Badminton: World's best shuttlers face-off at Li-Ning Singapore Open

SINGAPORE: This year's Li-Ning Singapore Open has attracted some of the world's best shuttlers mainly because ranking points for Olympic qualification are at stake.

Big names competing include Olympic gold medallist Lin Dan from China and India's top women shuttler Saina Nehwal. But Malaysia's world number one male player, Lee Chong Wei is giving the Singapore event a miss.

It was a good 2010 for India's Saina Nehwal, who won three Super Series titles, including the Li-Ning Singapore Open women's singles event.

She is back to defend her title and the world number four said she is expecting a stiff challenge from Chinese players.

She said: "I am really working on my strokes, little bit more on my movement, so that I move faster against them. Because (at any point should) you move slower or you take it easy, you will lose the match. So I need to be very quick on the courts, so I am working on that speed and a lot of my strokes."

Defending men's singles champion, Sony Dwi Kuncoro from Indonesia and China's Lin Dan did not show up for the media conference on Monday. No reason was given for the Indonesian's no show, while Lin Dan cited a stomach upset for giving the media session a miss.

Last year's losing finalist in the men's singles, Boonsak Ponsana, agrees with Nehwal about the tougher competition this year. The Thai, who won the Singapore singles title in 2007, also thinks the prize money can be better to promote the sport.

Veteran Danish shuttler Peter Gade agreed and added that the Badminton World Federation can learn from the success of the Chinese.

He said: "The BWF's job is to transfer what they see and what they do with the Chinese in China to other countries. You have a huge interest for badminton. When we play in almost every country, if you have the right players, all the best players, a lot of spectators. So it should be possible."

Host Singapore's best chance lies with the women's doubles pair of Shinta Mulia Sari and Yao Lei, who are the defending champions.

With a stellar line-up of players competing this year, organisers are expecting more fans to show up. Already all 4,000 season tickets and 90 per cent of the premier seats have been sold out, even before the competition starts on Tuesday.

Giant killers reach semi-finals

Malaysia’s Vivian Hoo (right) and Woon Khe Wei continued their fine run in the US$120,000 SCG Thailand Open Grand Prix Gold tournament on Friday when they reached the semi-finals of the women’s doubles.

The unseeded Malaysians, who are playing in their first International Open as a pair, had defeated top seeds and home favourites Duanganong Aroonkesorn-Kunchala Voravichitchaikul in three games on Thursday.

They then took care of Indonesia’s Keysa Nurvita Hanadia-Aprilsasi Putri Lejarsar Variella in the second round before beating another Indonesian pair – Anneke Feinya Agustin-Nitya Krishinda Maheswari 21-18, 21-19 at the Chulalongkorn University Sports Complex on Friday.

They are the sole Malaysian representatives in the semi-finals of the five categories. The rest of the semi-finalists are made up of players from China (seven), South Korea (five), Indonesia and Taipei with two each and one from Hong Kong, the United State and Thailand.

Vivian-Khe Wei will next play seventh seeded Chinese pair Cheng Shu-Yixin Bao for a place in Sunday’s final.

Cheng Shu, who had a successful partnership with Zhao Yunlei, is slowly but surely finding the right moves with her new partner. This was evident in their 21-10, 21-8 demolition of Indonesia’s Imawan Gebby Ristiyani-Nuraidah Tiara Rosalia.

In the bottom half of the draw, Proton Malaysia Open Superseries champions Tian Qing-Zhao Yunlei defeated Jung Kyung Eun-Kim Ha Na 21-16, 21-12 to set-up a semi-final encounter against Hong Kong’s Poon Lok Yan-Tse Ying Suet.

Thailand suffered a double blow when Sudket Prapakamol-Saralee Thoungthongkam (left), and Songphon Anugritayawon- Kunchala Voravichitchaikul, the first and second seeds in the mixed doubles, were knocked out of the competition.

Sudket-Saralee were stunned 21-17, 21-14 by eighth seeded Indonesians Nova Widianto-Vita Marissa while Songphon- Kunchala were knocked out by All England champions Xu Chen-Ma Jin, who won 22-20, 21-11.

In the men’s doubles event, former world champions Howard Bach-Tony Gunawan of the United States have set-up a semi-final date with top seeded South Koreans Lee Yong Dae-Jung Jae Sung.

The eighth seeded Americans stunned third seeds Fang Chieh Min-Lee Sheng Mu of Taipei 21-10, 21-17.

Wuhan to host 2012 Thomas and Uber Cup Finals

The 2012 Thomas and Uber Cup Finals will be back on Chinese soil after a decade since the city of Guangzhou hosted the 2002 edition of the championships. 

Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province in the People’s Republic of China, has been named the host city for the prestigious biennial team championships.

The Thomas Cup and Uber Cup Finals 2012 will take place on 20-27 May 2012.

