tjl_vanguard
03-06-2007, 08:44 PM
Christensen, Chong Wei the picks to deny China in men’s singles event
By RAJES PAUL
PETALING JAYA: China, spearheaded by Lin Dan, look good to win the All-England men’s singles title. And national chief coach Yap Kim Hock has picked Denmark’s Peter Gade-Christensen and Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei as the ones with the ability to spoil the party for the Chinese.
The US$200,000 All-England begins today with the first round matches at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham.
http://www.thestar.com.my/archives/2007/3/7/sports/58bao.jpg A hurdle: Bao Chunlai is among the Chinese players who can win the men’s singles crown at the All-England.
The tournament, which is the third leg of the Super Series, has lost some glitter following the withdrawal of Taufik Hidayat. The Indonesian ace is giving the prestigious tournament a miss because of a problem with his national association.
He is the third prominent player out of the tournament after China’s Chen Hong and South Korea’s Lee Hyun-il, who announced their retirements early this year.
New Zealand’s John Moody has replaced Taufik and he will play against Malaysia’s Mohd Hafiz Hashim in the opening round.
Although Lin Dan has made a quick rebound from a second round loss against South Korean Park Sung-hwan in the season-opening Malaysian Open to win the Korean and German Opens, Kim Hock said that the world number one was still beatable.
“With Taufik out, many will think that Lin Dan is now the heavy favourite. In fact, I would reckon that his team-mates, Bao (Chunlai) and Chen (Jin), are also in with a chance. China have a formidable side,” said Kim Hock in a telephone interview from Birmingham yesterday.
“But for now, I would rate Peter as the next best player after Taufik to rattle the Chinese players, especially Lin Dan.”
Lin Dan has three Malaysian players in his path before a projected semi-final match against Gade-Christensen.
He has Mohd Roslin Hashim as his first round opponent. Barring any upset, he is set to take on veteran Wong Choong Hann, who has to come through the qualifying tournament, in the second round. If Lin Dan advances, he is tipped to play against Hafiz in the quarter-finals.
“Chong Wei can only play against Lin Dan in the final. I have faith in Chong Wei and he has a favourable draw. If he can stay focused on the mission, he can go all the way to the final,” said Kim Hock.
The real test for Chong Wei, who is ranked third in the world, will be a quarter-final match against China’s Chen Yu. If he advances, he is tipped to play against second seeded Chen Jin for a place in the final.
“Chong Wei has beaten these players before. Probably, the match against Chen Jin will be the toughest,” said Kim Hock.
In the men’s doubles, Malaysia will be least worried over the Chinese challenge because top seeds and world champions Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng are not seen as a major threat.
Kim Hock said that the first-round matches for Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong and Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah would be crucial.
Kien Keat-Boon Heong will take on Indonesia’s new senior-junior combination of Sigit Budiarto-Fran Kurniawan while seasoned Tan Fook-Wan Wah will be up against World Championships runners-up Anthony Clark-Robert Blair of England.
“The Indonesians played for the first time in the German Open last week (losing in rubber games in the semi-finals against South Koreans Jung Jae-sung-Lee Yong-dae).
“I hear that they were impressive. If Kien Keat-Boon Heong can clear this hurdle, they will go far,” said Kim Hock.
“The English pair will have great home support but I hope Tan Fook-Wan Wah will prevail.”
There is a possibility for Kien Keat-Boon Heong and Tan Fook-Wan Wah to set-up an all-Malaysian semi-finals.
But the former will probably have to get past Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia while the veterans are likely to face two-time All-England champions Jens Eriksen-Martin Lundgaard Hansen of Denmark in the quarter-finals.
“Based on current results, the Koreans are strong contenders for the men’s doubles title. But we hope that our pairs can stop them early on in the tournament,” said Kim Hock.
The Korean stars, Jae-sung-Yong-dae, are likely to cross path with Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Lin Woon Fui in the second round.
“Overall, Malaysia stand a chance in both the men’s singles and men’s doubles. We just hope that they will not put too much pressure on themselves. In the other events, China will be the ones to beat.”
For the record, Malaysia last won the men’s singles title through Hafiz in 2003. The last Malaysian men’s doubles champions were the Sidek brothers, Razif and Jalani, in 1982.
