Salam Kemerdekaan Ke-55

Salam Aidilfitri

London 2012: Waves of National Support at Olympic Badminton

Olympic badminton brought a veritable ‘flag party’ to Wembley Arena!

Shouting and cheering for various players, fans of the ‘shuttle showpiece’ enjoyed thrilling action for nine days of competition, watching some of the sport’s best exponents try to secure gold, silver or bronze for their respective countries.
Spectators from many of the record 51 nations represented in badminton at the London 2012 Olympics came armed with their flags, celebrating every point and victory won in their country’s name.
It was a colorful spectacle to see countless national emblems fluttering among the sold-out audiences attending each session. It was surely an inspirational sight for the battling shuttlers, knowing they had hometown support on hand.

 

Great Danes: Denmark's fans would have been proud to witness their players take home two medals in Olympic badminton.

 

Sania's Success: Indians turned out in large numbers to watch Sania Nehwal capture bronze in the Women's Singles category.

 

Italian Inspiration: Agnese Allegrini had her personal cheering section during the Group Stage.

 

Swiss Show: Supporters from Switzerland enjoy the matches next to a British fan.

 

French Force: These fans were in full cry for Brice Leverdez.

 

Finnish him! This is what this flag-waving lady would have loved when her compatriot, Ville Lang, took a game off Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei.

 

Chinese Champions: Sweeping all five badminton categories gave China a lot to wave about.

 

Malaysian Moment: No doubt who these spectators want to win.

 

Cordon's Corner: Guatemala's Kevin Cordon had his well wishers when he progressed to the round of 16.

 

Knockout Punch: The Australians were hoping their shuttlers could land some big blows.

 

Host's Hopes: British fans were wishing for a strong showing on home soil.

 

Spanish Spectacle: Pablo Abian had his country behind him.

 

Canadians Can: Michelle Li and Alex Bruce of Canada gave friends and family something to cheer about in Women's Doubles.

Rashid and Seu Bock back Chong Wei’s bid to carry on playing

National coaches Rashid Sidek and Tey Seu Bock have backed Olympic silver medallist Lee Chong Wei’s bid to carry on playing for two more years although it is time for a break while the search for his successor begins.
Chong Wei arrived at the KLIA on Tuesday after falling short in his attempt to win Malaysia’s first gold medal, losing to arch-rival Lin Dan in a closely-contested final.
It was his second successive silver medal after his 2008 achievement in Beijing.

 

It sparkles: Lee Chong Wei showing his silver medal after returning to Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday. — AZHAR MAHFOF / The Star

And the 30-year-old has quashed rumours that he will retire next year, stating that he will carry on for another two years – until the 2014 Asian and Commonwealth Games, and if possible, the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janerio.
Seu Bock believes that Chong Wei can still play for four more years, “although it will depend on his physical condition”.
“If he wants to play until 2016, and if his condition is still fine, I will definitely support his decision,” said Seu Bock.
“But we’ll have to take things slowly now because he’s not that young anymore and his recovery period is longer. Chong Wei is an aggressive player and that will take a toll on his body.
“Right now, however, it’s time for a break – one week to be exact – before he returns to training.
He will then leave to compete in the China Badminton League at the end of this month before the Japan Open in September (18-23).” Rashid also believes that Chong Wei has the ability to play on until the 2016 Games.
But he said it would be more beneficial to whip the back-up shuttlers into shape to qualify for the Olympics in four years’ time.
There are five shuttlers under the BA of Malaysia’s (BAM) Project 2016 squad – Misbun Ramdan Misbun, Loh Wei Sheng, Mohd Arif Abdul Latif, Iskandar Zulkarnian Zainuddin and KLRC’s Zulfadli Zulkifli.
“I feel that Chong Wei can still carry on and qualify for the 2016 Games but, given his age, it will not be a guaranteed medal,” said Rashid.
“He has his own high standards and only Chong Wei will know whether he will be able to make the grade in four years’ time.”
For now, Rashid and the other coaches will have to push the back-up shuttlers harder to make the grade.
“We have already started sending the younger shuttlers to more tournaments – approximantely 10-12 competitions a year,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter whether if they are from Ramdan’s batch or the older ones like Arif and (Chong) Wei Feng because they have to step up and make a difference. Even the younger ones from BJSS will be given a chance.
“The immediate goal now is to make sure these players improve their rankings because it will give them belief and confidence to strive for further improvements.”
Courtesy of The Star

It's Lin Dan...Again!!!

Final Men Single Badminton of 2012 London Olympic yet  belong to China's sensational Lin Dan, beating his tradion enemy of Malaysia, Lee Chong Wei in three hot and interesting set in 79 minutes. Lin Dan won 51-21, 21-10, 21-19.

 It was crash 27 million over Malaysian to taste the first ever Olympic gold medal. The other China man single, Cheng Long complete the Republic People of China by beating Lee Hyun Il of South Korean in earlier match.

Final pasti menggiurkan

                                                          Lee Chong Wei

AKSI menggiur dan mendebarkan pasti menjadi hidangan final perseorangan lelaki ketika jutaan rakyat Malaysia menaruh harapan agar Lee Chong Wei akhirnya mengatasi kemarau pingat emas yang dinanti-nantikan itu.
Menanti di antara Chong Wei dan kilauan emas itu adalah musuh ketatnya, Lin Dan dari China yang sedia untuk melebarkan dominasinya ke atas pemain negara itu dalam perlawanan yang akan berlangsung pada jam 8 malam ini waktu Malaysia.

