Ahlan Wasahlan Ya Ramadhan

Last Day of Games

Hari ini (29 Julai 2011) adalah hari terakhir games untuk Kelab Badminton Putra Nilai sebelum berehat bagi menumpukan perhatian kepada ibadah puasa yang dijangka tiba pada 1 Ogos 2011 nanti.Semua games akan dihentikan untuk sementara selama 2 bulan, lepas puasa nak beraya plak...puasa enam, open house la.... sure aksi post-raya ramai yang pancit, macam dulu-dulu...

Anyway, kena control la... bulan puasa maybe lost 2-3 kg, lepas raya tak sure la berapa tambah plak....he..he...Apa-apa pun Kelab nak ucapkan Selamat Menyambut Ramadhan Al- Mubarak 1432H, moga amalan kita akan diterima Allah hendaknya, Ahlan Wasahlan Ya Ramadhan...!

World Championships: Rexy expects doubles joy

MEN'S doubles Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong's form has been poor in international open tournaments of late but despite this, they have not failed to reach the finals of big events over the last 12 months and this has given national doubles coach Rexy Mainaky optimism ahead of the World Championships in London on Aug 8-14.
Kien Keat-Boon Heong, whose only success this year was winning the Malaysia Open grand prix gold in June, were finalists in the World Championships in Paris last year which was followed by another runners-up finish in the Guangzhou Asian Games. They also reached the final of the All England in March.

Rexy, before his departure for the training stint at the University of Bath on Wednesday, said Kien Keat-Boon Heong have somehow managed to produce something extra in important events and felt there is plenty of hope at the Wembley Arena although their form hasn't been great.
They were also fortunate that bogey pairs Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng of China -- who denied them the title in Paris, Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan -- who beat them in Guangzhou, and South Korea's Jung Jae Sung-Lee Yong Dae are in the top half of the draw, thus giving them an easier passage to the final.
"It is quite unusual but Kien Keat-Boon Heong managed to reach the finals of the last three big tournaments. They don't treat these events like the Super Series or grand prix events anymore and that switch in mindset is a good sign and I'm optimistic," said Rexy.

"Kien Keat-Boon Heong have realised how important it is to win a major title and have made the World Championships their priority.
"However, Kien Keat-Boon Heong face a possible quarter-final against Ko Sung Hyun-Yoo Yeon Seong (of South Korea).

"I have faith that they can break the jinx against this pair and go all the way. The final is another obstacle they must try to overcome but the bigger task will be to reach that stage."

Kien Keat-Boon Heong are expected to meet Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen of Denmark in the last four but the Malaysians have generally done well against them despite losing in the All England final.
Rexy also went to Paris last year without any hope but was bailed out by Kien Keat-Boon Heong and he is looking forward to them not just repeating the feat but achieving something spectacular at the Wembley Arena.
Courtesy of New Straits Times

Chong Wei to review retirement decision

Lee Chong Wei

LEE Chong Wei is having second thoughts about retiring after the 2012 London Olympics as he wants to play in the 2013 World Championships, provided he is still the World No 1 and free of injuries.
Chong Wei said yesterday that next month's World Championships in London may not be the last when commenting on his chances of winning his first major crown.

This may be interpreted as his way of avoiding pressure leading up to the Aug 8-14 event but Chong Wei feels there is no reason to quit if he remains the best player in the business two years from now.
"The London World Championships is important as I am aiming to win it but it may not be the last for me. My form and condition permitting, I may still play in 2013," said Chong Wei.
"Yes, I did mention several times that I would like to retire after next year's Olympics because my target is to win gold and it is the biggest event. But if I can stay as the World No 1 and there are no injuries, then why not? I can probably continue until the 2014 Asian Games.
"During the post-Olympic period, I will focus on the big events that I haven't won like the Asian Games and a few others."

However, this does not mean Chong Wei has already thrown in the towel ahead of the World Championships.

"I suspected from the beginning, that I will be playing at least two China players from the quarter-finals.
"And I've got the stronger two in Chen Long (in the last eight) and Chen Jin (in the semis),"said Chong Wei.

"I also have some good players in early matches, so I will take it one match at a time. I don't want to approach it as if it's the last outing.

