Inky2000
04-18-2006, 08:44 PM
Beng Teong: Shuttlers have what it takes to regain Cup
By NG WEI LOON
KUALA LUMPUR: Former national player Ong Beng Teong sees Malaysia having a team with the ability to regain the Thomas Cup in the Finals in Japan.
Beng Teong said yesterday that Malaysia had a strong singles line-up, complemented by doubles pairs capable of winning points for the team.
He added that doubles coach Rexy Mainaky had done well to whip up the top two ranked pairs in the team – Chan Chong Ming-Koo Kien Keat and veterans Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah.
In recent tournaments, Chong Ming-Kien Keat won the gold medal in the Melbourne Commonwealth Games and Tan Fook-Wan Wah emerged as the champions in the Asian Badminton Championships in Johor Baru.
The other doubles players in the team are seasoned campaigner Chew Choon Eng and rookie Tan Boon Heong. The singles line-up comprises Lee Chong Wei, Wong Choong Hann, Mohd Hafiz Hashim and Kuan Beng Hong.
“The doubles players have improved training under Rexy. They will certainly complement the strength in the singles,” said Beng Teong.
Beng Teong has featured in four Thomas Cup Finals between 1982-1988 and he recognises the importance of having two strong pairs for the Finals.
At the 1988 Finals in Kuala Lumpur, Beng Teong partnered Cheah Soon Kit and they delivered the decisive point in the second doubles match of the semi-finals against Indonesia to put Malaysia through to the final for the first time in 12 years.
“Rexy has found the solution to elevate the form of his charges,” said Beng Teong, who is now the operations manager of the Kuala Lumpur Racket Club.
“He has taken their game to another level. The doubles players have shown maturity in their game plan. They have added tactical variations to their speed and power. They are playing a thinking game.
“The pairs are certainly capable of winning points to help Malaysia win ties against the top contenders.”
(the rest deleted)
(Source: TheStar Online, Apr 19, 2006)
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Badminton: Strength in unity
By RAJES PAUL
KUCHING: Since Yap Kim Hock took charge as the chief coach of the national badminton team, Malaysia have been consistent in one area – winning the team competitions.
And it is Kim Hock's hope and aspiration to see continued success when Malaysia compete in the Thomas Cup Finals, which will be held in Japan from April 28-May 7.
Kim Hock, who was appointed the chief coach in 2004, had made many drastic changes to strengthen the team since Malaysia failed to get past the quarter-finals at the last Finals in Jakarta, losing 1-3 to Indonesia.
Two foreign coaches – Li Mao of China and Rexy Mainaky of Indonesia – were roped in to strengthen the singles and doubles departments respectively. And Kim Hock has worked closely with them and he was also open to ideas from the National Sports Institute (NSI) to incorporate sports science in the training of the players.
And since then, Malaysia had done notably well in the team events.
Malaysia won promotion to Division One of the Sudirman Cup world mixed team championships in Guangzhou last year.
It was followed by an outstanding win over archrivals Indonesia, who had fielded their best team in the final of the Manila SEA Games last December.
In the Asian Zone Thomas Cup qualifying tournament in Jaipur in February, Malaysia emerged as the champions. At the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne last month, Malaysia won the mixed team gold medal.
With the recent results and the emphasis on the team building, there is now a hope for Malaysia to regain the Thomas Cup, which they last won in 1992.
Kim Hock said that he had focused greatly on forming a solid team for Malaysia.
“When I took over, I found that many players and coaches wanted to achieve personal glory. That is good but I saw a lack of unity in the team,” he said.
“My task was to create a common goal for everyone. For me, it is vital to keep the team together.”
Although he divided the national team into several groups to train under different coaches, he ensured that there is teamwork by having weekly team activities, regular meetings among coaches and open communication with the players.
“Communication is the key to a team's success. So far, the coaches and players have worked well together. It is good to have healthy rivalry between the players but their focus should be clear. There is still room for improvement but I think we are heading in the right direction.”
On the chances in the Thomas Cup Finals, Kim Hock said: “The team spirit is very high. The centralised training here had boosted the morale of the players and coaches.
“The preparation had been great and I am confident our team are as good as any other to challenge for the Cup.”
Besides the Thomas Cup world men's team Finals, Kim Hock also hopes to see Malaysia winning the team gold in the Doha Asian Games in December. The players will break from their two-week centralised training camp in Kuching on Friday.
