MALAYSIA SINGLES Wong Choong Hann (3) Roslin Hashim (13) Lee Chong Wei (15) Mohd Hafiz Hashim (25) Lee Tsuen Seng (39) DOUBLES Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah (4) Chan Chong Ming-Chew Choon Eng (20) Koo Kien Keat SOUTH KOREA SINGLES Lee Hyun-Il (5) Shon Seung-mo (8) Park Tae-sang (16) Jang Young-soo (36) DOUBLES Lee Dong-soo-Yoo Yong-sung (9) Yim Bang-eun-Kim Yong-hyun (14) Lee Jae-jin (* Latest world ranking order as of May 1 in brackets) PAST ENCOUNTERS 1990: won 4-1 (Group A) 1992: lost 2-3 (Group A) 1994: won 3-2 (Group B) 1996: lost 2-3 (Group B) 1998: won 4-1 (Group B) 2000: lost 2-3 (Group A) 2002: did not meet SOUTH KOREA'S THOMAS CUP HISTORY Win: Nil Final: Nil Semi-finals: 2000 (lost 1-3 to China), 1996 (lost 2-3 to Indonesia), 1994 (lost 1-4 to Indonesia), 1992 (lost 0-5 to Indonesia), 1984 (lost 1-4 to Indonesia). Group stages: 1998, 1990, 1988, 1986, 1981-82, 1975-76. MALAYSIA vs SOUTH KOREA SINGLES WONG CHOONG HANN vs LEE HYUN-IL MALAYSIA will definitely bank on Choong Hann to provide a morale-lifting boost to the team in the first singles match. He has a good record against Hyun-Il, having won three out of four previous meetings. After winning three Open titles last season, Hyun-Il has had a poor run in international tournaments this year. He was the top seed in the Asian Badminton Championships in Kuala Lumpur last month but failed to live up to his billing. Hyun-Il was shown the exit by Mohd Hafiz Hashim in the third round. However, Hyun-Il is a strong attacking player and can beat anyone when he is on fire. If Hyun-Il can stop Choong Hann for only the second time in his career, the pressure will be on Malaysia to pull through. South Korea are not likely to field Shon Seung-mo against Choong Hann in the first singles because he has a poor record against the Malaysian at 1-5. MOHD ROSLIN HASHIM vs SHON SEUNG-MO ROSLIN has a good record against Shon-seung, having beaten him twice before. He beat Seung-mo in the third round of the All-England last year and in the semi-finals of the Japan Open three years ago. However, Roslin will have to watch out for Seung-mo and not let his rival score easy points. Seung-mo is a fighter, who will never give up even when the chips are down. He showed to the world his abilities in the World Championships in Birmingham last August. eung-mo saved five match points and later fought off cramps to beat top seed Chen Hong of China in 84 minutes to reach the semi-finals. LEE CHONG WEI vs PARK TAE-SANG CHONG Wei was beaten 3-15, 13-15 by Tae-sang in the quarter-finals of the Korean Open two months ago. However, Chong Wei, who will be out to impress in his debut in the Thomas Cup Finals, will surely be looking to avenge the defeat if they clashed for the second time. But if experience becomes a factor here, Misbun may decide to opt for Tsuen Seng or Hafiz to play the third singles. Hafiz has a 1-1 record against Tae-sang while Tsuen Seng has played the Korean once, beating him to reach the semi-finals of the Korean Open two years ago. However, Tae-sang will not be an easy player to subdue. Tae-sang, who will be making his third consecutive appearance in the Finals, has the experience of playing third singles. He was only a reserve player but managed to provide the winning point to put South Korea through to the semi-finals in 2000, beating Denmark's Kenneth Larsen in the deciding match. DOUBLES CHOONG TAN FOOK-LEE WAN WAH vs LEE DONG-SOO-YOO YONG-SUNG IN the absence of doubles specialist Ha Tae-kwon, who is nursing a back injury and will not partner Kim Dong-moon, the second ranked pair of Lee Dong-soo-Yoo Yong-sung is expected to provide a point from the doubles. And Tan Fook-Wan Wah will not relish meeting this speedy pair. The top Malaysian pair have a poor record against Dong-soo-Yong-sung. In five crucial meetings thus far, the Malaysians have won only once – winning the semi-final match in the Japan Open two years ago. The Koreans defeated Tan Fook-Wan Wah in the semi-finals of the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Their last meeting was in the final of the Hong Kong Open last year and Tan Fook-Wan Wah were beaten in three games. KOO KIEN KEAT-CHEW CHOON ENG vs YIM BANG-EUN-KIM YONG-HYUN DOUBLES coach Yap Kim Hock is likely to opt for Kien Keat to partner Choon Eng for the second doubles if he is satisfied with their performances in the group ties. Kien Keat-Choon Eng have not face the Korean pair in any international competition and they could give a good fight. But if South Korea decides to field the vastly experienced Kim Dong-moon in a partnerships with Lee Jae-jin, it will not be easy. They may be a scratch combination but the Koreans are known for their versatility in switching partners. TheStar