"The training at the University of Bath is important as we can acclimatise to local conditions and adjust to the time change. This is crucial in getting ready for the event."

Chong Wei and his teammates left for the University of Bath in England last night. They will train there until Aug 4 and then shift their base to London later the same day.
Courtesy of New Straits Times

World Championships: No easy way to final for Chong Wei

Two world champions stand in the way of World No. 1 singles shuttler Lee Chong Wei reaching his first ever final in the World Championships, which will be held in Wembley from Aug 8-14.
In the draw released by the World Badminton Federation (BWF) yesterday, the current champion Chen Jin of China and former winner Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia have been drawn in the same half as the top seed.
Chong Wei is in the same quarter with Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk of Thailand, Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka of Indonesia, Park Sung-hwan of South Korea and two-time world junior champion Chen Long of China.
He is expected to take on Sung-hwan and Chen Long in the second and third rounds respectively and barring any major upsets, an in-form Chong Wei should make it to the semi-finals.
Either 2005 world champion Taufik or Chen Jin should be waiting for him in the last four and both have the potential to spoil the hopes of the Malaysian from making his final breakthrough.
The 29-year-old Chong Wei has only reached the semi-finals once in his debut in the 2005 in Anaheim and it still remains his best result after his four other attempts in 2006 (Madrid), 2007 (Kuala Lumpur), 2009 (Hyderabad) and 2010 (Paris) ended in the early stages.
Chong Wei’s arch rival Lin Dan of China is in the second half with veteran shuttlers Peter-Gade Christensen of Denmark, Lee Hyun-il of South Korea and Malaysia’s Wong Choong Hann; and several darkhorses – Sho Sasaki of Japan, Indonesian Simon Santoso, Thailand’s Boonsak Ponsana and Vietnam’s Nguyen Tien Minh.
Lin Dan, a three-time world champion and the second seed, is expected to meet Hyun-il in the third round. If the Chinese superstar wins, he is set to meet Sasaki, who defeated him in the second round of the Indonesia Open last month.
If Lin Dan goes all the way to the semi-finals, he is likely to meet a resurgent Christensen, who is looking very determined to end his elusive chase for a world title.
Interesting match-ups are certainly in store for the badminton fans but the most awaited clash will probably be a duel between two greatest players of this era – Chong Wei and Lin Dan in the final.
Although Chong Wei had been in blistering form by winning six titles in six months prior to the world meet, national singles chief coach Rashid Sidek chose to be cautious about the Malaysian’s chances.
“It is a tough draw from the first round. Tanongsak and Hayom are upcoming youngsters and we have to be wary of them. Chong Wei lost to Taufik last year (in the quarter-finals of the world meet in Paris) and Sung-hwan is no pushover. The Chinese players – Chen Long and Chen Jin are dangerous,” said Rashid.
“Yes, Chong Wei has beaten all of them in convincing ways in the past but I would rather not underestimate anyone. This is world championships and everyone will be playing at their best.”
Rashid, however, admitted that it was Chong Wei’s best opportunity to nail the country’s first world title.
“He has recovered well from his injury (back muscle spasms).
“He is giving his best in training. This is his ultimate chance to make history for Malaysia and Chong Wei is certainly working hard towards achieving it.”
Dunlop-sponsored Choong Hann, who outdid all the Malaysian youngsters to qualify for his eighth world championships, has a tricky first round opener against Taiwan’s Hsieh Yu-hsing. If he wins, he may take on Boonsak.
Ironically, Choong Hann is Malaysia’s best men singles performer in the world series when he won a silver medal at the 2003 world meet in Birmingham after going down fighting to Xia Xuanze of China.
Courtesy of The Star

Chong Wei drawn to meet Lin Dan in final

It is confirmed. World No. 1 men singles shuttler Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia and China’s Lin Dan will be in different halves of the draw in the World Championships, which will be held in Wembley from Aug 8-14.

In the latest world rankings released yesterday, Chong Wei and Lin Dan will be seeded first and second respectively. And if both live up to their billings, they will meet in the final at Wembley.

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) are using the July 21 world rankings to determine the seeding for the players and the much awaited draw will be conducted on Monday in Kuala Lumpur.

This will be the fourth time that Chong Wei will be seeded top in the world meet but unfortunately, he has failed to live up to his world No. 1 tag at the last three occasions in 2006 Madrid, 2009 Hyderabad and 2010 Paris respectively.

