ants
03-15-2004, 08:07 PM
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia can now look forward to their next major event, the Thomas Cup Finals, with a little more optimism following the strong showing of Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah in the men's doubles of the just concluded All-England in Birmingham.
The veterans upset world champions Lars Paaske-Jonas Rasmussen of Denmark and reigning Swiss Open champions Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng en route to the final of the world's oldest tournament.
But they failed to chalk up their biggest career win, losing 15-9, 13-15, 3-15 to world number four Jens Eriksen-Jonas Rasmussen of Denmark in a 79-minute final.
If the duo can keep up their momentum and improve on their mental strength, Malaysia will have a more balanced team for the challenge in the Thomas Cup Finals, which will be played in Jakarta from May 7-16.
Malaysia are the third seeds and they are tipped to play against top seeded China or defending champions Indonesia in the quarter-finals of the world men's team championships.
National doubles chief coach Yap Kim Hock said that Malaysia could now look forward with confidence to a pair capable of winning points in a tie in the Finals.
“They had tough matches from the third round in the All-England and they did well to reach the final. It is unfortunate that their challenge fizzled out in the crucial stages of the final,” said Kim Hock in a telephone interview from Birmingham yesterday.
“They were leading 12-5 in the second game and should have sealed the match. But they allowed their opponents to get back into the game. Then came the umpire's call against them. They will have to work on giving total concentration for the full duration of a match.”
He added that injury had kept Wan Wah out of action for some time and the pair had made good progress on their comeback trail since early last year.
“They can now challenge any pair in the world,” said Kim Hock.
He also said that they were now fitter and faster than some of the top pairs, including Indonesians Candra Wijaya-Halim Hariyanto and Sigit Budiarto-Trikus Hariyanto; Koreans Kim Dong-moon-Ha tae-kwon and Lee Dong-soo-Yoo Yong-sung.
“From their recent performances, it showed that they are determined to produced good results for the country,” said Kim Hock.
The other doubles pairs – Chan Chong Ming-Chew Choon Eng and Koo Kien Keat-Gan Teik Chai – have left for Paris to compete in the French Open, which begins tomorrow.
Meanwhile, except for Mohd Roslin Hashim, the other men's singles players, especially Wong Choong Hann, did not make any impact in the All-England.
Choong Hann lost to Roslin's younger brother and defending champion, Hafiz, in the second round.
The 29-year-old Roslin saved eight match points against Denmark's Kenneth Jonassen to reach the quarter-finals. He was beaten by another Dane, Peter Gade-Christensen.
Vietnam SEA Games singles champion Wong Mew Choo also put up a creditable performance, scoring an upset win over world number 17 Petra Overzier of Germany to reach the third round.
The national shutlers have two Open tournaments coming up – in South Korea (March 30-April 4) and Japan (April 6-11).
“Some of the men’s singles players did not do well in the All-England,” said national singles chief coach Misbun Sidek.
“But I am certain they will bounce back with stronger performances in the next two tournaments. Besides the Thomas Cup Finals, the players are also in a rush to win ranking points for the Athens Olympics. I certainly expect keener competitions in the next one month.”
The qualifying period for the Olympic Games ends on April 30.
The veterans upset world champions Lars Paaske-Jonas Rasmussen of Denmark and reigning Swiss Open champions Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng en route to the final of the world's oldest tournament.
But they failed to chalk up their biggest career win, losing 15-9, 13-15, 3-15 to world number four Jens Eriksen-Jonas Rasmussen of Denmark in a 79-minute final.
If the duo can keep up their momentum and improve on their mental strength, Malaysia will have a more balanced team for the challenge in the Thomas Cup Finals, which will be played in Jakarta from May 7-16.
Malaysia are the third seeds and they are tipped to play against top seeded China or defending champions Indonesia in the quarter-finals of the world men's team championships.
National doubles chief coach Yap Kim Hock said that Malaysia could now look forward with confidence to a pair capable of winning points in a tie in the Finals.
“They had tough matches from the third round in the All-England and they did well to reach the final. It is unfortunate that their challenge fizzled out in the crucial stages of the final,” said Kim Hock in a telephone interview from Birmingham yesterday.
“They were leading 12-5 in the second game and should have sealed the match. But they allowed their opponents to get back into the game. Then came the umpire's call against them. They will have to work on giving total concentration for the full duration of a match.”
He added that injury had kept Wan Wah out of action for some time and the pair had made good progress on their comeback trail since early last year.
“They can now challenge any pair in the world,” said Kim Hock.
He also said that they were now fitter and faster than some of the top pairs, including Indonesians Candra Wijaya-Halim Hariyanto and Sigit Budiarto-Trikus Hariyanto; Koreans Kim Dong-moon-Ha tae-kwon and Lee Dong-soo-Yoo Yong-sung.
“From their recent performances, it showed that they are determined to produced good results for the country,” said Kim Hock.
The other doubles pairs – Chan Chong Ming-Chew Choon Eng and Koo Kien Keat-Gan Teik Chai – have left for Paris to compete in the French Open, which begins tomorrow.
Meanwhile, except for Mohd Roslin Hashim, the other men's singles players, especially Wong Choong Hann, did not make any impact in the All-England.
Choong Hann lost to Roslin's younger brother and defending champion, Hafiz, in the second round.
The 29-year-old Roslin saved eight match points against Denmark's Kenneth Jonassen to reach the quarter-finals. He was beaten by another Dane, Peter Gade-Christensen.
Vietnam SEA Games singles champion Wong Mew Choo also put up a creditable performance, scoring an upset win over world number 17 Petra Overzier of Germany to reach the third round.
The national shutlers have two Open tournaments coming up – in South Korea (March 30-April 4) and Japan (April 6-11).
“Some of the men’s singles players did not do well in the All-England,” said national singles chief coach Misbun Sidek.
“But I am certain they will bounce back with stronger performances in the next two tournaments. Besides the Thomas Cup Finals, the players are also in a rush to win ranking points for the Athens Olympics. I certainly expect keener competitions in the next one month.”
The qualifying period for the Olympic Games ends on April 30.