Cup squad where Simon Santoso and Taufik are the expected first choices with former Asian champion Sony Dwi Kuncoro fighting to prove his fitness after two years of injury hell.
“I consider all of them to be part of my (Indonesian) family and I want them to do well. Unfortunately, right now, only our doubles pairs have shown better results,” said Taufik, who posed for pictures with his daughter Natarina Alika Hidayat (above), after Sunday’s finals.
The former Asian champion explained the Thomas Cup would be a much harder after Indonesia were drawn to meet China and England in the group stages.
“Only the top two teams will progress to the quarter-finals and we cannot underestimate the English team. It would be easy and this is why I hope the younger singles players will be able to rise to the challenge from now till then,” said Taufik, who won the Thomas Cup in 2000 and 2002, the last when the tournament was held in Guangzhou, China.
This year, the Thomas and Uber Cup competitions will once again be held in China, this time in Wuhan, from May 20-27 and Taufik will be hoping Indonesia can repeat their amazing feats from 10 years ago.
Meanwhile, two-time SEA Games champion Simon clinched the winning point for Indonesia Garuda (right), as the country’s elite shuttlers became the inaugural champions of the Axiata Cup.
Facing their younger counterparts Indonesia Rajawali in the two-legged finals, Garuda entered the second leg with a comfortable 3-0 lead.
On Sunday, Simon once again faced Tommy, son of former world champion Icuk, who was fighting to keep his team alive.
Simon, however, was once again too strong for his teammate, carving out a 21-16, 21-10 victory in 50 minutes to give Garuda an unassailable 4-0 lead.
“I’m delighted to have scored the winning point and for Garuda to become the inaugural champions,” said a delighted Simon after his match.
“This has indeed been a great tournament. It also helped us prepare for next month’s Thomas Cup.”
Rajawali pulled a point back when Alvent Yulianto Chandra-Angga Pratama upset world No. 6 Mohammad Ahsan-Bona Septano lost 23-21, 12-21, 21-13 before Taufik outplayed Shesar 21-14, 21-15 to cap a memorable tournament for himself.
Taufik is the only player to have played in all six matches in the Axiata Cup and he finished with a 100% winning record.
Dato’ Sri Jamaludin Ibrahim President & Group Chief Executive Officer, Axiata Group gave away the trophy to the winning team.
The Axiata Cup is the world’s richest badminton tournament with the winners taking home US$400,000 and the runners-up US$200,000. The losing semi-finalists pocketed US$100,000 each while the four teams who failed to get past the group stages picked up US$50,000 each.
For more on the Axiata Cup, click here.
 
Finals (second leg)
Indonesia Garuda 2 Indonesia Rajawali 1 (Simon Santoso bt Tommy Sugiarto 21-16, 21-10; Mohammad Ahsan-Bona Septano lost Alvent Yulianto Chandra-Angga Pratama 21-23, 21-12, 13-21; Taufik Hidayat bt Shesar Hiren Rhustavito 21-14, 21-15)
(Indonesia Garuda win 5-1 on aggregate)

DRAWS: 2012 Thomas and Uber Cups Finals

The highly anticipated draws for the 2012 Thomas and Uber Cups Finals have been completed following a draw ceremony held in Wuhan, Hubei province, China today at the Wuhan Sports Centre.

With a concoction of gymnastics performance, fusion music and Wuhan cultural dances, the 2012 Thomas and Uber Cup draw ceremony was a vibrant fanfare held in a hall situated right above the Olympic-size indoor swimming pool.
It was well-attended by former World Champion, Han Aiping (pictured top right), and dignitaries from the China Badminton Association as well as Wuhan Municipality and Sports Administration officials. Indonesia secretary general Mr. Yacob Rusdianto was also present at the draw ceremony along with members of the public and sponsors.

