Keen Tussle to Host 2014-2017 Cycle of BWF World Superseries

Fourteen (14) Member Associations of Badminton World Federation (BWF) are vying to host events in the BWF World Superseries 2014-2017 tournament cycle; with China presenting two of a total 15 bids.

Three newcomers – Australia, Chinese Taipei and Thailand – are competing with the 11 BWF Member Associations currently hosting the annual 12-event circuit. China, which stages two tournaments in the ongoing 2011-2013 cycle, is seeking to continue that trend with bids to hold events in Changzhou and Guangzhou (proposed shift from Shanghai). However, with the badminton showpiece set to remain at 12 tournaments, competition is tight to be part of the enhanced BWF World Superseries set-up, comprising seven World Superseries events and five top-tier World Superseries Premier events which boast greater prize money.

Seven BWF members – Australia, China (Guangzhou bid), Denmark, England, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore – are competing for the prestige of showcasing a World Superseries Premier event. The other Member Associations in the reckoning – China (Changzhou bid), Chinese Taipei, France, Hong Kong, India, Japan, South Korea and Thailand – have their sights set on the World Superseries level. South Korea currently hosts the US$1 million Victor Korea Open which is part of the present OSIM BWF World Superseries.

Canada, Switzerland and the USA initially expressed an interest in contending for a host place on the tour but each has since chosen not to proceed with bidding.

The new cycle will usher in a four-year series in which players stand to earn the sport’s biggest jackpots ever as badminton steps up its profile in the international arena.

The five top-tier World Superseries Premier tournaments promise to be more lucrative campaigns for winners, each with minimum prize money of US$500,000 (2014; 2015); US$550,000 (2016); and US$600,000 (2017). This is a significant boost from US$350,000 for 2011 and 2012 and US$400,000 for next season.

Meanwhile, World Superseries prize money will increase by US$25,000 annually, starting with a minimum US$250,000 in 2014 and rising as follows: US$275,000 (2015); US$300,000 (2016); US$325,000 (2017). Prize money for the seven events in the ongoing World Superseries is US$200,000 for all three years (2011-2013).

“The bidding for these 12 events has been extremely competitive and those countries and cities which are selected will have met some high criteria because we are looking to raise the bar in a number of ways,” noted BWF Chief Operating Officer/Secretary General, Thomas Lund.

“Badminton as a sporting and entertainment spectacle is improving each year and, as a result, is generating more interest and excitement worldwide. The fact that so many countries and cities now want to be part of BWF’s elite circuit is testament to this fact.

“We are currently evaluating the bids against the criteria and we will announce the host cities at our next Council meeting in November. It is going to be tough to exclude any of these Member Associations but, at the end of the process, we are confident we will have chosen the very best cities in which to showcase badminton.”

It's still Lin Dan Ahead...

	LEE Chong Wei	LIN Dan
	MAS	Country	CHN
	1	Ranking	2
9		Record	21
Based on match results displayed below.

Duo on a mission in Taiwan

CHONG Wei Feng and Liew Daren will aim to extract from the Taiwan Open grand prix gold some points to improve their world ranking and reach the World top 20 at year-end, a target set by singles chief coach Rashid Sidek.
Wei Feng made some progress in his last tournament, the Japan Open, by reaching the quarter-finals two weeks ago and has overtaken Daren by moving up from World No 33 to 27.
Daren had some good results early in the year but inconsistency bugged him again where he lost in the preliminary rounds of the China Masters and Japan Open and is currently ranked No 28.
Wei Feng has a tougher draw where he will meet Alamsyah Yunus of Indonesia in the first round and a possible second round showdown against compatriot Hafiz Hashim and a quarter-final clash against Sony Dwi Kuncoro who won the Indonesia Open grand prix gold title in Palembang yesterday.
Wei Feng, who must try to clear those hurdles if he wants to make fast progress in the world ranking, targets a semi-final spot where he will most likely play Nguyen Tien Minh of Vietnam in the last four.
Daren has a bye in the first round and is expected to play compatriot Zulfadli Zulkifli in the second round and should clear the third round without much problems as he is likely to meet Chou Tien Chen of Taiwan.
Dionisius Hayom Rumbaka of Indonesia is likely to be his quarter-final opponent and if Daren wins, he will take on either Kenichi Tago of Japan or Ho Yun of Hong Kong in the semis.
Rashid said Wei Feng and Daren must make use of the training sessions with Lee Chong Wei and deliver quality results and break into the World top 20 this year.
"Until the Olympics, they helped Chong Wei in his preparations but now he wants to help Wei Feng and Daren improve by sparring more often with them. This is a golden opportunity and they must break into the top 20," said Rashid.
"They will be more confident if they are in the top 20 and it will also give them a better monthly allowance and ranking bonuses.
"The most important thing is that they will be more confident and will also get a better draw in the super series events if they are in the top 20."
Wei Feng and Daren will also play in the Denmark (Oct 16-21) and French (Oct 23-28) Opens.
They will also compete in the local circuit, the Pahang Open (Oct 10-13) but their focus will be on producing quality results in three international events this month.
Courtesy of New Straits Times

