PBSI hire Rexy but BAM still dithering

Perhaps the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) can learn something from the All-Indonesia Badminton Association (PBSI) when it comes to taking decisive action.
While BAM are still dithering over the appointment of a national coaching director, the PBSI have got their man – appointing the popular Rexy Mainaky as the supremo.
The move could see the re-emergence of Indonesia as badminton powerhouses and serve as a warning to Malaysia, and even China.
The PBSI have somehow weaved their magic wand to coax Rexy out of his lucrative job as the national coaching director in the Philippines.
The former Olympic Games champion, who left Malaysia to join the Philippines early last year, began work in Indonesia on Jan 1.
Indonesia have also engaged former world champion Susi Susanti to coach their women’s singles shuttlers.
With mastermind Christian Hadinata as their advisor, Indonesia are clearly on the right path as they seek to restore their nation’s battered pride.
The revamps comes in the wake of Indonesia’s worst-ever year. Last year, none of their players won an Olympic medal in London for the first time and they also failed to make the semi-finals of the Thomas Cup Finals for the very first time.
Malaysia’s national doubles chief coach Tan Kim Her expects Rexy’s return to boost Indonesia’s bid to find able replacements for their aging men’s singles and doubles stars – Taufik Hidayat and Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan.
“Rexy’s coaching expeiences in England and Malaysia will stand him in good stead as he assesses Indonesia’s situation from a different perspective. It’s a good move for Rexy and Indonesia,” said Kim Her.
“These changes should motivate us to strive harder. We must redouble our effort and work as a team.”
And what about BAM’s search for a national coaching director?
According to BAM general manager Kenny Goh there’s been no progress since their failure to hire South Korean legend Park Joo-bong.
“For now, Kim Her and Rashid Sidek have full mandate to manage the singles and doubles departments while we continue our search,” said Kenny

Ujian sulung buat Koo-Tan

TERBUKA Korea akan menjadi penanda aras terhadap kemampuan Kien Keat (kanan) dan Boon Heong musim ini.

BEREGU utama lelaki negara, Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong bakal berdepan ujian sulung dalam misi merealisasikan sasaran memburu slot final Kejohanan Dunia 2013 di Guangzhou, China, Ogos depan.
Pasangan No. 2 dunia itu akan turun memulakan aksi kempen dalam saingan tahun ini pada Kejohanan Badminton Siri Super Premier Terbuka Korea yang membuka tirainya hari ini.
Ketua jurulatih beregu negara, Tan Kim Her berkata, meskipun tidak ada sebarang sasaran diletakkan pada kejohanan yang berlangsung di Seoul, Korea Selatan itu tetapi beliau menganggap ia sebagai medan awal untuk menilai prestasi sebenar Kien Keat- Boon Heong.
Katanya, Kien Keat-Boon Heong yang dijangka berdepan dengan beregu Korea Selatan, Ko Sung Hyun-Lee Yong Dae seandainya kedua-dua pasangan tersebut layak ke peringkat separuh akhir bakal menjadi ujian terbaik buat gandingan negara itu.
“Saya tidak meletakkan sebarang sasaran buat Kien Keat-Boon Heong kerana saya tidak mahu mereka beraksi dalam keadaan tertekan.
“Namun, jika mereka berjaya bergelar juara ia bakal memberi suntikan semangat kepada mereka.
“Saya lebih suka menilai prestasi semasa Kien Keat-Boon Heong kerana fokus utama mereka untuk tahun ini adalah Kejohanan Dunia, Seluruh England (Mac) dan Piala Sudirman (Mei).
“Pada Terbuka Korea kali ini, mereka dijangka berdepan Sung Hyun-Yong Dae.
“Jadi, ia adalah medan terbaik untuk menguji tahap kemampuan sebenar mereka dan saya akan membuat penilaian berdasarkan perlawanan itu nanti,” kata Kim Her.
Pada Terbuka Korea kali ini, Kien Keat-Boon Heong mendapat undian mudah sekurang-kurangnya untuk mara sehingga ke peringkat suku akhir sebelum dijangka membuat perhintungan dengan Sung Hyun-Yong Dae pada aksi separuh akhir.
Kien Keat-Boon Heong bakal membuka tirai saingan Terbuka Korea menentang pemain kelayakan esok.
Sebagai rekod, kali terakhir mereka bergelar juara pada kejohanan bertaraf Siri Super adalah pada Terbuka Malaysia 2010

Kosmo

Happy New Year 2013!!!