The draw was witnessed by the BWF Deputy President Paisan Rangsikitpho (pictured second right) and BWF referee Dennis Li from Hong Kong.
2012 Thomas Cup Draws
Group A: China, Indonesia, England
Group B: Japan, Russia, New Zealand
Group C: Denmark, Malaysia, South Africa
Group D: Korea, Germany, USA
2012 Uber Cup Draws
Group A: China, Indonesia, South Africa
Group B: Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Netherlands
Group C: Korea, Germany, Australia
Group D: Japan, Denmark, USA
The top two finishers of each group will qualify for the quarter-finals knock out stage.
For the knock out draw, to be held immediately after the group stage is completed, the four teams that had topped their group will be ranked according to their world ranking on the 17 May, and the top two seeds would then be separated each into one half.
Seeds 3/4 will be drawn into each half, then followed by the remaining 5/8 seeded teams.
The 2012 Thomas and Uber Cup Finals will be held on 20-27 May, 2012, in Wuhan, China.

Malaysia have easy Thomas Cup group

MALAYSIA are virtually confirmed of a place in the quarter-final stage of the Thomas Cup Finals in Wuhan, China on May 20-27 as they were drawn in an easier group with Denmark yesterday.
Malaysia and Denmark should advance to the last eight from Group C as they have South Africa for company and national men's doubles chief coach Tan Kim Her said going through as group winners will boost the confidence of the players.  Winning the preliminary round will not give any advantage to the teams in the knockout stage as new seedings based on the May 17 world ranking will be used to determine the draw for the knockout stage.
"All we need to do is beat South Africa and confirm our place in the last eight. However, beating Denmark will boost the confidence of the players as the European champions have got a strong team," said Kim Her.

"There is still a chance to for us to meet China in the quarter-finals and we have to be prepared for that possibility.
"Playing in a team event is totally different and anything can happen. We have to clear the first hurdle and we have no pressure in the knockout stage. It will help our cause."
Malaysia's squad are almost confirmed as Lee Chong Wei, Liew Daren and Hafiz Hashim will be the first choice singles while Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong and Goh V Shem-Lim Khim Wah are the top two pairs.    Kim Her also confirmed that Hoon Thien How has been included in the squad while another player will be selected from a pool consisting of Tan Wee Kiong, Teo Kok Siang, Mak Hee Chun, Fairuzizuan Tazari and Zakry Latif.
Chong Wei Feng, Arif Latif and Chan Kwong Beng are involved in a tussle to secure the reserve singles slot.
Favourites China are in Group A with Indonesia who have used the just concluded Axiata Cup to get quality warm-up before the Thomas Cup final rounds.
The groupings:
Thomas Cup
Group A: China, Indonesia, England; Group B: Japan, Russia, New Zealand; Group C: Denmark, Malaysia, South Africa; Group D: South Korea, Germany, United States.
Uber Cup
Group A: China, Indonesia, South Africa; Group B: Taiwan, Thailand, Netherlands; Group C: South Korea, Germany, Australia; Group D: Japan, Denmark, United States.
Courtesy of New Straits Times

Pertabalan Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Dipertuan Agong Ke-14

Misbun: Chong Wei Istimewa

Datuk Misbun Sidek menyifatkan pemain nombor satu dunia Datuk Lee Chong Wei terlalu istimewa dan sukar diganti.

Misbun berkata satu penilaian khusus perlu dibuat oleh Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM) jika negara ingin melahirkan lebih ramai jaguh badminton bertaraf dunia.

"Nak cari juara memang senang, tetapi kalau mahu lahirkan jaguh nombor satu dunia bukan mudah.

"Kalau kita mahu cari lebih ramai seperti Chong Wei, satu penilaian khusus perlu dilakukan segera," katanya kepada pemberita selepas menerima Anugerah Sukan Untuk Semua (Asus) semalam.

Misbun dinobat sebagai Tokoh Sukan Asus 2012 dan membawa pulang wang tunai RM5,000 serta trofi dan sijil.

Anugerah disampaikan Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Belia dan Sukan Datuk Mohid Mohamed di Hotel Grand Season di sini.

Misbun juga berkata skuad Malaysia Leopard iaitu pasukan junior yang beraksi pada Piala Axiata terdiri daripada pemain harapan negara dan mereka perlu diberi program khusus bagi meningkatkan prestasi permainan secara konsisten.

"Kita ada pemain yang berbakat dan berkaliber, dan saya percaya program khusus penting untuk mereka.

