Terknik Gerakan Kaki (Foot work) Mengawal Gelanggang

Koo-Tan’s request granted

Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong’s request to train under coach Pang Cheh Chang has been granted.
Now, all that the men’s doubles pair have to do is step up and be counted in their bid to turn their game around before next year’s Olympic Games in London.
On Friday, Kien Keat-Boon Heong lost 21-15, 16-21, 13-21 to South Koreans Jung Jae-sung-Lee Yong-dae in a 66-minute match in the China Masters at Changzhou. It was their first tournament without Rexy Mainaky as their coach.

Looking ahead: Pang Cheh Chang will help Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong prepare for the Japan Open.

Kien Keat-Boon Heong came under fire after an uninspiring performance in the World Championships in England last month. They then parted ways with Rexy, their coach for the past five years, and asked the BA of Malaysia to allow them to train under Cheh Chang.
Yesterday, new doubles head coach Tan Kim Her said that Kien Keat-Boon Heong would officially train under Cheh Chang after next week’s Japan Open in Tokyo.
Cheh Chang was with Kien Keat-Boon Heong in China. He, however, will not join them in Japan. Cheh Chang will return home tomorrow to hold talks with Kim Her and Rosman Razak, the other doubles coach, on plans to beef up Kien Keat-Boon Heong’s training programme for the Olympics.
“Both the elite and back-up men’s doubles players will now train together in the first hour of the training session every day. After that, Kien Keat-Boon Heong will have a more personalised training under Cheh Chang,” said Kim Her.
“Cheh Chang will be responsible for their training but he will be in constant communication with me. Rosman will also be helping out in training. We will give Koo and Tan all the help that they need to get them all fired up. Their ultimate goal is the Olympics.
“These players have to play their part too by giving their all in training and tournaments.
“We have three coaches in the men’s doubles and I hope all players will show their eagerness to learn from us,” added Kim Her.
When contacted in China, Cheh Chang said he was happy he had a chance to watch Kien Keat-Boon Heong in action.
“They showed a strong desire to win. But there are still some areas that we need to work on. I will focus on improving their speed and power on court,” said Cheh Chang.
Cheh Chang added that he would help Kien Keat-Boon Heong prepare for the Japan Open.
“They asked me to train them yesterday (Saturday) and today even though it’s their birthdays (Kien Keat and Boon Heong will be 26 and 24 respectively). They are very committed. Hopefully, they will give a better account of themselves in Japan,” said Cheh Chang.
At the Japan Open, which begins on Wednesday, Kien Keat and Boon Heong are seeded third. They are in the same half of the draw as top seeds Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng of China, Indonesians Alven Yulianto-Hendra Gunawan and Japan’s Hirokatsu Hashimoto-Noriyasu Hirata.
Courtesy of The Star

Obituary: Remembering David Choong

Badminton World Federation received with profound regret the news of the death of David Choong in the early hours of 10th September 2011. He was 82 and older brother to Eddy Choong.

One of the game’s most outstanding performers of the fifties, David passed away at his home in Penang after being in coma the last nine years following a stroke.

The affable David and exuberant Eddy, were the toast of the then Malaya when singly and as Doubles partners, the brothers dominated international badminton in the years between 1951 and 1957.

Between them they won eight All England titles and to his credit, David added a fourth to his three Doubles titles, with ‘gold’ in the Mixed event with English partner June White Timperley in 1953.

David‘s first All England success with Eddy came in 1951. They successfully defended it the following two years. The brothers were dominant in the European and American circuits during the fifties.

The Penang Free School alumnus, David read law at the Trinity College in Cambridge University. On his return home, he practiced law and for a time moved into politics and served as an elected Penang state executive councillor.

In 1998, David was inducted to BWF’s Hall of Fame.

He leaves behind spouse, a daughter and three sons.

China’s big guns come out to play

China’s big guns will be out to reinforce their authority in the sport when they compete in the Li Ning China Masters Superseries this week.China’s big guns will be out to reinforce their authority in the sport when they compete in the Li Ning China Masters Superseries this week.

All five of China’s newly crowned world champions – Lin Dan (men’s singles), Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng (men’s doubles), Wang Yihan (women’s singles), Yu Yang-Wang Xiaoli (women’s doubles) and Zhang Nan-Zhao Yunlei (mixed doubles) – are in the draw and will be looking to repeat their winning performance in front of an appreciative home crowd.

Lin Dan, arguably one of the greatest players of all times, has a seemingly easy ride as his main rival and current world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei is absent.