By RAJES PAUL
PETALING JAYA: China, spearheaded by Lin Dan, look good to win the All-England men’s singles title. And national chief coach Yap Kim Hock has picked Denmark’s Peter Gade-Christensen and Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei as the ones with the ability to spoil the party for the Chinese.
The US$200,000 All-England begins today with the first round matches at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham.
http://www.thestar.com.my/archives/2007/3/7/sports/58bao.jpg A hurdle: Bao Chunlai is among the Chinese players who can win the men’s singles crown at the All-England.
The tournament, which is the third leg of the Super Series, has lost some glitter following the withdrawal of Taufik Hidayat. The Indonesian ace is giving the prestigious tournament a miss because of a problem with his national association.
He is the third prominent player out of the tournament after China’s Chen Hong and South Korea’s Lee Hyun-il, who announced their retirements early this year.
New Zealand’s John Moody has replaced Taufik and he will play against Malaysia’s Mohd Hafiz Hashim in the opening round.
Although Lin Dan has made a quick rebound from a second round loss against South Korean Park Sung-hwan in the season-opening Malaysian Open to win the Korean and German Opens, Kim Hock said that the world number one was still beatable.
“With Taufik out, many will think that Lin Dan is now the heavy favourite. In fact, I would reckon that his team-mates, Bao (Chunlai) and Chen (Jin), are also in with a chance. China have a formidable side,” said Kim Hock in a telephone interview from Birmingham yesterday.
“But for now, I would rate Peter as the next best player after Taufik to rattle the Chinese players, especially Lin Dan.”
Lin Dan has three Malaysian players in his path before a projected semi-final match against Gade-Christensen.
He has Mohd Roslin Hashim as his first round opponent. Barring any upset, he is set to take on veteran Wong Choong Hann, who has to come through the qualifying tournament, in the second round. If Lin Dan advances, he is tipped to play against Hafiz in the quarter-finals.
“Chong Wei can only play against Lin Dan in the final. I have faith in Chong Wei and he has a favourable draw. If he can stay focused on the mission, he can go all the way to the final,” said Kim Hock.
The real test for Chong Wei, who is ranked third in the world, will be a quarter-final match against China’s Chen Yu. If he advances, he is tipped to play against second seeded Chen Jin for a place in the final.
“Chong Wei has beaten these players before. Probably, the match against Chen Jin will be the toughest,” said Kim Hock.
In the men’s doubles, Malaysia will be least worried over the Chinese challenge because top seeds and world champions Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng are not seen as a major threat.
Kim Hock said that the first-round matches for Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong and Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah would be crucial.
Kien Keat-Boon Heong will take on Indonesia’s new senior-junior combination of Sigit Budiarto-Fran Kurniawan while seasoned Tan Fook-Wan Wah will be up against World Championships runners-up Anthony Clark-Robert Blair of England.
“The Indonesians played for the first time in the German Open last week (losing in rubber games in the semi-finals against South Koreans Jung Jae-sung-Lee Yong-dae).
“I hear that they were impressive. If Kien Keat-Boon Heong can clear this hurdle, they will go far,” said Kim Hock.
“The English pair will have great home support but I hope Tan Fook-Wan Wah will prevail.”
There is a possibility for Kien Keat-Boon Heong and Tan Fook-Wan Wah to set-up an all-Malaysian semi-finals.
But the former will probably have to get past Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan of Indonesia while the veterans are likely to face two-time All-England champions Jens Eriksen-Martin Lundgaard Hansen of Denmark in the quarter-finals.
“Based on current results, the Koreans are strong contenders for the men’s doubles title. But we hope that our pairs can stop them early on in the tournament,” said Kim Hock.
The Korean stars, Jae-sung-Yong-dae, are likely to cross path with Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Lin Woon Fui in the second round.
“Overall, Malaysia stand a chance in both the men’s singles and men’s doubles. We just hope that they will not put too much pressure on themselves. In the other events, China will be the ones to beat.”
For the record, Malaysia last won the men’s singles title through Hafiz in 2003. The last Malaysian men’s doubles champions were the Sidek brothers, Razif and Jalani, in 1982.