"Badminton tidak seperti dulu di mana kita main dengan 15 mata, dan sekarang ini 21 mata, jadi peningkatan fizikal perlu diberi penekanan lebih," katanya.

Misbun, 52, merupakan tulang belakang kejayaan Cong Wei dan beberapa pemain badminton negara seperti Rashid Sidek, Roslin Hashim serta Muhammad Hafiz Hashim

China show their strength once again

China’s mighty badminton armada continued their domination of the world tour when they captured three of the five titles at stake in the Yonex Australian Open on Sunday.

Former world champion Chen Jin took home the men’s singles crown while young shuttlers Han Li (women’s singles) and Luo Ying-Luo Yu (women’s doubles, right) added the other titles for China.

Indonesia’s Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan (men’s doubles) and Taipei’s Chen Hung Ling-Cheng Wen Hsing (mixed doubles) were the other winners on Sunday.

For Chen Jin, his victory in Sydney is almost sure to guarantee him a ticket to the London Olympics as he is fighting hard to be among the top four to earn a third ticket for China.

He is currently ranked fifth in the world, but based on points collected during the Olympic period he is at No. 4, ahead of Peter Gade of Denmark.

On Sunday, Chen Jin was in his element as he crushed Vietnam’s Nguyen Tien Minh 21-11, 21-12 to take home the top prize.

Defending men’s doubles champions Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan also did their Olympic chances a world of good by winning in Australia.

The Indonesians, who are behind compatriots Muhammad Ahsan-Bona Septano in the world rankings, outplayed Taipei’s Fang Chien Min-Lee Sheng Mu 21-16, 21-15.

The points they gained on Sunday, could very well see the Indonesians inch ahead of their teammates.

Chinese qualifier Han Li (left), meanwhile, delighted the crowd with her performance, as for the second day running, the youngster showed guts and determined to down a highly ranked South Korean.

A day after beating third seed Sung Ji Hyun in straight games, Han Li also needed just two games to beat fifth seed Bae Youn Joo 21-13, 21-14 to claim her first title of the year.

There was joy and disappointment for Taipei’s Cheng Wen Hsing as she won the mixed doubles title with Chen Hung Ling (right), but lost the women’s doubles with Chien Yu Chin.

In the mixed doubles, the Taipei duo edged Malaysia’s Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying 22-20, 12-21, 23-21 to claim the gold medal while China’s Luo Ying-Luo Yu won the women’s crown with a score of 12-21, 21-18, 21-17.

Chen Jin leads the way as sun sets on Japan

Former world champion Chen Jin of China reached the men’s singles final at the Yonex Australian Open on Saturday, on a day when Japan’s expected dominance came to nought.

Chen Jin (right), who is on the verge of clinching an Olympic ticket, defeated Indonesia’s Simon Santoso 22-20, 21-15 in 61 gruelling minutes to set up a final date with Vietnam’s Nguyen Tien Minh.
Tien Minh reached the title decider when he upset second seed Sho Sasaki of Japan 21-19, 21-11 in the other semi-final.
Sasaki was one of seven Japanese representatives in the semi-final and unfortunately for the land of the rising sun, none of them will be contesting the finals on Sunday.
The day started badly for Japan when the glamorous Reiko Shiota announced she had suffered an injury and was unable to partner Shintaro Ikeda against Malaysians Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying, thus handing a place in the final to the youngsters.
Taipei’s second seeds Chen Hung Ling-Cheng Wen Hsing then outlasted another Japanese pair, Kenichi Hayakawa-Misaki Matsutomo 18-21, 21-19, 21-6 to reach the final.
There was more bad news for Japan as women’s doubles top seeds Miyuki Maeda-Satoko Suetsuna and their second seeded compatriots Shizuka Matsuo-Mami Naito, who are also the defending champions, were knocked out by unseeded pairs Wen Hsing-Chien Yu Chin and Luo Ying-Luo Yu respectively.
Two other Japanese representatives Ai Goto (women’s singles) and Hiroyuki Endo-Kenichi Hayakawa (men’s doubles) were also knocked out in the final four, meaning Japan, who had won three titles in this very tournament a year ago, will go home empty handed this year.
China and Taipei have the opportunity to win three titles each on Sunday with Malaysia, South Korea, Vietnam and Indonesia all having one representative in action for finals day.
Olympic and Asian Games champions Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan (above), showed there is still life in them when for the second day running, they knocked out a younger Indonesian pair.
A day after demolishing Alvent Yulianto Chandra-Hendra Aprida Gunawan, they were made to work hard by Angga Pratama-Ryan Agung Saputra before winning 15-21, 21-14, 21-11.