The Malaysian, who came agonisingly close to beating Lin Dan in the World Championship final in London a month ago, is skipping the tournament to concentrate on defending his Yonex Open Japan Superseries title next week.

In Chong Wei’s absence, Danish veteran Peter Gade (left), the grand old man of badminton at 34, is likely to be Lin Dan’s opponent in Sunday’s final.

The only person Lin Dan has to fear in his half of the draw is 2010 world champion Chen Jin, who is seeded fourth.

Gade, meanwhile, will have to look out for China’s Du Pengu, Chen Long and Japan’s Kenichi as well as compatriot Jan O Jorgensen.

In the women’s draw, Wang Yihan has the ever dangerous Saina Nehwal of India and Jiang Yanjiao in her half of the draw while second seed and former world No. 1 Wang Shixian will begin her campaign against the up and coming Tai Tzu Ying of Taipei.

She also faces a potential semi-final against another former world No.1 in Wang Xin while Taipei’s Cheng Shao Chieh, who reached last month’s World Championships final, is a potential quarter-final opponent.

In the men’s doubles, four-times world champions Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng are expected to meet former world No. 1 Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen of Denmark in the final.

Two South Korean pairs, Lee Yong Dae-Jung Jae Sung and Yonex Taipei Grand Prix Gold champions Ko Sung Hyun-Yoo Yeon Seong will be out to spoil the party.

As for the women’s doubles, Yu Yang-Wang Xiaoli are seeded to meet teammates Zhao Yunlei-Qing Tian, whom they beat in London in the World Championship final.

Yonex Sunrise India Open Superseries champions Miyuki Maeda-Satoko Suetsuna (right), are seeded second. The Japanese girls, who won a bronze medal in London have fellow bronze medallists Jwala Gutta-Ashwini Ponnappa of India in their half of the draw as well as former world No. 1s Cheng Wen Hsing-Chien Yu Chin of Taipei.

Zhang Nan-Zhao Yunlei, who have dominated the mixed doubles this year, will be the favourites to add the title to their collection.

Meanwhile, in the only match in the qualifying event, China’s China’s Lu Yi defeated Malaysia’s Chan Kwong Beng 21-8, 21-18.

Kim Her ‘a bit surprised’ to be head coach

Tan Kim Her says he is “a bit surprised” at the BA of Malaysia’s (BAM) decision to appoint him as the head coach of the men’s doubles squad but is looking forward to the challenge.

Following top elite pair Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong’s decision not to train under Rexy Mainaky anymore, BAM responded with a massive structural revamp.

The changes saw the elite and back-up doubles squads being merged into one, with Kim Her in the hotseat as men’s doubles supremo and Pang Cheh Chang and Rosman Razak assisting him.

Rexy has been put in charge of the women’s and mixed doubles squads.

Kim Her, who was previously the men’s doubles back-up coach, was away in Taipei for the Taiwan Open when the announcement was made.

He said he would meet BAM secretary Ng Chin Chai and general manager Kenny Goh for clarification regarding his new role.

“It was a bit of a surprise that they appointed me as the head for men’s doubles because I was still in Taiwan at that time,” said Kim Her after a training session at Juara Stadium in Bukit Kiara yesterday.

“I can’t say much about the appointment but I will meet Chin Chai and Kenny today to discuss my position.”

Courtesy of The Star

Behind-the-scenes man Pang ready for high-profile job

Men’s doubles coach Pang Cheh Chang has been quietly working behind the scenes at the national training centre for eight years.

However, the 37-year-old is set to be in the forefront of all the action as he takes on the highly challenging role of coaching the country’s top doubles pair of Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong.

Although there will be greater expectations and pressure, Cheh Chang says he is ready – with the blessing of national chief coach Rexy Mainaky and the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), of course – to train Kien Keat and Boon Heong.

The duo decided to part ways with Rexy on Friday and requested to train under Cheh Chang in a bid to revive their hopes of challenging for a medal at next year’s London Olympics.

Attention, ladies: Coach Pang Cheh Chang (right) overseeing the women’s doubles players during a training session at the Juara Stadium in Bukit Kiara yesterday. — S.S. KANESAN / The Star

While Rexy has given the switch his blessings, BAM secretary Ng Chin Chai said they would listen to all parties at their coaching and training committee meeting on Thursday before finalising any changes.

Cheh Chang, still surprised but honoured by Kien Keat-Boon Heong’s request, said he would gladly take up the challenge.

