The Star Online > Sports Friday, August 08, 2003 Xuanze to lead strong China team ALOR STAR: World champion Xia Xuanze will lead a strong Chinese team for the friendly international against Malaysia at the Sultan Abdul Halim Indoor Stadium here on Aug 16. Besides Xuanze, the others in the Chinese singles line-up for the 8pm match are Chen Hong, Lin Dan, Bao Chunlai and Chen Yu. The doubles players named for the match are Cai Yun, Fu Haifeng, Cheng Rui, Wang Wei, Zhang Wei and Chen Qiqiu. In the recent World Championships, Xuanze clinched the men's singles title by beating Malaysia's Wong Choong Hann 15-6, 13-15, 15-6 in the final. Kedah Badminton Association (KBA) Datuk Lim Teong Kiat, who announced the Chinese team yesterday, said tickets for the match would be priced at RM10 and RM20. “It's going to cost us about RM150,000 to host the match. The State Government has pledged a sum of RM30,000 and we are now in the midst of getting sponsors and well wishers to meet the balance,” added Teong Kiat. The BA of Malaysia (BAM) have yet to name their players for the match.
Surprise to me that China is also naming Chen Yu in the team, while only 3 gets to play since there is only one leg for this invitational meet. Also, their second bet pair, Sang/Zheng is not in. Will be wise if the Malaysian coaches field some youngsters (like Yeoh KB and Lee CW), instead of playing the same old faces. Nothing to lose in such an invitational meet.
CHN MD player Zhang Wei was kicked out of CHN team before WC, I do not think he will go to MAS for the team event.
Zhang Wei's name is in the list. However, I don't think China will field him. The likely 2 pairs are Cai/Fu and Cheng Rui/Wang Wei.
Confirmed, Zhang Wei goes back to and stays in Shanghai team. He is not a national team member now. Here is the news for CHN:MAS. CHN: MS: Chen Hong, Lin Dan, Chen Yu. MD: Cai/Fu, Zheng Bo/Sang Yang. MAS: MS: Wong CH, Hafiz, Lee TS. MD: Chew/Chan, Lee/Choon Who is against who has not yet set up. It is rematch after Guang Zhou 2002. The rule is same as Thomas cup: whichever win 3 matches, win it. I bet this time, CHN 3:2 MAS with one point from MD won. Anyone wants to take a wild guess too?
Confident you are, Joel? Anything to do with your allegiance to China or something? The World Championships performance is unlikely to do any good on friendlies as this is non-competitive, more to a 'personal score' to settle thingy and quality sparring before major competitions. China could just win it 5 - 0, or Malaysia could just trounce them 5 - 0. It's not very certain. What I'm certain though, is that after the MAS-KOREA challenge, and now MAS-CHINA challenge, we may be able to see more high profile friendlies like this in the future, SARS or not. Nobody gives you a better workout than world champions, no? And there are prize money to win in a friendly like this, why not? The only problem is with sponsorships; who'd provide them? Regardless of the result, they better show it on TV or I'll get angry and turn green...
From the players named for both team, the expected line-up will be Wong CH vs Chen Hong Chan/Chew vs Cai/Fu Hafiz Hashim vs Lin Dan Choong/Lee vs Sang/Zheng Lee TS vs Chen Yu Though the Malaysian team would love for a match-up of Hafiz vs Chen Hong, the Chinese team are unlikely to take the risk, especially when both players are down the meet 3 days after that in Singapore. Another loss for Chen Hong will be a major psychology blow to him! Back to my expected match-up and guesses. 1st match: Wong CH to win, for his great form 2nd match: Cai/Fu to hand another blow to the top Msian 3rd match: Lin Dan, the steadier player 4th match: Choong/Lee, experience will prevail 5th match: Lee TS, as he has never loss to Chen Yu before Final score: MAS bt China 3-2
surprised to see that China won by 5-0. esp both doubles games ended up in 2-0 sets. did anybody see the matches live or on TV? were they even trying? Chen/Wong's match seems pretty close.
Some details 1st singles: Chen Hong 2-1(-12, 8, 5) Wong Choong Hann In the 1st game Wong got 1st point firstly and led ahead throughout whole game by 8:7-->11:12-->12:15. In the 2nd game Wong still led ahead 4-0 at first but Chen took up with him and won this game by 15-8. In the 3rd game Chen didn't get Wong any chance and won the game by 15-5. CHINA 1-0 MALAYSIA 1st doubles: Sang Yang/Zheng Bo 2-0(12, 12) Chan Chong Ming/Chew Choon Eng In the 2nd game Sang/Zheng got 4 pionts firstly and about led ahead throughout whole game by 4:4-->8:4-->9:10-->15:12 CHINA 2-0 MALAYSIA 2nd singles: Chen Yu 2-0(12, 11) Lee Tsuen Seng In the 1st game Lee ever led ahead Chen by 11-5, but Chen 1 point by 1 point took up with Lee and won this game in the end by 9:12-->11:12-->13:12-->15:12. In the 2nd game Lee also led ahead Chen by 3-0, and again Chen 1 point by 1 point took up with Lee and won this game in the end by 5:5-->8:8-->9:9-->12:9-->15:11. CHINA 3-0 MALAYSIA 2nd doubles: Cai Yun/Fu Haifeng 2-0(9, 1) Choong Tan Fook/Lee Wan Wah In the 1st game Cai/Fu led ahead throughout the whole game and won in the end by 8:3-->12:5-->15:9. In the 2nd one Cai/Fu even got Choong/Lee just 1 point in whole game and won it. CHINA 4-0 MALAYSIA 3rd singles: Lin Dan 2-1(9, -8, 4)Mohamad Hafiz Hashim In the 1st game Lin won by 3:1-->5:1-->5:7-->8:8-->12:8-->15:9. In the 2nd game Hafiz won by 3:0-->8:5-->8:9-->8:15. In the 3rd game Lin won by 2:0-->3:3-->6:4-->8:4-->15:4. CHINA 5-0 MALYASIA
Re: Some details Interesting to see 2nd and 3rd games in 3rd singles, winners scored more than 9 points consecutively. Guess both of them used up their stamina at certain points.
Great job China. Not a bad job, considering a couple of the players may not even have played in a real battle situation. Cai/Fu 15-9, 15-1 against Malaysian veterans is definitely evidence of the future dominance of this young Chinese pair. Keep improving boys, and the WC will be in your hands soon enough. Xu Zhen, were you able to watch the matches live or on TV? Any comments on the matches by any lucky enough to have observed it? Especially the on the 1st singles and 2nd doubles. Kudos to China.