China skip Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold

The Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold lost its glitter when badminton powerhouse China decided to skip the tournament in Johor Baru from May 1-6.
The closing date was Thursday but China entered neither their top stars nor their junior players.
This may be a wise decision by China. As the Malaysia Open GP Gold is the first tournament after the end of the Olympic qualifying period, it is better for them to focus on the Olympic Games and give their players a break.
South Korea, Denmark and Indonesia’s top players are also giving the tournament a miss to prepare for the Thomas Cup Finals in Wuhan from May 20-27 and the Olympic Games in London.
Malaysia, however, will have their entire national team, led by world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei, taking part in the competition.
Chong Wei is the top seed and world No. 12 Nguyen Tien Minh the second in the men’s singles.
The title is expected to go Chong Wei’s way as his only rival appears to be Indonesia’s Sony Dwi Kuncoro.
But Sony’s form has been questionable due to his back injury and it remains to be seen whether the former World Championships silver medallist has regained his touch.
In the men’s doubles, world No. 8 Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong are the top seeds as all the seven pairs ahead of them in the rankings won’t be competing.
Despite their top billing, defending champions Kien Keat-Boon Heong should not underestimate South Korean youngsters Cho Gun-woo-Kang Ji-wook, who are capable of pulling off an upset.
Courtesy of The Star

Australia Open: Rexy reveals key to Chan-Goh winning the final

A first title of the year beckons for mixed doubles specialists Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying in the Australian Open in Sydney today.
And national coach Rexy Mainaky hopes that the duo, currently ranked eighth in the world, will deliver when they take on Chen Hung-ling and Cheng Wen-hsing of Taiwan in the final.
Yesterday, Peng Soon-Liu Ying got an easy ride in the semi-finals when their opponents Shintaro Ikeda-Reiko Shiota of Japan conceded a walkover due to an injury to Reiko.
Second seeds Hung-ling-Wen-hsing, however, had to go the distance before pulling off an 18-21, 21-19, 21-6 win over Japan’s Kenichi Hayakawa-Misaki Matsutomo of Japan.
If Peng Soon-Liu Ying prevail, it will be their third career Open title adding to the Asian Badminton Championships in India in 2010 and the Bitburger Grand Prix Gold in Germany last year.
Hung-ling-Wen-hsing will not, however, be pushovers as they have won two of their three previous encounters with the Malaysians – Peng Soon-Liu Ying winning at the home tournament in Bukit Jalil in January.
Rexy said that Peng Soon-Liu Ying’s success would depend very much on their net play today.
“We are happy with their fine performances here. Liu Ying did well against the Chinese (He Hanbin-Bao Yixin) in the quarter-finals and continued to be steady. Peng Soon has also been very consistent,” said Rexy in a telephone interview.
“Winning the title would be a timely boost ahead of the Olympic Games in London. A confident play at the net will surely give them the advantage against this attacking Taiwanese pair.”
Meanwhile, China’s Chen Jin took a big step in his bid to break into the world’s top four when he checked into the final with a 22-20, 21-15 win over Indonesia’s Simon Santoso yesterday.
World No. 5 Chen Jin has to make the top four to join countrymen Lin Dan (No. 2) and Chen Long (No. 3) in London. A country can have a maximum of three singles representatives at the Olympics if all of them are ranked in the top four when the qualifying period ends this month.
Former world champion Chen Jin takes on Nguyen Tien Minh of Vietnam in the final today. He stands a good chance of bagging his second title of the year, having won the Swiss Open last month by beating Lee Hyun-il of South Korea.
Courtesy of The Star