New national champion Ramdan eyeing more glory

Winning the National Grand Prix Finals title on Sunday was more of a 2013 season opener for back-up singles shuttler Misbun Ramdan Misbun rather than a perfect ending for 2012.
The 21-year-old son of former badminton star Datuk Misbun Sidek landed the national title after beating Chong Wei Feng 13-21, 21-18, 21-18 at the Kedah BA Hall on Sunday.
“There are so many things that I would like to do in 2013. Of course, I want to compete in more Super Series events and improve my ranking. So this is a good start for me,” said Ramdan.
Ramdan grabbed his first local win in 2012 when he bagged the Pahang Open title in October. And if he keeps on producing decent results, he is defintely on the upward trajectory to success.
However, Ramdan, will have to work on his maturity before he becomes a complete player.
“I tend to be hasty on court. That is the biggest mistake that I usually make while playing. I want to kill off my opponents too fast and that has left me vulnerable to attacks from my opponents.
“And being hasty means I make mistakes. I need to learn to be more patient,” he said.
Ramdan said this weakness has led to several losses to juniors during training sessions.
“I thought they were easy meat for me but they beat me because I’m not patient enough. I am still learning to be a better player. I know time is on my side and I want to improve,” said Ramdan, who will play in the qualifying tournament of the Malaysian Open scheduled for Jan 15-20 at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
Courtesy of The Star

Rashid takes Daren to task

NATIONAL singles chief coach Rashid Sidek has told Liew Daren to change his lackadaisical attitude following his poor show in last week's National GP finals in Alor Star.
And it was not the first time that Daren has flopped in local tournaments.
Daren was presented with an opportunity to succeed Lee Chong Wei as the national champion but the top seed surprisingly fell to Misbun Ramdan Misbun in the group stage.
Rashid, who took Daren to task, said the latter should be serious when playing in local tournaments as losing to his juniors will only tarnish his reputation.
"I just cannot explain his attitude towards local tournaments.
"He always fares poorly. He must be serious and be more professional," said a disappointed Rashid.
"Even Chong Wei said Daren would not win in Alor Star. He challenged Daren to prove him wrong.
"Chong Wei did it in good faith as he wants Daren to succeed him and also become a better player internationally.
"However, Daren never changed when it comes to local events and this is just not right.
"Chong Wei stayed unbeaten in local events since 2003.
"Even during my times, I had to compete with players like Foo Kok Keong and my brother (Misbun Sidek) and we will always go for victory.
"Daren's attitude is totally different in international tournaments where he battles hard and we would love to see the same qualities in local events."
Rashid said on the other hand, Chong Wei Feng takes things seriously, be it local or international events, and this will help him progress faster.
Although local tournaments are not a yardstick for player's success, Daren may have to remember that Chong Wei's first title was the National Grand Prix Finals in 2003 and that success propelled his career.
Daren must change his mindset if he wants to emulate at least half of what Chong Wei has achieved in his career.
Courtesy of New Straits Times

