Badminton: Four pairs urged to nail tough first-round ties

PETALING JAYA: National back-up squad men’s doubles coach Tan Kim Her has one instruction to his charges competing in the Thailand Open GP Gold in Bangkok next week – win their first match.
He has four pairs in the fray – Ow Yao Han-Chooi Kah Ming, Goh Wei Shem-Lim Khim Wah, Chan Peng Soon-Tan Wee Kiong and Mak Hee Chun-Yew Hong Kheng. And none of them face an easy ride in the first round.
Yao Han-Kah Ming will face seventh seeds Ingo Kindervater-Johannes Schoettler of Germany while Wei Shem-Khim Wah are up against sixth seeds Cho Gun-woo-Kwon Yi-goo of South Korea.
Hee Chun-Hong Kheng will even have to play two rounds in the qualifying tournament to earn their place in the main draw.

No easy ride: Malaysia’s Ow Yao Han (left) and Chooi Kah Ming will face Germany’s Ingo Kindervater-Johannes Schoettler in the first round of the Thailand Open GP Gold.

Nevertheless, Kim Her is positive that his boys will be able to do well in the tournament.
“My instruction to them is simple. Get past the first round match and reaching the quarter-finals or semi-finals shouldn’t be a problem,” he said.
“And my best bets to go far in the tournament are Yao Han-Kah Ming, who are one of the most improved pairs.
“They are up against a German pair and they just need to step up their game on the day itself to win the match.”
Meanwhile, there was a surprise when Hee Chun, who has recovered from a shoulder injury, was paired up with Hong Kheng for the tournament.
Hee Chun previously partnered Wee Kiong but that partnership has taken a turn for the worse due to a lack of understanding and it was understood that the Thailand Open GP Gold would serve as the last chance for them to save the partnership.
For now, Kim Her has chosen instead to split the duo but will give them a chance in the Singapore Open Super Series from June 14-19.
“I just want to let them play instead of keeping them by the sidelines,” said Kim Her.
“Hee Chun-Wee Kiong were quite good and they still have a world ranking (No. 51) and I want them to make full use of a bigger tournament to revive their partnership.”

Badminton star’s wise words

badminton star Datuk Lee Chong Wei was greatly encouraged by the massive turnout at the One Million Youth Gathering in Putrajaya on Saturday.
Throngs of fans stopped by the Proton booth to meet and greet Lee, who shared with them what inspired him the most.
“I came here to spur the youths to achieve their passion with courage and determination,” he said.
Lee, who devoted himself to the sport since he was 17, said he never took his sight off his goal of becoming the best.
He urged junior national players to have more zeal in their game and show enthusiasm and discipline.
“The juniors, like many of our youths, should address their passions seriously so they will go far.
“I started playing basketball in school. With my father’s encouragement, I got really serious in badminton,” he added.
Lee said sports could help the young generation to channel their energy healthily.
He added that youths should also fully utilise sports facilities provided by the Govern-ment.
“Nowadays there are many futsal courts and badminton halls in the country unlike several years ago.
“These and other sport facilities are built by the Government. So, make use them in a healthy way and not just a place to hang out,” he said.

Li Na turns from badminton to Grand Slam champion

PARIS (AP) - If China's 1.3 billion people want to thank someone for their country's first Grand Slam singles title, they can say "merci" to Li Na's former badminton coach.
The 29-year-old Li became the first from her country to win a major tennis title Saturday when she beat defending champion Francesca Schiavone 6-4, 7-6 (0) in the French Open final.
"My dad wanted me to become a badminton champion, that's why he made me play tennis," Li said of her father, who also played badminton. "After two years of training, the badminton coach told me I was not made for badminton and that I should rather play tennis."
How right he was.
Li won the final nine points on Court Philippe Chatrier, and then dropped to the ground to celebrate. When she got up, her back covered in clay, she was the last woman standing at Roland Garros.
"I thought about what I should do in such a moment if I became the champion," Li said. "But to fall on the ground at the end of the match was not what I had imagined. It wasn't planned. I just couldn't help it."
The title was only the fifth of Li's career, and first on clay. She was broken only once by the defending champion, while she converted two of her eight break points - one in each set. She finished with 31 winners, while Schiavone had only 12.
"I couldn't really push forward from the baseline," Schiavone said. "She deserved to win. One has to lose, one has to win. She deserves everything."
Li started the year playing well. She won her fourth title in Sydney just before the Australian Open, and then became the first Chinese player to reach a Grand Slam final in the year's first major. She lost, however, falling to Kim Clijsters in three sets.
This time around, Li was more prepared for the pressure.
"At the Australian Open, it was the first time that I was in the final (of a major). I had no experience. I was very nervous," Li said. "For my second time in a final, I had the experience. I knew how to do it. And I had more self-confidence."
In the first set, Li took a 3-2 lead when Schiavone sent a forehand wide. Li then held at love in her next two service games and finally won the set when Schiavone sent a forehand long.
"She (kept) me really far away from the net or inside the court, so I was always too (defensive)," Schiavone said. "With the slice, (it) was not easy because she has good timing and she has good preparation with (her) legs."
Li opened the second set with another break. In the second game, Schiavone earned her first break point of the match, but Li responded with an ace - her third of three in the match.
Schiavone did manage to break back to even the score at 4-4, but both held the rest of the way despite a contentious call in the 12th game.
Li hit a backhand that was originally called out, giving Schiavone a set point. But Li argued the call, and chair umpire Louise Engzell ruled the ball was in.
Li won the next point to even the set at 6-6, and then won all seven points in the tiebreaker.
"That ball was out," Schiavone said. "It was a big mistake. But it's up to the tournament and others to watch that match again and evaluate the call."
But no matter what is decided when the replays are watched, the name on the trophy will not change.
"Today is the dream come true," Li said. "Not so many player can win (a) Grand Slam."

