wilfredlgf
02-23-2004, 06:24 PM
BY RAJES PAUL
PETALING JAYA: The national doubles players will have to double their efforts to improve on their game to give Malaysia more strength in the challenge for the Thomas Cup in Jakarta in May.
Malaysia have the singles players to bank on for points against the top contenders, among them defending champions Indonesia, China, South Korea and Denmark, in the Finals scheduled for May 6-17. But they are relatively weaker in the doubles.
In the just concluded Asian Zone qualifying tournament, there was nothing really special about the performances of the doubles pairs except for the straight-game victory by the scratch pair of Lee Wan Wah-Chew Choon Eng over world number nine Sang Yang-Zheng Bo in the final against China.
National champions and youngsters Koo Kien Keat-Gan Teik Chai still have a long way to go to catch up with the top pairs in the world. And the inconsistent performance of Wan Wah’s regular partner Choong Tan Fook is cause for concern.
Tan Fook-Wan Wah were beaten 15-8, 13-15, 13-15 by Hong Kong’s Liu Kwok Wa-Agus Hariyanto in a group tie. The next day in the semi-finals, they defeated the South Koreans’ third ranked pair of Yim Bang-eun-Kim Yong-hyun 15-0, 15-12.
National doubles chief coach Yap Kim Hock admitted that Malaysia still lacked depth in the doubles but believed that the players would be ready for the Finals.
He added that the return of Chan Chong Ming, who forms a regular partnership with Choon Eng, would strengthen the team.
“Chong Ming has recovered from a shoulder injury and he has already resumed training. He will compete in the coming Swiss Open (March 2-7) and All-England (March 9-14),” said Kim Hock.
“Hopefully, he will regain his form. His services are needed if we are to have a stronger team for the Thomas Cup Finals.
“I also hope that Choon Eng will be steadier in his game. Wan Wah-Tan Fook are our top pair and my hope is that they will be consistent with their performances.
“Indonesia, China, South Korea, Denmark and even Thailand have strong doubles pairs and it won’t be easy to get points off them in a tie.”
Indonesia are known for the versatility in coming up with formidable pairs in the Thomas Cup Finals.
Their current pairs are Flandi Limpele-Eng Hian, Luluk Hadiyanto-Alven Yulianto, Candra Wijaya-Halim Haryanto and Sigit Budiarto-Trikus Hariyanto. But they have the ability to form scratch pairs to take on the best.
China have in their ranks the fast improving Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng and Sang Yang-Zheng Bo while the Koreans’ strength in the doubles needs no introduction with old hands Kim Dong-moon-Ha Tae-kwon and Lee Dong-soo-Yoo Yong-sung in the line-up.
“Our scratch pair (Wan Wah-Choon Eng) played well in the Asian qualifiers. We may opt for the same strategy in the Finals,” said Kim Hock.
While there are concerns over the doubles, Malaysia have the singles players to rely on for points in Wong Choong Hann, Mohd Roslin Hashim, Lee Chong Wei, Mohd Hafiz Hashim and Lee Tsuen Seng.
It was indicated against China, who are seen to have the best singles line-up, at the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium last Sunday.
Roslin defeated Chen Hong 15-7, 17-15 while Chong Wei held Lin Dan by the throat in a 15-3, 13-15, 6-15 defeat.
The Thomas-Uber Cup Finals this time have been expanded from eight to 12 teams. The teams for both tournaments have been confirmed except for the African qualifiers, which will be decided in Pretoria on Wednesday.
The Malaysian women will be competing in the Uber Cup Finals for the first time on merit, taking the fourth spot from the Asian qualifiers behind South Korea, Taiwan and Japan.
PETALING JAYA: The national doubles players will have to double their efforts to improve on their game to give Malaysia more strength in the challenge for the Thomas Cup in Jakarta in May.
Malaysia have the singles players to bank on for points against the top contenders, among them defending champions Indonesia, China, South Korea and Denmark, in the Finals scheduled for May 6-17. But they are relatively weaker in the doubles.
In the just concluded Asian Zone qualifying tournament, there was nothing really special about the performances of the doubles pairs except for the straight-game victory by the scratch pair of Lee Wan Wah-Chew Choon Eng over world number nine Sang Yang-Zheng Bo in the final against China.
National champions and youngsters Koo Kien Keat-Gan Teik Chai still have a long way to go to catch up with the top pairs in the world. And the inconsistent performance of Wan Wah’s regular partner Choong Tan Fook is cause for concern.
Tan Fook-Wan Wah were beaten 15-8, 13-15, 13-15 by Hong Kong’s Liu Kwok Wa-Agus Hariyanto in a group tie. The next day in the semi-finals, they defeated the South Koreans’ third ranked pair of Yim Bang-eun-Kim Yong-hyun 15-0, 15-12.
National doubles chief coach Yap Kim Hock admitted that Malaysia still lacked depth in the doubles but believed that the players would be ready for the Finals.
He added that the return of Chan Chong Ming, who forms a regular partnership with Choon Eng, would strengthen the team.
“Chong Ming has recovered from a shoulder injury and he has already resumed training. He will compete in the coming Swiss Open (March 2-7) and All-England (March 9-14),” said Kim Hock.
“Hopefully, he will regain his form. His services are needed if we are to have a stronger team for the Thomas Cup Finals.
“I also hope that Choon Eng will be steadier in his game. Wan Wah-Tan Fook are our top pair and my hope is that they will be consistent with their performances.
“Indonesia, China, South Korea, Denmark and even Thailand have strong doubles pairs and it won’t be easy to get points off them in a tie.”
Indonesia are known for the versatility in coming up with formidable pairs in the Thomas Cup Finals.
Their current pairs are Flandi Limpele-Eng Hian, Luluk Hadiyanto-Alven Yulianto, Candra Wijaya-Halim Haryanto and Sigit Budiarto-Trikus Hariyanto. But they have the ability to form scratch pairs to take on the best.
China have in their ranks the fast improving Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng and Sang Yang-Zheng Bo while the Koreans’ strength in the doubles needs no introduction with old hands Kim Dong-moon-Ha Tae-kwon and Lee Dong-soo-Yoo Yong-sung in the line-up.
“Our scratch pair (Wan Wah-Choon Eng) played well in the Asian qualifiers. We may opt for the same strategy in the Finals,” said Kim Hock.
While there are concerns over the doubles, Malaysia have the singles players to rely on for points in Wong Choong Hann, Mohd Roslin Hashim, Lee Chong Wei, Mohd Hafiz Hashim and Lee Tsuen Seng.
It was indicated against China, who are seen to have the best singles line-up, at the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium last Sunday.
Roslin defeated Chen Hong 15-7, 17-15 while Chong Wei held Lin Dan by the throat in a 15-3, 13-15, 6-15 defeat.
The Thomas-Uber Cup Finals this time have been expanded from eight to 12 teams. The teams for both tournaments have been confirmed except for the African qualifiers, which will be decided in Pretoria on Wednesday.
The Malaysian women will be competing in the Uber Cup Finals for the first time on merit, taking the fourth spot from the Asian qualifiers behind South Korea, Taiwan and Japan.