National GP Finals: Another Sidek steps up

MISBUN Ramdan Misbun has lived up to the Sidek family tradition when he succeeded 10-time winner Lee Chong Wei as the new national men's singles champion.
In the National Grand Prix Finals in Alor Star yesterday, Ramdan, 21, rallied from a game down to overcome World No 21 Chong Wei Feng 13-21, 21-18, 21-18 in 55 minutes to emulate his father, Misbun, and uncle Rashid's feats.
Misbun had won six national singles titles while Rashid was a four-time national champion.
It didn't stop there for the Sideks as Ramdan's two other uncles, Razif and Jalani, had won the national doubles crown for nine consecutive times.
Ramdan has already shown his potential by reaching the semi-finals last year where he lost to Chong Wei.
It was not smooth-sailing for Ramdan in Alor Star where he was on the verge of an early exit after losing to fellow back-up player Nur Azryn Ayup but recovered in brilliant fashion by overcoming World No 16 and favourite Liew Daren to reach the last four.
This was followed by an emphatic win over World and Asian junior champion Zulfadli Zulkifli in the last four before notching the scalp of Wei Feng.
Ramdan's victory is certain to boost his confidence and should help him improve his results on the international stage where he had mediocre performances this year.
Chong Wei, who stopped competing in the local circuit to give the youngsters a chance to excel, has urged Ramdan to use it as as a stepping stone to become an established international player.
"Ramdan's success is a great boost for his confidence. I started progressing fast after winning my first title (in 2003) and I hope Ramdan can achieve his true potential and become a quality international player," said Chong Wei.
"He has been struggling in the last few tournaments but it happens to any player but his victory today (yesterday) should change that.
"Wei Feng tried but Ramdan had shown that he has great potential by beating more experienced players.
"As for Daren, I hope that this is a lesson for him as he cannot say international events are more important.
"All the players must also treat the local tournaments seriously and give their best."
Tan Wee Kiong-Hoon Thien How also won their first national men's doubles crown when they defeated back-up pair Ow Yao Han-Chooi Kah Ming 21-14, 21-15 in 31 minutes.
It was a fitting end to the year for Wee Kiong-Thien How who have also earned their highest world ranking of No 10 two weeks ago after toiling hard in tournaments for the last 12 months.
Results - (All Finals) Men's Singles: Misbun Ramdan Misbun (Sel) bt Chong Wei Feng (Ked) 13-21, 21-18, 21-18.
Doubles: Tan Wee Kiong-Hoon Thien How (Joh-KL) bt Ow Yao Han-Chooi Kah Ming (Mal-Pah) 21-14, 21-15.
Women's Singles: Tee Jing Yi (Pg) bt Lydia Cheah (KL) 21-18, 23-21.
Mixed Doubles: Goh V Shem-Song Fie Cho (KL-Sab) bt Lim Khim Wah-Vivian Hoo (Ked-KL) 21-18, 7-21, 21-19.
Courtesy of New Straits Times

Senheng-Samsung offer RM1mil for gold in 2016

A future star: Lim Kim Heng, the managing director of Senheng Electric, with young talent Bong Guang Yik during LBA’s inaugural annual dinner at Sports Arena, Kuala Lumpur, on Saturday.

A RM1mil reward will be given to a shuttler who wins a gold in the 2016 Olympic Games. The coach will also get RM1mil for his efforts in producing the gold medallist.
And should a doubles pair emerge triumphant in Rio de Janeiro, the reward will be shared by all three. And if there is no winner in Rio, the offer still stands for the 2020 Games.
But there is a catch. The reward, offered by Senheng Electric (KL) and Samsung, is only for players from the Looi Badminton Academy (LBA).
The incentive was announced during LBA’s inaugural annual dinner at Sports Arena, Kuala Lumpur, on Saturday.
Lim Kim Heng, the managing director of Senheng Electric, said the offer was made early to motivate the players at the academy.
“The 2016 Olympics is four years away so it will give them time to internalise that dream. It’s a great mental motivator. I’m sure the players’ families and friends will be behind them and encouraging them all they way,” said Kim Heng.
“We made the offer to both the player and coach because one will not achieve success without the other. We want this to be a concerted effort. It’s an incentive for both to work hard. And I think they’ve got a great set-up here and hopefully, with this incentive, future Olympic champion will come out of Looi BA,” he added.
Kim Heng, however, quipped: “In the final, after he or she wins the last point, they must come and hug me first! If they hug their coach, there will be no reward.”
LBA chief coach Cheah Soon Kit, a member of the 1992 Thomas Cup winning team and 1996 Olympic silver medallist, was delighted with the offer.
“It’s a good gesture by Senheng and Samsung to offer the reward. It will definitely motivate and encourage our players to look forward to the Olympics,” he said.
“Our recruitment is on-going and it’s not easy to find a talent with skills.
“They must also have the right attitude. But it’s not an impossible target to win an Olympic gold. We will try our best and we have to think positive. Anything is possible,” added Soon Kit.
Courtesy of The Star