(Source: TheStar Online, Apr 19, 2006)
By NG WEI LOON
KUALA LUMPUR: Former national player Ong Beng Teong sees Malaysia having a team with the ability to regain the Thomas Cup in the Finals in Japan.
Beng Teong said yesterday that Malaysia had a strong singles line-up, complemented by doubles pairs capable of winning points for the team.
He added that doubles coach Rexy Mainaky had done well to whip up the top two ranked pairs in the team – Chan Chong Ming-Koo Kien Keat and veterans Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah.
In recent tournaments, Chong Ming-Kien Keat won the gold medal in the Melbourne Commonwealth Games and Tan Fook-Wan Wah emerged as the champions in the Asian Badminton Championships in Johor Baru.
The other doubles players in the team are seasoned campaigner Chew Choon Eng and rookie Tan Boon Heong. The singles line-up comprises Lee Chong Wei, Wong Choong Hann, Mohd Hafiz Hashim and Kuan Beng Hong.
“The doubles players have improved training under Rexy. They will certainly complement the strength in the singles,” said Beng Teong.
Beng Teong has featured in four Thomas Cup Finals between 1982-1988 and he recognises the importance of having two strong pairs for the Finals.
At the 1988 Finals in Kuala Lumpur, Beng Teong partnered Cheah Soon Kit and they delivered the decisive point in the second doubles match of the semi-finals against Indonesia to put Malaysia through to the final for the first time in 12 years.
“Rexy has found the solution to elevate the form of his charges,” said Beng Teong, who is now the operations manager of the Kuala Lumpur Racket Club.
“He has taken their game to another level. The doubles players have shown maturity in their game plan. They have added tactical variations to their speed and power. They are playing a thinking game.
“The pairs are certainly capable of winning points to help Malaysia win ties against the top contenders.”
(the rest deleted)
(Source: TheStar Online, Apr 19, 2006)
=============
Badminton: Strength in unity
By RAJES PAUL
KUCHING: Since Yap Kim Hock took charge as the chief coach of the national badminton team, Malaysia have been consistent in one area – winning the team competitions.
And it is Kim Hock's hope and aspiration to see continued success when Malaysia compete in the Thomas Cup Finals, which will be held in Japan from April 28-May 7.
Kim Hock, who was appointed the chief coach in 2004, had made many drastic changes to strengthen the team since Malaysia failed to get past the quarter-finals at the last Finals in Jakarta, losing 1-3 to Indonesia.
Two foreign coaches – Li Mao of China and Rexy Mainaky of Indonesia – were roped in to strengthen the singles and doubles departments respectively. And Kim Hock has worked closely with them and he was also open to ideas from the National Sports Institute (NSI) to incorporate sports science in the training of the players.
And since then, Malaysia had done notably well in the team events.
Malaysia won promotion to Division One of the Sudirman Cup world mixed team championships in Guangzhou last year.
It was followed by an outstanding win over archrivals Indonesia, who had fielded their best team in the final of the Manila SEA Games last December.
In the Asian Zone Thomas Cup qualifying tournament in Jaipur in February, Malaysia emerged as the champions. At the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne last month, Malaysia won the mixed team gold medal.
With the recent results and the emphasis on the team building, there is now a hope for Malaysia to regain the Thomas Cup, which they last won in 1992.
Kim Hock said that he had focused greatly on forming a solid team for Malaysia.
“When I took over, I found that many players and coaches wanted to achieve personal glory. That is good but I saw a lack of unity in the team,” he said.
“My task was to create a common goal for everyone. For me, it is vital to keep the team together.”
Although he divided the national team into several groups to train under different coaches, he ensured that there is teamwork by having weekly team activities, regular meetings among coaches and open communication with the players.
“Communication is the key to a team's success. So far, the coaches and players have worked well together. It is good to have healthy rivalry between the players but their focus should be clear. There is still room for improvement but I think we are heading in the right direction.”
On the chances in the Thomas Cup Finals, Kim Hock said: “The team spirit is very high. The centralised training here had boosted the morale of the players and coaches.
“The preparation had been great and I am confident our team are as good as any other to challenge for the Cup.”
Besides the Thomas Cup world men's team Finals, Kim Hock also hopes to see Malaysia winning the team gold in the Doha Asian Games in December. The players will break from their two-week centralised training camp in Kuching on Friday.
(Source: TheStar Online, Apr 19, 2006)