ants
02-19-2004, 09:10 PM
KUALA LUMPUR: Qualifying for the Uber Cup Finals on merit for the first time is now all in the hands of the Malaysian women's team.
Fancied Hong Kong, who lost to Malaysia in their opening tie, fell out of contention for one of the two qualifying slots to the Finals from Group A following a 1-4 defeat by India at the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium yesterday.
Unbeaten Japan have confirmed their place in Finals as the group champions. And the other berth will be decided today in the tie between Malaysia and India.
The other final round tie in the group between Japan and Hong Kong is only of academic interest.
Malaysia set up the straight fight for a ticket to the Finals in Jakarta in May with a 5-0 win over Macau yesterday.
National doubles coach Cheah Soon Kit's only fear of the players in the crunch match against the Indians is to see them “freezing”.
“The players have done well so far. They have to hold their nerves against the Indians.
“It is going to be very close and the team who can handle the pressure better will win,” said Soon Kit.
Wong Mew Choo will spearhead the Malaysian challenge and Soon Kit added: “I hope the players will complement each other. Mew Choo should not shoulder the burden alone. I hope all the players will play their part.”
Malaysia should win points in both the doubles and they hope that the singles players will be able to deliver as well.
Malaysia are expected to field Wong Mew Choo, Woon Sze Mei and Norsyahliza Baharum in the singles. In the doubles line-up are Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty and Fong Chew Yen-Ooi Sock Ai.
India will bank on the same team who scored the upset win over Hong Kong – Aparna Popat, B.R Meenakshi and Trupti Murgunde in the singles and Shruti Kurian-Gupta Jwala and Fatima Nazneen-Manjusha Kanwar for the doubles.
The 21-year-old Mew Choo said it would be tough for her against 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Aparna.
“She is a very experienced player and it will not be easy for me.
“I will certainly be out to give a better performance,” said Mew Choo, who lost her matches in the ties against Hong Kong and Japan.
“My teammates and I have come this far and we will not give up without a fight. We want to go to Jakarta for the Uber Cup Finals and we will fight for every point.”
Sze Mei lost to Meenakshi in the quarter-finals of the India Satellite last year and the stage is now set for the 27-year-old Malaysian to avenge the defeat.
In young and talented 17-year-old Norsyahliza, Malaysia have a player they can count on to win a point against India in the third singles.
The other two qualifiers from Group B have been decided – South Korea and Taiwan. The semi-finals will be played tonight with Taiwan taking on Japan and South Korea playing against the winners of the tie between Malaysia and India.
Fancied Hong Kong, who lost to Malaysia in their opening tie, fell out of contention for one of the two qualifying slots to the Finals from Group A following a 1-4 defeat by India at the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium yesterday.
Unbeaten Japan have confirmed their place in Finals as the group champions. And the other berth will be decided today in the tie between Malaysia and India.
The other final round tie in the group between Japan and Hong Kong is only of academic interest.
Malaysia set up the straight fight for a ticket to the Finals in Jakarta in May with a 5-0 win over Macau yesterday.
National doubles coach Cheah Soon Kit's only fear of the players in the crunch match against the Indians is to see them “freezing”.
“The players have done well so far. They have to hold their nerves against the Indians.
“It is going to be very close and the team who can handle the pressure better will win,” said Soon Kit.
Wong Mew Choo will spearhead the Malaysian challenge and Soon Kit added: “I hope the players will complement each other. Mew Choo should not shoulder the burden alone. I hope all the players will play their part.”
Malaysia should win points in both the doubles and they hope that the singles players will be able to deliver as well.
Malaysia are expected to field Wong Mew Choo, Woon Sze Mei and Norsyahliza Baharum in the singles. In the doubles line-up are Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty and Fong Chew Yen-Ooi Sock Ai.
India will bank on the same team who scored the upset win over Hong Kong – Aparna Popat, B.R Meenakshi and Trupti Murgunde in the singles and Shruti Kurian-Gupta Jwala and Fatima Nazneen-Manjusha Kanwar for the doubles.
The 21-year-old Mew Choo said it would be tough for her against 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Aparna.
“She is a very experienced player and it will not be easy for me.
“I will certainly be out to give a better performance,” said Mew Choo, who lost her matches in the ties against Hong Kong and Japan.
“My teammates and I have come this far and we will not give up without a fight. We want to go to Jakarta for the Uber Cup Finals and we will fight for every point.”
Sze Mei lost to Meenakshi in the quarter-finals of the India Satellite last year and the stage is now set for the 27-year-old Malaysian to avenge the defeat.
In young and talented 17-year-old Norsyahliza, Malaysia have a player they can count on to win a point against India in the third singles.
The other two qualifiers from Group B have been decided – South Korea and Taiwan. The semi-finals will be played tonight with Taiwan taking on Japan and South Korea playing against the winners of the tie between Malaysia and India.