Shuttler Arif in third round after injury to Takeshita

PETALING JAYA: National back-up squad shuttler Mohd Arif Abdul Latif claimed a lucky third-round appearance in the Thailand Open GP Gold tournament in Bangkok yesterday after his opponent was forced to retire due to injury.
Arif was leading 19-17 in a second-round match when Japanese youngster Riichi Takeshita decided to call it quits.
Earlier, the 22-year-old played his heart out to claim the biggest win of his career when he stunned eighth seed and world No. 19 Rajiv Ouseph of England 15-21, 21-16, 21-14.
Arif had hoped for a breakthrough in the Thai Open and he has got it with qualification for the third round, which is his best result thus far in an international tournament this year.
However, national elite shuttler Chong Wei Feng failed to make it to the third round. But he came close to scalping 13th seed Brice Leverdez of France.

Advancing: Mohd Arif Abdul Latif got the lucky break he wanted in the Bangkok Open and made it to the third round by default as injury forced his opponent Riichi Takeshita to concede a walkover Wednesday.

Wei Feng, who defeated compatriot and the nation’s top junior talent Zulfadli Zulkifli in an energy-sapping 53-minute match in the first round, simply ran out steam and was beaten 19-21, 22-20, 19-21 in 63 minutes.
Leverdez will play against top seed Chen Long of China for a place in the quarter-finals.
Three other Malaysians crashed out in the first round. They were Liew Daren, Chan Kwong Beng and Goh Soon Huat.
In mixed doubles, Voutus Indra Mawan-Woon Khe Wei, who barely made it into the main draw, were sent packing – losing to Indonesians Delynugraha Muhammad Rizky-Puspita Richi Dili 20-22, 19-21.
The national No. 2 mixed doubles pair of Ong Jien Guo-Sabrina Chong also failed to make the grade.
They were beaten 15-21, 18-21 by China’s Qiu Zihan-Bao Yixin.
RESULTS
* Matches involving Malaysians
• QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT
Men’s doubles (second round): Liang Jui Wei-Liao Kuan Hao (Tpe) bt Voutus Indra Mawan-Mohd Lufti Zaim 21-10, 21-19.
Women’s singles (third round): Busanan Ongbumrungpan (Tha) bt Sannatasah Saniru 23-21, 19-21, 21-18.
• MAIN DRAW
Men’s singles (first round): Chong Wei Feng bt Zulfadli Zulkifli 13-21, 21-16, 21-12; Mohd Arif Abdul Latif bt Rajiv Ouseph (Eng) 15-21, 21-16, 21-14; Riichi Takeshita (Jpn) bt Liew Daren 21-18, 21-13; Sukamta Evert (Ina) bt Goh Soon Huat 21-19, 16-21, 21-19; Mohd Hafiz Hashim bt Shon Wan-ho (Kor) 18-21, 24-22, 21-19; Kuan Beng Hong bt Hsuan Lin-chia (Tpe) 21-11, 21-15; Wong Choong Hann bt Viktor Axelsen (Den) 21- 18, 21-12; Chun Shih Kuei (Tpe) bt Beryno Wong 18-21, 21-12, 21-14; Wen Kai (Chn) bt Lok Chong Chieh 21-12, 21-14.
Mixed doubles (first round): Delynugraha Muhammad Rizky-PuspitaRichi Dili (Ina) bt Voutus Indra Mawan-Woon Khe Wei 22-20, 21-19; Qiu Zihan-Bao Yixin (Chn) bt Ong Jien Guo- Sabrina Chong 21-15, 21-18; Kim Ki-jung-Jung Kyung-eun bt Mohd Razif Abdul Latif-Amelia Alicia Anscelly 21-16, 21-16.
Men’s singles (second round): Arif bt Riichi Takeshita (Jpn) 19-17, rtd; Brice Leverdez (Fra) bt Chong Wei Feng 21-19, 20- 22, 21-19.