"I would like to congratulate the city of Wuhan on its election as the host city of the 2012 Thomas Cup and Uber Cup Finals,” said BWF President Dr Kang Young Joong.

"The members of the BWF Council were impressed by the strong bid and presentation by the city of Wuhan which showcased the city’s superb facilities to host a world class event like the Finals.

"They have shown that they also have the logistical support and facilities to deliver this event.

"Besides its vast experience in hosting major sporting events, the strength of Wuhan’s bid to host the 2012 edition of the Thomas and Uber Cups lies in their demonstrated willingness to leverage on this event to develop badminton on a global level by offering training programmes to BWF Member Associations.

Hubei also has a strong badminton culture and is the home of former greats like Han Aiping, Tian Bingyi, Gao Ling, Wei Yili and reigning world number ones Zhao Yunlei (in mixed doubles) and Wang Xiaoli (in women’s doubles).

"I would like to thank BWF for the trust and confidence in the Chinese BA to host the 2012 Thomas & Uber Cup Finals. Thanks to the strong bid from Wuhan delegation, we are honored to be awarded the hosting right by the BWF,” said Chinese BA Deputy Secretary General Hu Xuebing.

"Wuhan is an energetic city, a commercial centre of finance, industry, trade and science, and with many international companies located here. Since Wuhan has hosted many international sport events, I am sure they will deliver us a world class event next year.”

Hubei Provincial Sports Bureau Deputy Director Zhang Jin said Wuhan will ensure an unforgettable badminton experience for the teams, officials as well as fans.

"We have the facilities, we have the expertise and we will ensure a successful tournament,” said Zhang.

Two bids were received – from Chinese Badminton Association and Indonesia Badminton Association – by the BWF for the hosting right of the Thomas Cup & Uber Cup Finals 2012.

Badminton Controversy

A major issue within the Badminton World Federation: Should female badminton players be forced to wear skirts?

With the 2012 Olympics fast approaching, the Badminton World Federation is trying to pretty up its oft-overlooked sport, and courting controversy in the process.
In an effort to draw more fans and sponsors, the federation has decreed that, starting this week, elite-level female players must wear skirts and dresses. The new rule has been slammed as sexist and offensive — especially to the many Muslim players who must dress modestly for religious reasons. (They've been told that they can wear pants underneath their dresses and skirts.)

Is this dress code over the line?

Yes it is. They should be forced to wear bikinis.
http://j-walkblog.com

Chong Wei plans five-week solid training system to prepare for world meet

World No. 1 shuttler Lee Chong Wei is ready to overcome several “virus” threats in his bid to become the country’s first world badminton champion.
And he believes that a five-week solid and focused training system will allow him to have the best preparation for the championships, which will be held in London from Aug 8-14.

Virus buster: Lee Chong Wei, the Malaysian Ambassador for Kaspersky Lab, at the Launch of Kaspersky No Worries Plan in Sunway Pyramid yesterday. — BRIAN MOH / The Star

Except for one more international assignment at the Indonesia Open Premier Super Series event from June 21-16, Chong Wei will be sharpening up in training and plotting strategies against probable opponents.
“This is the first time that I can spend a long time in training before a world meet. I will have about five weeks to focus on my game. In the past, there had been too many tournaments,” he said. “If all goes according to plan, I will have the best preparation for the world championships.”
China’s three-time champion Lin Dan will be his main threat but Chong Wei does not rule out the challenges from Denmark’s Peter-Gade Christensen and Indonesia’s Taufik Hidayat.
“I lost to Taufik in the championships last year (in the quarter-finals). Lin Dan may be the main challenger but I will not make the mistake of underestimating others,” said Chong Wei, who has yet to make the final in the series.
“Chong Wei said that the Indonesia Open would be a perfect warm-up for the championships.
“It is compulsory for all the top 10 players to compete in the Indonesia Open because it is a Premier Super Series event.
“All the world championship hopefuls will be there,” he said.
“I am prepared to meet anyone in Jakarta. My target is to retain the title to put me in the right mood for the world championships.”
If Chong Wei wins the Indonesia Open, it will be his sixth title this year. He had won the Super Series Masters Finals, Malaysia Open, All-England, India Open and the Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold.
Chong Wei is also looking forward to a 10-day centralised training stint ahead of the world championships at the Bath University (July 27-Aug 5).
“I will be attending training at the Bath University for the first time (last year, Chong Wei and his former coach Misbun Sidek chose to skip the stint prior to the world meet in Paris),” he said.
“It will be a good familiarisation stint before the event. I hope that all plans will go smoothly. For now, I am injury free and I hope to stay that way.”
Yesterday at the Sunway Pyramid here, Chong Wei launched the Kaspersky No Worries Plan that promotes new packages for protection against IT-security threats, including viruses, spyware, crime-ware, hackers, phishing and spam.
The 29-year-old Chong Wei is the Malaysian Ambassador for Kaspersky Lab.
Courtesy of The Star