Lin Dan was the top seed at the 2007 world meet in Kuala Lumpur.

Two other title contenders – Denmark’s Peter-Gade Christensen and Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia – will be seeded third and fourth respectively.

If Chong Wei meets Lin Dan in the final, it will be their third big match-up of the year between the archrivals.

At the South Korea Open in January, Lin Dan defeated Chong Wei in the final while the Malaysian exacted revenge over the three-time world champion at the All-England final.

In the men’s doubles, Malaysia’s Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, who reached the finals at last year’s world meet in Paris, will be seeded fourth.

The top three seeds are defending champions Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng of China, Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen of Denmark and South Koreans Lee Yong-dae-Jung Jae-sung.

Courtesy of The Star

Gelaran dunia tetap jadi sasaran Chong Wei

GELARAN pada Kejohanan Badminton Dunia merupakan satu-satunya gelaran yang masih belum berada dalam koleksi Chong Wei.

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JAGUH badminton perseorangan negara, Datuk Lee Chong Wei berazam untuk mencapai gelaran pertama pada Kejohanan Badminton Dunia 2011 yang akan berlangsung di London pada 8 hingga 14 Ogos ini.
Pemain berusia 29 tahun itu menjelaskan peluang untuk beliau memenangi kejuaraan sulung pada kejohanan berprestij dunia itu kini lebih cerah berbanding tahun lalu.
"Saya memiliki keyakinan disebabkan sudah melakukan persiapan yang lebih baik dan berpeluang mengadakan latihan di London untuk selama dua minggu sebelum Kejohanan Dunia bermula.
"Dengan memenangi hampir semua perlawanan pada Kejohanan Siri Super sebelum ini, saya lihat peluang untuk menggenggam kejuaraan pertama nampaknya lebih cerah.
"Saya anggap latihan awal di London sedikit sebanyak boleh menyesuaikan diri saya dengan keadaan cuaca di sana sebelum kejohanan sebenar berlangsung.
"Cuma saya tidak mahu fikirkan soal tekanan. Saya hanya ingin fokus dan melakukan yang terbaik," katanya ketika ditemui pada majlis menandatangani perjanjian sebagai juru cakap Kolej Universiti Damansara Utama (KDU), Petaling Jaya semalam.
Pemain No. 1 dunia itu dilantik sebagai juru cakap KDU untuk tempoh dua tahun bermula bulan ini hingga Jun 2013.
Turut hadir ialah Pengerusi Eksekutif KDU, Datuk Teo Chiang Quan, Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif KDU, Datin Teh Geok Lian dan Naib Presiden Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM), Datuk Ir. Mohamad Al-Amin Abdul Majid.
Sementara itu, Chong Wei meluahkan rasa lega kerana kecederaan belakang yang dialami ketika Kejohanan Dunia di Paris tahun lalu hampir sembuh.
"Buat masa ini, kecederaan saya masih belum pulih sepenuhnya, tetapi saya ada dua minggu lebih lagi untuk melakukan persediaan. Harap semua baik dalam waktu terdekat," jelas Chong Wei.
Dalam perkembangan lain, Teo memberitahu, Chong Wei dipilih sebagai juru cakap KDU kerana beliau melakar banyak kejayaan dalam sukan badminton selain menjadi inspirasi kepada seluruh rakyat Malaysia.
"Umum mengetahui bahawa Chong Wei semakin dikenali sejak tiga tahun lalu kerana sering mengangkat nama negara dalam badminton sehingga beliau digelar pemain No. 1 dunia.
"Justeru, kami ingin menghubungkan Chong Wei dan KDU untuk menaikkan semangat para pelajar di sini bagi mencapai kejayaan cemerlang sebaik sahaja menamatkan pengajian.
"Pemilihan Chong Wei sebagai juru cakap KDU juga dilihat mampu menarik perhatian orang luar untuk mendapatkan pendidikan di KDU yang menawarkan pelbagai kursus menarik.
"Kami anggap Chong Wei sebagai hero Malaysia yang masih menebal dengan sikap merendah diri dan tidak mudah berputus asa. Beliau ialah ikon terbaik untuk KDU," ujar Teo.