ants
02-15-2004, 08:40 PM
MAKING the Thomas Cup finals is hardly going to be a problem for Malaysia but the team’s mission should be to win the Asian zone qualifier which starts at the KLBA Stadium today.
Malaysia only need to beat Hong Kong and Sri Lanka in Group B to confirm their final round berth, but their biggest challenge is to overcome a full strength China and South Korea in the competition.
Malaysia are expected to meet South Korea in the semi-final on Saturday and a win will most likely pit them against top seeds China in the final on Sunday.
If Malaysia can emerge as the zone champions, it will give them a favourable seeding in Jakarta but most importantly, it will be a morale booster for the national players who will be involved in five grand prix tournaments in an attempt to qualify for the Athens Olympics.
Malaysia should top group B with victories over Hong Kong on Wednesday and Sri Lanka on Thursday but the expected semi-final match against South Korea will be a test.
With a respectable singles line-up in Lee Hyun Il, the World No 3, Shon Seung Mo, Park Tae Sang and Park Sung Hwan and the formidable doubles combinations of Ha Tae Kwon-Kim Dong Moon and Lee Dong Soo-Yoo Yong Sung, Malaysia need something special from their senior shuttlers.
Wong Choong Hann will have to lead by example and as long as he can give a winning start against Korea, Malaysia are capable of outplaying their bogey team this time.
The Koreans beat Malaysia in the 1992 and 2002 Thomas Cup finals, which were held in Kuala Lumpur, and this is something the hosts should be wary of.
Besides Choong Hann, Roslin Hashim, Lee Chong Wei and Kuan Beng Hong complete the singles lineup and in Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah, Gan Teik Chai-Koo Kien Keat and Chew Choon Eng-Chang Kim Wai, Malaysia do not have really strong doubles combinations.
Tan Fook-Wan Wah have not been impressive in previous Thomas Cup campaigns despite their ability to beat the best and this must change if Malaysia want to beat Korea and China.
China will parading World No 1 Chen Hong, World No 2 Lin Dan and World No 6 Bao Chunlai as their top three singles players while world championships semi-finalists Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng and Sang Yang-Zheng Bo make China the most balanced side in the qualifying round.
Malaysia have an outside chance of beating them but much will depend on how the singles shuttlers fare against the all-conquering Chinese as Tan Fook-Wan Wah are, on their day, capable of beating both their doubles pairs.
Choong Hann, Roslin and Chong Wei, looking forward to qualifying for the Olympics, must start beating the Chinese shuttlers before it becomes a psychological barrier for them in the grand prix tournaments
In the Uber Cup competition, it looks tough for Malaysia to qualify for the final round as they have Japan, Hong Kong , India and Macau for company in group A.
Malaysia have never qualified for the final round before but should make use of the home ground advantage to clinch one of the four spots available in Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysia only need to beat Hong Kong and Sri Lanka in Group B to confirm their final round berth, but their biggest challenge is to overcome a full strength China and South Korea in the competition.
Malaysia are expected to meet South Korea in the semi-final on Saturday and a win will most likely pit them against top seeds China in the final on Sunday.
If Malaysia can emerge as the zone champions, it will give them a favourable seeding in Jakarta but most importantly, it will be a morale booster for the national players who will be involved in five grand prix tournaments in an attempt to qualify for the Athens Olympics.
Malaysia should top group B with victories over Hong Kong on Wednesday and Sri Lanka on Thursday but the expected semi-final match against South Korea will be a test.
With a respectable singles line-up in Lee Hyun Il, the World No 3, Shon Seung Mo, Park Tae Sang and Park Sung Hwan and the formidable doubles combinations of Ha Tae Kwon-Kim Dong Moon and Lee Dong Soo-Yoo Yong Sung, Malaysia need something special from their senior shuttlers.
Wong Choong Hann will have to lead by example and as long as he can give a winning start against Korea, Malaysia are capable of outplaying their bogey team this time.
The Koreans beat Malaysia in the 1992 and 2002 Thomas Cup finals, which were held in Kuala Lumpur, and this is something the hosts should be wary of.
Besides Choong Hann, Roslin Hashim, Lee Chong Wei and Kuan Beng Hong complete the singles lineup and in Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah, Gan Teik Chai-Koo Kien Keat and Chew Choon Eng-Chang Kim Wai, Malaysia do not have really strong doubles combinations.
Tan Fook-Wan Wah have not been impressive in previous Thomas Cup campaigns despite their ability to beat the best and this must change if Malaysia want to beat Korea and China.
China will parading World No 1 Chen Hong, World No 2 Lin Dan and World No 6 Bao Chunlai as their top three singles players while world championships semi-finalists Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng and Sang Yang-Zheng Bo make China the most balanced side in the qualifying round.
Malaysia have an outside chance of beating them but much will depend on how the singles shuttlers fare against the all-conquering Chinese as Tan Fook-Wan Wah are, on their day, capable of beating both their doubles pairs.
Choong Hann, Roslin and Chong Wei, looking forward to qualifying for the Olympics, must start beating the Chinese shuttlers before it becomes a psychological barrier for them in the grand prix tournaments
In the Uber Cup competition, it looks tough for Malaysia to qualify for the final round as they have Japan, Hong Kong , India and Macau for company in group A.
Malaysia have never qualified for the final round before but should make use of the home ground advantage to clinch one of the four spots available in Kuala Lumpur.