ants
01-14-2006, 01:47 AM
Jan 14:
NST
MALAYSIA’S double success in the Swiss Open was just an appetiser and the All-England is where national chief coach Yap Kim Hock wants his charges to strike it big.
Lee Chong Wei won the men’s singles title, while Chan Chong Ming-Koo Kien Keat clinched the doubles crown in Basel on Sunday, but Kim Hock reminded his players that the real competition will begin in Birmingham on Wednesday.
Top Chinese and Indonesian shuttlers skipped the Swiss Open to save their best for the All-England.
Kim Hock, for the first time, has also put such an emphasis on the All-England that the national senior shuttlers have skipped the ongoing German Open in order to do well in Birmingham.
"My plan was for the players to compete in the Swiss Open and travel early to Birmingham so that we can prepare for the All-England.
"This is our first major event and I want the players to do well," said Kim Hock in a telephone interview from Milton Keynes, England, yesterday.
"The players are in good form and did well in the Swiss Open. However, All-England will be a tough battleground as the Chinese and Indonesian players are here in full force.
"We need to perform very well here as this will give us the confidence ahead of a hectic year.
"If we are to achieve our goals in the Doha Asian Games, World Championships in Madrid and the Thomas Cup (in Tokyo), we must be on par with our rivals from now onwards."
Kim Hock has targeted a gold in the Asian Games, a finalist in the world championships, and the Thomas Cup squad to reach the semi-finals at least.
Players from China and Indonesia are capable of frustrating the Malaysians in these competitions and the All-England will provide the avenue for Kim Hock gauge the the level of the his shuttlers.
In the men’s singles, third seed Chong Wei is the best bet but faces a tough match against World No 1 Lin Dan of China in the semi-final stage.
In the men’s doubles, Chong Ming-Kien Keat and Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah have an easy passage to the preliminary rounds but face tough matches in the last eight.
Chong Ming-Kien Keat are likely to meet third seeds Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng of China, while Tan Fook-Wan Wah should meet Luluk Hadyanto-Alven Yulianto of Indonesia in the quarter-finals.
Both pairs have beaten their rivals before and it will be a good outing if they can join Chong Wei in the last four stages.
NST
MALAYSIA’S double success in the Swiss Open was just an appetiser and the All-England is where national chief coach Yap Kim Hock wants his charges to strike it big.
Lee Chong Wei won the men’s singles title, while Chan Chong Ming-Koo Kien Keat clinched the doubles crown in Basel on Sunday, but Kim Hock reminded his players that the real competition will begin in Birmingham on Wednesday.
Top Chinese and Indonesian shuttlers skipped the Swiss Open to save their best for the All-England.
Kim Hock, for the first time, has also put such an emphasis on the All-England that the national senior shuttlers have skipped the ongoing German Open in order to do well in Birmingham.
"My plan was for the players to compete in the Swiss Open and travel early to Birmingham so that we can prepare for the All-England.
"This is our first major event and I want the players to do well," said Kim Hock in a telephone interview from Milton Keynes, England, yesterday.
"The players are in good form and did well in the Swiss Open. However, All-England will be a tough battleground as the Chinese and Indonesian players are here in full force.
"We need to perform very well here as this will give us the confidence ahead of a hectic year.
"If we are to achieve our goals in the Doha Asian Games, World Championships in Madrid and the Thomas Cup (in Tokyo), we must be on par with our rivals from now onwards."
Kim Hock has targeted a gold in the Asian Games, a finalist in the world championships, and the Thomas Cup squad to reach the semi-finals at least.
Players from China and Indonesia are capable of frustrating the Malaysians in these competitions and the All-England will provide the avenue for Kim Hock gauge the the level of the his shuttlers.
In the men’s singles, third seed Chong Wei is the best bet but faces a tough match against World No 1 Lin Dan of China in the semi-final stage.
In the men’s doubles, Chong Ming-Kien Keat and Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah have an easy passage to the preliminary rounds but face tough matches in the last eight.
Chong Ming-Kien Keat are likely to meet third seeds Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng of China, while Tan Fook-Wan Wah should meet Luluk Hadyanto-Alven Yulianto of Indonesia in the quarter-finals.
Both pairs have beaten their rivals before and it will be a good outing if they can join Chong Wei in the last four stages.