Tan Fook hopes to get on the rostrum again

[ants]

Feb 28

TheStar

PUTRAJAYA: Veteran doubles shuttler Choong Tan Fook will have a different partner in his third consecutive Commonwealth Games.

But the 31-year-old shuttler hopes to keep a Games tradition going in Melbourne by getting on the rostrum again.

In his Games debut in Kuala Lumpur in 1998, Tan Fook partnered Lee Wan Wah to take the gold. In Manchester in 2002, his partner was Chang Kim Wai and they won the silver.

In Melbourne, Tan Fook will form a scratch combination with singles shuttler Wong Choong Hann. Chan Chong Ming-Koo Kien Keat are the other Malaysian pair taking part in the Games.

Although upbeat over his chances to win a medal in Melbourne with Choong Hann, Tan Fook lamented over the lack of opportunity to play with his partner in tournaments under the new rally scoring format (21 points in best-of-three games) this year.

“We did not get to play in the recent Asian Zone Thomas Cup qualifying tournament because of the team’s strategy,” he said.

“The Philippines Open is also out (the tournament has been postponed). Now we just have to improve our combination in training and play as many practice matches as possible.”

Tan Fook and Choong Hann played as a pair in the Manila SEA Games last December and they bagged the bronze.

For the Melbourne Games, Malaysia look good for a 1-2 finish in the men’s doubles. The only other pair seen as a threat to the Malaysians are England’s Robert Blair-Anthony Clark.

[blckknght]

Where is Lee Wan Wah?

[seven]

Where is Lee Wan Wah?

Injured again! :(

[blckknght]

Injured again! :(
again?? What about the Thomas Cup Finals? They need him!

[ants]

Lee Wan Wah's recent injury is not serious. Its just that he have to rest and nurse his weak knees. If he insist on playing and IF a serious injury happen.. he may not be able to play badminton ever again.

[Chu Liuxiang]

Where is Lee Wan Wah?
In Melbourne Commonwealth Game, each team is only allow to have 5 mens players, Malaysia already have Lee Chong Wei and Wong Choon Hann in the singles and CCM/KKK in the doubles while the remain seat is Choong Tan Fook, so Lee Wan Wah is out from the Game and Malaysia have to combine CTF and Wong CH as second doubles.

[jamesd20]

In Melbourne Commonwealth Game, each team is only allow to have 5 mens players, Malaysia already have Lee Chong Wei and Wong Choon Hann in the singles and CCM/KKK in the doubles while the remain seat is Choong Tan Fook, so Lee Wan Wah is out from the Game and Malaysia have to combine CTF and Wong CH as second doubles.

So what is the format of the team competition? Is it like Surdiman cup where one game from each discipline (MS/WS/MD/WD/XD)

[Chu Liuxiang]

So what is the format of the team competition? Is it like Surdiman cup where one game from each discipline (MS/WS/MD/WD/XD)


Yes.


01/03/06, 18:36:19



By K.M. Boopathy

MALAYSIA have never been a force in badminton’s mixed team event in the Commonwealth Games but they are genuine contenders in the coming edition in Melbourne on March 15-26.

England have monopolised the mixed team in every edition of the Games but Malaysia, thanks to the marked improvement showed by the women,can cause an upset.

The mixed team event consists of men’s and women’s singles and doubles, and the mixed doubles. Malaysia have quality players in all five events.

Chief coach Yap Kim Hock is quietly confident that the elusive gold medal can be won by Malaysia and Rexy Mainaky shares his sentiment.

"It is one of the events which can give us the gold. England are the favourites but we have a chance this time," said Kim Hock.

However, it was women’s doubles coach Cheah Soon Kit who was more precise when he said that Malaysia should focus on just four events to wrap it up as he felt England are very strong in the mixed doubles where they have World No 1 Nathan Robertson-Gail Emms to depend on.

"Our men’s singles and doubles should deliver. The third point must come from the women’s singles or the women’s doubles," said Soon Kit.

"It is a bit risky if the mixed doubles event is decisive as England have a clear edge. Wong Mew Choo and Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui have improved. We can look forward to a good outing in the team event this time."

Malaysia will field World No 2 Lee Chong Wei in the men’s singles while Chan Chong Ming-Koo Kien Keat will be the choice in the men’s doubles.

Mew Choo is a strong bet to win the women’s singles, while Pei Tty-Eei Hui can upset and send England packing to their first defeat in the mixed team event.

Malaysia are also expected to rest the top mixed doubles pair of Kien Keat-Pei Tty for strategic reasons. Both players must concentrate on the men’s and women’s doubles respectively.

Utility player Wong Choong Hann is expected to feature in the mixed doubles with Ooi Sock Ai and despite lacking match practice as a pair, they could give Robertson-Gail a hard time.

The only time Malaysia won the team gold was in 1998 when Kuala Lumpur hosted the Games and held the men’s and women’s team events separately.

Malaysia cruised to the men’s team gold while England reigned supreme in the women’s team event.

The mixed team event was reinstated for the 2002 Games in Manchester where England edged Malaysia 3-2 in the preliminary round. But it could be different in Melbourne where Malaysia will be the team to beat.