Pertemuan itu dilihat sebagai peluang terbaik buat Chong Wei untuk memperbetulkan keadaan selepas tumpas kepada Lin Dan di Beijing empat tahun lalu.
Lebih menarik, Chong Wei juga akan berdepan dengan peluang untuk membalas kembali kekecewaan tumpas kepada Lin Dan di final Kejohanan Dunia tahun lalu di gelanggang sama, Wembley Arena.

“Sekarang saya membawa harapan seluruh rakyat Malaysia untuk menghadiahkan pingat. Perak sudah pasti tapi saya mahukan warna yang lebih bagus. Saya berjanji kali ini saya akan menang emas. Itu motivasi saya,” kata Chong Wei sambil mengakui pertemuan dengan Lin Dan acap kali berakhir dengan sengit.

Bagaimanapun, pemain nombor dua dunia itu mengakui yang ketika tewas kepada Lin Dan di China, dia beraksi di gelanggang dan dalam suasana yang memang dibentuk supaya sentiasa memihak kepada pencabarnya itu.

“Tapi, sekarang saya sudah bersedia. Walaupun tidak yakin mara ke final kerana kecederaan dua bulan lalu, tapi peluang ini akan saya gunakan untuk sepenuhnya. Saya harap seluruh rakyat Malaysia akan mendoakan untuk saya,” katanya yang akan menjadikan Olimpik London ini sebagai penyertaan terakhirnya.

Jika Chong Wei membawa pulang emas yang dinanti-nantikan itu, dia akan menerima pelbagai ganjaran, termasuk RM2 juta, masing-masing RM1 juta dalam bentuk insentif kerajaan dan daripada syarikat perabut, 3V Holdings Berhad.

Dia juga bakal menerima jongkong emas seberat 12.5kg yang berharga RM2 juta selain pencen bulanan bernilai RM5,000.

Apapun, sebelum memikirkan soal ganjaran dan anugerah, Chong Wei harus terlebih dulu menewaskan Lin Dan yang rekod mereka kini berada di kedudukan 24-10, memihak kepada pemain China itu.

Detik penentuan kilauan emas

Chong Wei hanya perlu menapak selangkah lagi bagi meraih pingat emas Sukan Olimpik 2012 di London.

MALAM ini akan menjadi detik penentuan buat kontinjen Malaysia pada Sukan Olimpik 2012 di London.
Adakah pingat emas pertama Sukan Olimpik yang diimpikan itu akan hadir atau hanya terus berpuas hati dengan perak?
Pingat perak sudah pasti berada dalam genggaman ekoran kejayaan pemain badminton perseorangan negara, Datuk Lee Chong Wei melangkah ke perlawanan akhir untuk menentang musuh tradisinya dari China, Lin Dan di Arena Wembley malam ini.
Satu lagi pingat yang mungkin hadir ialah menerusi beregu lelaki, Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong yang akan beraksi dalam perlawanan penentuan gangsa menentang beregu Korea Selatan, Chung Jae Sung-Lee Yong Dae hari ini.
Semalam, gandingan Kien Keat-Boon Heong tewas di peringkat separuh akhir kepada jaguh China, Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng 21-9, 21-19.
Namun, malam ini Chong Wei akan menjawab segala persoalan itu sama ada dia bakal menghadiahkan kejayaan besar buat rakyat Malaysia atau sebaliknya.
Atas kertas, misi Chong Wei memang dilihat sukar kerana lawannya pada final bukannya calang-calang pemain.
Dalam beberapa pertemuan sebelum ini, Lin Dan sering menjadi halangan terhadap impian Chong Wei, namun kali ini, situasi mungkin berubah selepas melihat aksi luar biasa yang dipamerkan oleh jaguh negara itu sepanjang temasya Olimpik 2012 berlangsung.
Chong Wei dilihat sudah betul-betul bersedia untuk merealisasikan harapan seluruh rakyat Malaysia.
Rentak permainannya terus meningkat daripada satu perlawanan ke satu perlawanan dan jika dia terus mengekalkan rentak cemerlang itu, tidak mustahil untuknya membenam cabaran Lin Dan.
"Saya tidak mahu fikirkan gaya permainan Lin Dan. Saya hanya mahu fokus dengan diri sendiri. Memang kita tahu corak permainan Lin Dan sukar dibaca dan sebab itu saya perlu memberi fokus 100 peratus terhadap diri sendiri.
"Final merupakan perlawanan terakhir dan saya akan lakukan yang terbaik dan tidak perlu untuk simpan tenaga dan kalau boleh mengelak daripada melakukan kesilapan mudah," kata Chong Wei.
Ditanya mengenai strategi permainannya menentang Lin Dan malam ini, Chong Wei menjelaskan bahawa ia akan dibincangkan dengan jurulatih sebelum perlawanan itu bermula.
Katanya, mata awal sangat penting kerana ia akan membantu untuk menjejaskan rentak lawan.
"Bagi saya, apa yang lebih penting ialah untuk mencuri mata awal kerana secara psikologi ia akan menjejaskan fokus lawan.
"Kita tahu Lin Dan mempunyai corak permainan menyerang yang pantas, jadi saya perlu bijak menukar tempo" katanya.
Laluan Chong Wei ke final diperoleh menerusi kemenangan ke atas pemain India, Kashyap Parupalli di suku akhir 21-19, 21-11, diikuti kemenangan ke atas Chen Long dari China 21-13, 21-14 pada pusingan separuh akhir malam kelmarin.