jaclyn
07-18-2004, 12:26 AM
KUALA LUMPUR: The Athens Olympic Games may turn out to be the last outing for national doubles player Chew Choon Eng with his regular partner Chan Chong Ming.
The four-year-old partnership could be broken up if they fare badly. And seasoned campaigner Choon Eng is prepared to accept any verdict.
For now though, his heart is set on achieving his best ever result with Chong Ming at Athens. The badminton competition is from Aug 14-21 at the Goudi Sports Complex.
My coach (Yap Kim Hock) may have plans for me after the Olympic Games. Whatever the outcome, I am prepared to accept it, said the 27-year-old Choon Eng.
Personally, I would like to continue playing. But if my services are no longer required, I will leave. If BAM (Badminton Association of Malaysia) want me to become a coach, I will venture into it. If they do not want me to partner Chong Ming anymore and give me a new partner, I will also accept it.
But honestly, all these are not my worries now, he said after a training session at the Stadium Juara in Bukit Kiara here yesterday.
After a successful scramble against time to qualify for the Athens Games, Choon Eng just wants to make a memorable debut with Chong Ming.
His hopes of featuring in his first Olympics hung on a string last October when Chong Ming suffered a shoulder injury.
But the 24-year-old Chong Ming returned after a five-month break and the pair just squeezed into the list of qualifiers within two months.
On paper, no one will expect us to win a medal at the Olympic Games. But anything can happen and we are not ruling out our chances, said Choon Eng.
My partner Chong Ming has shown improvement in the last few weeks. The training has been tough. We even train on Sundays. We want to achieve our best results together.
Our performances are still not stable but this will be ironed out, he added, reflecting on their upset win over Englands Nathan Roberton-Anthony Clark (second round) and a shocking defeat a day later to Denmarks Thomas Laybourn-Peter Steffensen in the Malaysian Open in Kuantan two weeks ago.
On the top contenders for the gold medal in the Olympics, Choon Eng said: There are four top pairs Jonas Rasmussen-Lars Paske (Den), Ha Tae-kwon-Kim Dong-moon (Kor), Fu Haifeng-Cai Yun (Chn) and my teammates (Choong) Tan Fook-(Lee) Wan Wah.
Currently, Tan Fook-Wan Wah are ranked second in the world while Choon Eng-Chong Ming are placed at 17th spot.
For the record, Malaysia won their first medal - a bronze - in the Olympics through the Sidek brothers Jalani-Razif in the mens doubles at the 1992 Barcelona Games.
The best achievement came in the 1996 Atlanta Games when Cheah Soon Kit-Kim Hock bagged a silver medal.
The Star Online
The four-year-old partnership could be broken up if they fare badly. And seasoned campaigner Choon Eng is prepared to accept any verdict.
For now though, his heart is set on achieving his best ever result with Chong Ming at Athens. The badminton competition is from Aug 14-21 at the Goudi Sports Complex.
My coach (Yap Kim Hock) may have plans for me after the Olympic Games. Whatever the outcome, I am prepared to accept it, said the 27-year-old Choon Eng.
Personally, I would like to continue playing. But if my services are no longer required, I will leave. If BAM (Badminton Association of Malaysia) want me to become a coach, I will venture into it. If they do not want me to partner Chong Ming anymore and give me a new partner, I will also accept it.
But honestly, all these are not my worries now, he said after a training session at the Stadium Juara in Bukit Kiara here yesterday.
After a successful scramble against time to qualify for the Athens Games, Choon Eng just wants to make a memorable debut with Chong Ming.
His hopes of featuring in his first Olympics hung on a string last October when Chong Ming suffered a shoulder injury.
But the 24-year-old Chong Ming returned after a five-month break and the pair just squeezed into the list of qualifiers within two months.
On paper, no one will expect us to win a medal at the Olympic Games. But anything can happen and we are not ruling out our chances, said Choon Eng.
My partner Chong Ming has shown improvement in the last few weeks. The training has been tough. We even train on Sundays. We want to achieve our best results together.
Our performances are still not stable but this will be ironed out, he added, reflecting on their upset win over Englands Nathan Roberton-Anthony Clark (second round) and a shocking defeat a day later to Denmarks Thomas Laybourn-Peter Steffensen in the Malaysian Open in Kuantan two weeks ago.
On the top contenders for the gold medal in the Olympics, Choon Eng said: There are four top pairs Jonas Rasmussen-Lars Paske (Den), Ha Tae-kwon-Kim Dong-moon (Kor), Fu Haifeng-Cai Yun (Chn) and my teammates (Choong) Tan Fook-(Lee) Wan Wah.
Currently, Tan Fook-Wan Wah are ranked second in the world while Choon Eng-Chong Ming are placed at 17th spot.
For the record, Malaysia won their first medal - a bronze - in the Olympics through the Sidek brothers Jalani-Razif in the mens doubles at the 1992 Barcelona Games.
The best achievement came in the 1996 Atlanta Games when Cheah Soon Kit-Kim Hock bagged a silver medal.
The Star Online