“I am ready to help if the management and Rexy are agreeable to the players’ request. I will continue with what Rexy has started with Koo and Tan and I will do my best to help them end their chase for honours at the London Olympic Games,” said Cheh Chang.

“I have no personal interests in accepting the players’ request. My only intention is to help them and perform my duty to bring honour to the country.

“It will be better if all coaches work as a team to help Kien Keat-Boon Heong regain their form.”

Cheh Chang is familiar with the way Kien Keat and Boon Heong play – especially the latter.

It was, after all, Cheh Chang who spotted and roped in Boon Heong into the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) programme after an eight-month talent scouting mission in 2003.

“I was looking for a partner for Hoon Thien How and I found Boon Heong. He was quite lazy as a junior player but we managed to transform his game. And, in just 16 months, Boon Heong went on to win the world junior title with Thien How in 2004,” said Cheh Chang.

“I had also assisted Yap Kim Hock, when he was the chief coach at the school, and I was around when Kien Keat and Ong Soon Hock triumphed at the Asian junior meet. So, I am familiar with the players and understand their characters.”

Cheh Chang was promoted to the national squad after Boon Heong-Thien How’s breakthrough world junior win.

He came under Rexy’s charge in 2006 and was given the responsibility of coaching the men’s back-up and women’s doubles players over the years.

He even assisted Rexy when Kien Keat-Boon Heong won the 2006 Doha Asian Games gold medal and the 2007 All-England title.

Last year, he was tasked with coaching the women’s doubles pairs and he did reasonably well to raise the standard of veterans Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui, Woon Khe Wei-Vivian Hoo and Lim Yin Loo-Ng Paou Leng.

“I’ve learnt a lot from Rexy. He is experienced and has different techniques and ideas and I’ve combined them with my own style of coaching,” said Cheh Chang, who holds Level Two coaching certificates and who played in both the men’s and mixed doubles events for 10 years from 1991.

“I did not do too well as a player. Those days we had a limited number of tournaments and the BAM were usually short of cash to send us out.

“Hopefully, as a coach, I will be able to see good results from my charges.

“I am looking forward to coaching Koo and Tan and working together with the National Sports Institute (NSI).

“For now, I will wait for an official decision from the management. I want to know what is going to happen to the women’s doubles shuttlers.

“Hopefully, much thought will be put into these matters before the changes are made,” added Cheh Chang, who will leave for Taiwan today to guide his women’s doubles shuttlers for the last time when the Grand Prix event starts on Wednesday.

Courtesy of The Star

Razif set for comeback

FORMER national chief coach Razif Sidek will make a comeback to the international scene but this time to help Zakry Latif-Fairuzizuan Tazari achieve their target of qualifying for next year’s London Olympics.

Razif, who quit as chief coach after guiding Cheah Soon Kit-Yap Kim Hock to a silver medal in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, said Zakry and Fairuz are still good and with hard work, can be a formidable combination for at least another two years.

Razif added that both players have made a request for him to train them and will star t his duties after the Hari Raya holidays. Zakry-Fairuz quit the national team last month to concentrate on their careers as an independent pair.

“Zakry and Fairuz are still good. Their objective is to qualify for the Olympics but they have to start from scratch and since qualification has become a stringent process, I am willing to help them,” said Razif.

“They have been a top 10 pair before and I feel they didn’t gain much after being made to split and partner other players. They probably felt they can do better by resuming their partnership."

“It is going to be a tough battle for them to get their international career back on track but I will assist them in every possible way.” 

“If Zakry-Fairuz show quick progress, it would provide healthy competition with BAM’s own Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong and its back-up combination (Goh Wei Shem- Lim Khim Wah). This will spur everybody to work harder to make it to the Olympics.” There has been speculation that KLRC Berhad may employ Razif to train Zakry-Fairuz and if this is true, another professional pair Gan Teik Chai-Tan Bin Shen may also join them.

Meanwhile, the national team’s progress is not going smoothly as Kien Keat and Boon Heong failed to show up for training at Juara Stadium yesterday but national doubles coach Rexy Mainaky is not bothered anymore.

“It is up to them if they want to keep missing training. I will continue with my daily duties and let the BAM management settle the issue. The Taiwan Open begins next week and the other players have to continue with their training,” said Rexy.

“There is nothing I can do to solve this problem. Let the coaching and training committee decide next Thursday.” Kien Keat-Boon Heong have not been entered for the Taiwan Open but they will be competing in the China Masters on Sept 13- 18 and the Japan Open on Sept 20-25.

Courtesy of New Straits Times