Tanya Misbun: Cara Memegang Raket Dengan Betul

MEMEGANG raket mengikut cara yang betul akan membolehkan anda membuat pukulan dengan mudah dan berkesan. Jika tidak, setiap pukulan yang dilakukan anda akan tersasar dari sasaran atau mungkin tidak mengenai bulu tangkis.

Cara memegang raket juga menentukan anda bermain mengikut corak bertahan atau menyerang. Apa yang lebih penting, apabila memegang raket anda harus merasai keberatan dan tahap ringannya. Jika terlalu ringan, anda akan dapat menghayun dengan daya yang sedikit manakala jika berat, anda mungkin terpaksa mengerah tenaga.

Cara memegang raket terbahagi kepada dua kaedah iaitu cengkaman biasa dan cengkaman kilas.

Cengkaman biasa
Cara ini agak mudah. Ibaratkan anda hendak bersalaman dengan seseorang. Ibu jari anda harus menekan pemegang raket dan jari-jari anda mencengkam pemegang raket.

Cengkaman kilas
Tidak mempunyai banyak perbezaan seperti cengkaman biasa. Pada cengkaman ini, lazimnya kedudukan ibu jari anda harus diluruskan untuk memberi tekanan kepada raket ketika anda hendak membuat pukulan.

Terdapat beberapa perkara penting harus diberi perhatian oleh anda ketika mempelajari kaedah betul memegang raket:-
i)membalut pemegang raket dengan pembalut yang bersesuaian dengan citarasa anda bagi mengelakkan kesukaran untuk mencengkam atau membuat pukulan.
ii)bentuk cengkaman amat penting, sama ada kuat ataupun longgar bergantung kepada tahap pukulan anda. Jika tidak berhati-hati, adakalanya raket boleh terlucut dari cengkaman jari anda.
iii)cara memegang raket dengan menggunakan keseluruhan pemegang raket dari pangkal hingga hujung pemegang juga penting untuk menentukan bentuk pukulan yang hendak dibuat.
iv)keberatan raket yang sesuai membolehkan anda menggunakan pergelangan tangan anda untuk mempelbagaikan jenis pukulan. Ia dapat dilakukan jika anda menggerakkan cengkaman anda keseluruhan pemegang raket dengan mudah.

Ready and willing

PARK Joo Bong is up to the challenge of securing Malaysia's first Olympic gold and it is now up to the B A of Malaysia to decide whether it wants the Korean as the national project manager.
BAM is in the market for a supremo who will manage its 2016, 2020 and 2024 projects and although the national body has said it prefers a local, Joo Bong is ready and willing.
The 1992 Barcelona Olympics gold medalist is particularly excited about BAM's stand that the supremo will have full authority and also clear guidelines.
"As a coach, I want to see my players win an Olympic gold and I have been told BAM has thrown that challenge to the new project manager or coaching director it is going to select. It is a challenge I can accept with accountability," said Joo Bong, who already has had a stint in Malaysia between 2000-2003.
"I spoke to David Wee who was here during the Japan Open and all I can say is that I am interested if there is an official approach from BAM.
"I have also been told that the job comes with full authority and BAM will give a free hand to the manager and that will be be very important in implementing a programme that will lead to securing an Olympic gold."
BAM executive committee member Wee said Joo Bong was genuinely interested in the position but it was up to the association's coaching and training committee to make a decision on whether to hire the Korean.
Courtesy of New Straits Times

Akademi Badminton AirAsia dilancar

PENERAJU syarikat penerbangan tambah murah, AirAsia Berhad mengambil langkah proaktif mencari pengganti Datuk Lee Chong Wei untuk sukan badminton negara apabila melancarkan Akademi Badminton AirAsia (AABA) yang memulakan operasi pada 1 Oktober.
Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif (CEO) Kumpulan AirAsia, Tan Sri Tony Fernandes berkata, sebagai langkah permulaan, tiga pusat akademi dibuka bulan depan.