Lin Dan: I want to emulate Peter Gade

Lin Dan wants to be China’s Peter Gade Christensen.
The Olympic and three-time world champion hopes to emulate the Dane to continue playing even at the age of 34.
“My next goal is to become China’s Peter Gade because I really hope to play until I am 35-years-old. I hope that more young players from China can learn from Peter and stay active for a long time in the sport,” Lin Dan said after his win over the Dane in the final tie of the Sudirman Cup here last Sunday.
The 27-year-old shuttler had said that he was learning to enjoy playing badminton after his success in 2008 Beijing Olympics and was looking forward to defending the title in the London Games next year.
When he was told that Lin Dan was inspired to follow his path, Gade Christensen laughed and offered some advice.
“I am proud that I can still be at the top today,” he said.
“Lin Dan and (Lee) Chong Wei are really tough players to compete against and I have to do my utmost best in my everyday’s practice. I hope that Lin Dan will still be around for a few years more.”
The Dane added that he respected Lin Dan very much as the Chinese shuttler was a complete player and perhaps the best player who ever played the game.
“He has the kind of character that I like. He is not truly confident.
“You can see he’s got the mental feeling, which is good for him. But sometimes it makes him a bit vulnerable and I like that about him,” he said.
During the Sudirman Cup, Gade Christensen revealed that this would be his final series after having represented Denmark for more than 15 years.
Chong Wei and Lin Dan also hinted that they may not feature in the next edition in 2013.

Arif hoping for change of fortunes in Thailand

Mohd Arif Abdul Latif and China’s Chen Long have experienced contrasting fortunes after their first encounter in the Asian junior championships in 2007.
While Chen Long has gone on to win Super Series titles and is currently ranked fourth in the world, the Malaysian is still struggling to get far in a Grand Prix Gold tournament.
But the world No. 98 hopes that his fortune will change, starting with the Thailand GP Gold, which will be held in Bangkok from June 7-12.

No there yet: Mohd Arif Abdul Latif is stil strugling to get far in a Grand Prix Gold tournament.

“I lost (21-18, 18-21, 20-22) to Chen Long in the final of the Asian Juniors and I remember giving him a tough fight. It was my best achievement in the championships,” said Arif.
“I have been left behind since then, mostly because of my own mistakes. However, I have made a lot of improvement since coming under the charge of Hendrawan. I am physically stronger and I am able to show better strategy in my game.”
Arif is currently the top ranked shuttler in the national back-up squad.
In fact, over the last one year, he has beaten four elite shuttlers – Tan Chun Seang, Chong Wei Feng, Liew Daren and Chan Kwong Beng – in local tournaments.
“Chen Long will be at the Thailand GP Gold as the top seed. It will be great if I can achieve a good result there. Ultimately, I hope to win at least one GP Gold title by end of the year,” he said.
Arif is in the same quarter as Chen Long together with three other Malaysians – Daren, Goh Soon Huat and Wei Feng.
He has a tricky first-round match against England’s Rajiv Ouseph, who has shown the ability to make life difficult for top players on his good day.
China have a relatively strong line-up for the men’s singles. Also in the fray are world champion Chen Jin, Wang Zhengming, Lu Yi and Wen Kai.
Indonesia and Japan have listed all their back-up shuttlers. South Korea will be banking on Park Sung-hwan, Lee Hyun-il and Shon Wan-ho while Thailand have second seed Boonsak Ponsana as their top contender for the title.

Chong Wei, Koo and Tan excused from SEA Games

Lee Chong Wei’s wish to stay out of the Indonesia SEA Games has been granted.
In fact, the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) have also decided not to send their top men’s pair, Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, for the biennial Games scheduled for Nov 11-25.
Yesterday, BAM secretary Ng Chin Chai echoed Chong Wei’s sentiments on giving the younger players a shot at proving themselves in the regional Games.
“The BAM have made plans to expose a newer group of players for the Games. We will name the squad at least three months before the Games,” he said.
“All the players under the Road to London programme – Chong Wei, Koo and Tan – will focus on their preparation for the Olympics.”
With the BAM’s decision, a keen competition is expected to take place among the back-up shuttlers to prove their worth to earn selection for the SEA Games.