ants
03-20-2006, 06:50 PM
March 21:
NST
MALAYSIA won the mixed team badminton gold medal for the first time in the history of the Commonwealth Games but the victory over England could prove costly for women's singles player Wong Mew Choo.
Mew Choo, who was instrumental in the 3-1 win at the Melbourne Convention Centre, aggravated an injury to her back but has vowed to play through the pain barrier.
India took bronze after they outplayed New Zealand by a similar score. "I came close to winning the team gold in Manchester, and as such, I didn't want to lose today (yesterday)," said Mew Choo who also won her singles match in Manchester but still ended on the losing side against England in the final.
"Even though I felt some pain, I didn't want to let my team-mates down. Winning the gold was very important to me, and my team-mates.
"And it's not going to stop me from giving my best in the individual event as well."
Mew Choo's feelings were echoed by doubles star Chan Chong Ming.
"Mew Choo won her match four years ago, but I (partnering Choong Tan Fook) lost and it cost us the gold medal," said Chong Ming who partnered Koo Kien Keat to grab the winning point yesterday.
"As such, I did not want to disappoint her and the team again."
Mixed doubles pair Wong Choong Hann-Ooi Sock Ai lost the first match 15-21, 12-21 to Nathan Robertson-Gail Emms but Lee Chong Wei levelled the score for Malaysia when he beat Aamir Ghaffar 21-8, 21-8.
The came Mew Choo against Tracey Hallam, who is the top seed in the individual women's singles, but the Malaysian scored a sensational 27-25, 20-22, 21-18 win to put Malaysia in the driving seat.
And with the memories of the 2002 Games still fresh in Chong Ming's mind, Malaysia's top doubles pairing did no wrong in demolishing Anthony Clark-Robert Blair 21-14, 21-14 to give Malaysia its first ever mixed team gold medal.
NST
MALAYSIA won the mixed team badminton gold medal for the first time in the history of the Commonwealth Games but the victory over England could prove costly for women's singles player Wong Mew Choo.
Mew Choo, who was instrumental in the 3-1 win at the Melbourne Convention Centre, aggravated an injury to her back but has vowed to play through the pain barrier.
India took bronze after they outplayed New Zealand by a similar score. "I came close to winning the team gold in Manchester, and as such, I didn't want to lose today (yesterday)," said Mew Choo who also won her singles match in Manchester but still ended on the losing side against England in the final.
"Even though I felt some pain, I didn't want to let my team-mates down. Winning the gold was very important to me, and my team-mates.
"And it's not going to stop me from giving my best in the individual event as well."
Mew Choo's feelings were echoed by doubles star Chan Chong Ming.
"Mew Choo won her match four years ago, but I (partnering Choong Tan Fook) lost and it cost us the gold medal," said Chong Ming who partnered Koo Kien Keat to grab the winning point yesterday.
"As such, I did not want to disappoint her and the team again."
Mixed doubles pair Wong Choong Hann-Ooi Sock Ai lost the first match 15-21, 12-21 to Nathan Robertson-Gail Emms but Lee Chong Wei levelled the score for Malaysia when he beat Aamir Ghaffar 21-8, 21-8.
The came Mew Choo against Tracey Hallam, who is the top seed in the individual women's singles, but the Malaysian scored a sensational 27-25, 20-22, 21-18 win to put Malaysia in the driving seat.
And with the memories of the 2002 Games still fresh in Chong Ming's mind, Malaysia's top doubles pairing did no wrong in demolishing Anthony Clark-Robert Blair 21-14, 21-14 to give Malaysia its first ever mixed team gold medal.