ants
01-18-2006, 05:30 AM
TheStar 19th Jan
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian men's doubles pairs have the task to end a 24-year wait for the All-England title in the event. And in the men's singles, formidable Chinese players stand in the way of the Malaysian challengers, led by Lee Chong Wei.
From the draw of the 106th edition of the prestigious championships, which begins today in Birmingham, Malaysia stand the better chance to win glory in the men's doubles.
Carrying the hopes are Swiss Open champions Chan Chong Ming-Koo Kien Keat and the veteran combination of Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah. Both pairs should have little difficulty cruising into the quarter-finals.
Chong Ming-Kien Keat are tipped to take on defending champions Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng of China while Tan Fook-Wan Wah have second seeds Jens Eriksen-Martin Lundgaard Hansen of Denmark in their path.
In 2004, Tan Fook-Wan Wah came close to winning the title last won by the Sidek brothers, Razif and Jalani, in 1982. They were beaten by Eriksen-Lundgaard Hansen in the final.
National chief coach Yap Kim Hock (pic) said yesterday the competition for the men's doubles title was more than in the men's singles.
“We have a favourable draw for the doubles. Both our top pairs are also in good conditions,” said Kim Hock in a telephone interview from Birmingham.
“Candra Wijaya-Sigit Budiarto (of Indonesia) are the top seeds but they are not the clear favourites for the title. Our pairs have beaten all the top combinations.
“It will be touch-and-go. We hope our players will rise to the occasion.”
The All-England is the first international tournament for world number one Candra-Sigit, who lost to Americans Howard Bach-Tony Gunawan in the final of the World Championships last year.
Kim Hock is also looking at the national back-up pairs – Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Lin Woon Fui, Tan Bin Shen-Ong Soon Hock and Gan Teik Chai-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif – to spring upsets.
In the men's singles, Kim Hock said the emergence of Chen Jin, who won the preceding German Open, had further strengthened China's challenge for the title.
He added that it would be tough for Chong Wei, Wong Choong Hann and Hafiz Hashim.
“They have Chinese players standing in their way. It will not be easy for them to beat the Chinese,” said Kim Hock.
Hafiz, who won the title in 2003, will take on the 20-year-old Chen Jin in the first round.
Chong Wei should make it to the quarter-finals for a projected match against defending champion Chen Hong. Choong Hann has world number one Lin Dan in his path in the third round.
Hafiz has not play against Chen Jin while Swiss Open champion Chong Wei and Choong Hann will be out for revenge after suffering defeats by the same opponents in the semi-finals of last year's championships.
Malaysia are not setting high hopes in the women's events, which is expected to be dominated by the Chinese.
In the fray for the women's singles is Wong Mew Choo while the national top pair for the doubles are Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty, who are ranked seventh in the world.
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian men's doubles pairs have the task to end a 24-year wait for the All-England title in the event. And in the men's singles, formidable Chinese players stand in the way of the Malaysian challengers, led by Lee Chong Wei.
From the draw of the 106th edition of the prestigious championships, which begins today in Birmingham, Malaysia stand the better chance to win glory in the men's doubles.
Carrying the hopes are Swiss Open champions Chan Chong Ming-Koo Kien Keat and the veteran combination of Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah. Both pairs should have little difficulty cruising into the quarter-finals.
Chong Ming-Kien Keat are tipped to take on defending champions Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng of China while Tan Fook-Wan Wah have second seeds Jens Eriksen-Martin Lundgaard Hansen of Denmark in their path.
In 2004, Tan Fook-Wan Wah came close to winning the title last won by the Sidek brothers, Razif and Jalani, in 1982. They were beaten by Eriksen-Lundgaard Hansen in the final.
National chief coach Yap Kim Hock (pic) said yesterday the competition for the men's doubles title was more than in the men's singles.
“We have a favourable draw for the doubles. Both our top pairs are also in good conditions,” said Kim Hock in a telephone interview from Birmingham.
“Candra Wijaya-Sigit Budiarto (of Indonesia) are the top seeds but they are not the clear favourites for the title. Our pairs have beaten all the top combinations.
“It will be touch-and-go. We hope our players will rise to the occasion.”
The All-England is the first international tournament for world number one Candra-Sigit, who lost to Americans Howard Bach-Tony Gunawan in the final of the World Championships last year.
Kim Hock is also looking at the national back-up pairs – Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Lin Woon Fui, Tan Bin Shen-Ong Soon Hock and Gan Teik Chai-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif – to spring upsets.
In the men's singles, Kim Hock said the emergence of Chen Jin, who won the preceding German Open, had further strengthened China's challenge for the title.
He added that it would be tough for Chong Wei, Wong Choong Hann and Hafiz Hashim.
“They have Chinese players standing in their way. It will not be easy for them to beat the Chinese,” said Kim Hock.
Hafiz, who won the title in 2003, will take on the 20-year-old Chen Jin in the first round.
Chong Wei should make it to the quarter-finals for a projected match against defending champion Chen Hong. Choong Hann has world number one Lin Dan in his path in the third round.
Hafiz has not play against Chen Jin while Swiss Open champion Chong Wei and Choong Hann will be out for revenge after suffering defeats by the same opponents in the semi-finals of last year's championships.
Malaysia are not setting high hopes in the women's events, which is expected to be dominated by the Chinese.
In the fray for the women's singles is Wong Mew Choo while the national top pair for the doubles are Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty, who are ranked seventh in the world.