“Akademi terbabit di Petaling Jaya dan Kepong yang mempunyai 16 gelanggang manakala di Klang, 13 gelanggang yang membabitkan 120 pelajar berusia 12 tahun ke atas,” kata Tony di Akademi AABA, Petaling Jaya semalam.
AirAsia nampaknya serius menubuhkan akademi bagi membantu menyediakan bakat badminton negara apabila melantik empat jurulatih, membabitkan bekas pemain kebangsaan yang berdaftar di bawah Persekutuan Badminton Dunia (BWF) iaitu Jason Lim, Bradon Lee, Guang Ming dan Winnie Lee.

Turut hadir pada majlis itu, Pengerusi AirAsia Berhad Datuk Aziz Bakar, CEO Aireen Omar dan wakil Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM), Ng Chin Chai.

Sesi latihan akademi terbabit berlangsung dua sesi iaitu jam 9 pagi hingga 12 tengah hari serta 3 petang hingga 5 petang pada setiap hujung minggu dengan setiap pelajar dikenakan yuran RM120.

“Dengan adanya AABA, kami harap dapat melahirkan generasi baru pemain badminton bertaraf dunia dan juara di pentas antarabangsa,” kata Tony. “Pelajar akademi ini bukan hanya berlatih tapi juga diberi peluang menyertai kejohanan anjuran BWF baik di Jepun, Taiwan mahupun mana-mana negara.” Sementara itu, Tony berkata, syarikat terbabit akan menganjurkan Kejohanan Badminton Piala AirAsia di Chiang Mai, Thailand tahun ini.

“Kami belum menetapkan tarikh tapi yang pasti ia kejohanan terbuka membabitkan lima kategori, perseorangan dan beregu lelaki, perseorangan dan beregu wanita serta beregu campuran.” Setiausaha Kehormat BAM, Chin Chai gembira dengan inisiatif AirAsia bagi membantu melahirkan lebih ramai pemain bertaraf dunia.

“Ini bagus kerana membantu membangunkan bakat muda di peringkat akar umbi. Ia juga melatih pemain erti profesional sebelum dipilih sebagai pemain kebangsaan dan BAM sentiasa berfikiran terbuka dan menyokong mereka,”

Zulfadli tepati ramalan

BINTANG remaja negara diketuai juara Remaja Dunia, Zulfadli Zulkifli menepati ramalan mara ke pusingan ketiga GP Emas Terbuka Indonesia, hari ini.
Pemain KLRC itu mengatasi pemain tuan rumah, Febriyan Irvannaldy 21-16, 21-8 untuk berdepan seorang lagi pemain Indonesia, Yunus Alamsyah.

Kecemerlangan perseorangan negara terus dilakar pemain Projek 2016, Mohd Arif Latif, Misbun Ramdan Misbun, Iskandar Zulkarnain dan Goh Soon Huat.
Arif menewaskan Arif Ramadhan dari Indonesia 21-19, 21-19 dan akan berdepan pemain kelayakan dari China, Kai Guo manakala Iskandar mengatasi Siswanto 21-13, 21-19, untuk bertemu lawan getir, iaitu pilihan keempat tuan rumah, Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka.

Ramdan juga berpeluang melakar kejutan ke atas pemain ternama dunia apabila dijadual menentang Sho Sasaki dari Jepun selepas dia menewaskan pemain tuan rumah, Senatria Agus Setia Putra 21-11, 21-14.

Soon Huat yang menundukkan Reksy Aureza Megananda (Indonesia) 21-13, 21-17, bakal berdepan pilihan ketiga, Tommy Sugiarto yang juga pemain tuan rumah.

Pusingan kedua perseorangan wanita hari ini akan berlangsung tanpa kelibat pemain negara selepas Sonia Cheah dan Yang Li Lian tewas kepada lawan masing-masing.

Bagi beregu lelaki hanya tinggal Mohd Lutfi Zaim Abdul Khalid-Teo Kok Siang untuk membawa cabaran negara apabila mara ke pusingan kedua selepas mengejutkan pilihan kedua kejohanan dari Jepun, Hirokatsu Hashimoto-Noriyasu Hirata 21-16, 21-15.

Mereka akan menentang pemain tuan rumah, Hafiz Faisal-Putra Eka Rhoma.

Pasangan lain, Chooi Kah Ming-Ow Yao Han, Nelson Heg-Teo Ee Yi, Hoon Thien How-Tan Wee Kiong pula masing masing tewas kepada pemain tuan rumah kurang ternama.

Lebih memeritkan apabila pilihan keenam yang juga pasangan berpengalaman KLRC, Mohd Zakry Latif-Fairuzizuan Tazari tersingkir kepada gandingan Indonesia, Rahmat Adianto-Angriawan Berry 20-22, 21-18, 21-23.