TheStar 18th Feb

JAIPUR: The Malaysian men's team easily qualified for the Thomas Cup Finals but it was the end of the road for the women in their chase for a Uber Cup Finals berth.

Yesterday, the Malaysia men cruised to a 5-0 win over Iran to emerge as the Group A champions in the Asian Zone qualifying tournament at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium in India. But their women's counterparts fell 1-4 to favourites South Korea in a Group A tie which dashed their qualifying hopes.

The Malaysian Thomas Cup squad, having whitewashed Nepal and Pakistan with an identical 5-0 victories earlier, will join three other group winners – Indonesia (Group B), India (Group C) and South Korea (Group D) for the Thomas Cup Finals in Japan from April 28-May 7.

Chong Wei and company will take on Indonesia in the semi-finals today while India and South Korea meet in the other semi-final tie.

However, there was disappointment for the Malaysian women just one day after they stunned Indonesia to keep their slim hopes of qualifying alive.

Wong Mew Choo had given Malaysia a bright start with an upset 16-21, 21-12, 21-17 win over Seo Yoon-yee but the Koreans proved too strong as they went on to win the next four points.

The Koreans’ points came from Lee Kyung-won-Lee Hyo-jung who beat Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui 16-21, 19-21; Lee Yun-hwa who defeated Julia Wong 12-21, 24-22, 16-21; Hwang Yu-mi-Ha Jung-eun who edged scratch pair Mooi Hing Yau-Fong Chew Yen 13-21, 21-10, 10-21 and Jun Jae-youn who tamed Norsyahliza Baharum 12-21, 14-21.

Taiwan, who lost 2-3 to Indonesia yesterday, made the cut from the group on count back. The qualifiers from Group B are winners Hong Kong and Singapore.





l THOMAS CUP

Group A: Malaysia bt Iran 5-0 (Mohd Hafiz Hashim bt Golamreza Bagheri 21-11, 21-12; Wong Choong Hann bt Ali Shahhoseini 21-16, 21-11; Kuan Beng Hong bt Omid Karami 21-17, 21-7; Chan Chong Ming-Koo Kien Keat bt Golamreza-Ali 21-5, 21-13; Choong Tan Fook-Lee Chong Wei bt Nikzad Shiri-Arash Abdul Mohamadian 21-7, 21-7), Pakistan bt Nepal 5-0.

Group C: India bt Hong Kong 3-2

Group D: South Korea bt Taiwan 5-0

·UBER CUP

GROUP A: South Korea bt Iran 5-0; Indonesian bt Taiwan 3-2; South Korea bt Malaysia 4-1 (Seo Yoon-hee lost to Wong Mew Choo 21-16, 21-12, 21-17; Lee Kyung-won-Lee Hyo-jung bt Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty 21-16, 21-19; Lee Yun-hwa bt Julia Wong 21-12, 22-24, 21-16; Hwang Yu-mi-Ha Jung-eun bt Mooi Hing Yau-Fong Chew Yen 21-13, 10-21, 21-10; Jun Jae-youn bt Norsyahliza Baharum 21-12, 21-14.

GROUP B: Hong Kong bt Pakistan 5-0; Singapore bt India 5-0.

Malaysia beat India and secured the fifth place, so did Malaysia qualify?

Fifth place does not guarantee a place in the final, but will have chance to qualify IF any qualified team withdraw. Therefore, MAS is virtually out of final baring any last minute withdrawal.

Fifth place does not guarantee a place in the final, but will have chance to qualify IF any qualified team withdraw. Therefore, MAS is virtually out of final baring any last minute withdrawal.

MAS lost to Taiwan when it mattered most.....anyway, UBER is pointless IMHO, China will clinch it with ease.

How come Malaysia got such a lucky draw for the mens? None of the teams that Malaysia had to play, Nepal, Iran, and Pakistan, are badminton powers.

MAS lost to Taiwan when it mattered most.....anyway, UBER is pointless IMHO, China will clinch it with ease.

I know China will win with ease. But it is the exposure and experience that they need to most in playing the most prestigious Team Event finals.

MAS lost to Taiwan when it mattered most.....anyway, UBER is pointless IMHO, China will clinch it with ease.

Im not surprise that MAS lost to Taiwan. Taiwan ladies are catching up fast and I believe in a year or two they can match any team (except China) without much trouble. MAS singles and doubles are still very weak and inconsistent (typical MAS style). Too rely on WMC but its good to see MAS sending their juniors out for more exposures. MAS has a much over rated double pair in Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui. Again they are very inconsistent and they are never really a "fear" team to play against. MAS ladies still has a loooooong way to go before they can match their male counterpart unless hahaha....MAS started to "import" players like their neighbour does. :D

Im not surprise that MAS lost to Taiwan. Taiwan ladies are catching up fast and I believe in a year or two they can match any team (except China) without much trouble. MAS singles and doubles are still very weak and inconsistent (typical MAS style). Too rely on WMC but its good to see MAS sending their juniors out for more exposures. MAS has a much over rated double pair in Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui. Again they are very inconsistent and they are never really a "fear" team to play against. MAS ladies still has a loooooong way to go before they can match their male counterpart unless hahaha....MAS started to "import" players like their neighbour does. :D
That may be true. But one should also look from what level the M'sian ladies were as few years ago. Back in the late 90's, I cannot remember a M'sian ladies player getting to s/finals or q/finals but events. But they do now. Progress needs development and development needs time.

It takes many, many years for a person to develop into a world class player.

That may be true. But one should also look from what level the M'sian ladies were as few years ago. Back in the late 90's, I cannot remember a M'sian ladies player getting to s/finals or q/finals but events. But they do now. Progress needs development and development needs time.

It takes many, many years for a person to develop into a world class player.

Couldnt agree more. But seriously the shortest route/time and easier way to progress is to "import" players.