TheStar GENTING HIGHLANDS: The decision to have players for the World Championships undergo high-altitude training here when they are down to compete in sunny Anaheim, California, barely three weeks from now has raised questions as to whether it will do them more harm than good. But national chief coach Yap Kim Hock defended his decision to bring the players to the hill resort for a five-day stint. The players began the stint yesterday at the courts located at the staff quarters. But the sessions had to be split into three groups because there were only five courts. The women’s doubles players trained in the morning followed by the men’s doubles three hours later. The final session was for the men’s singles players. While the players were in high spirits and enjoyed their training sessions, the condition of the courts left much to be desired. Parquets came unstuck at the corners and the flight of the shuttle was certainly much faster in high-altitude air. Kim Hock admitted that the quality of training was not satisfactory but said that it would do no harm as they were not here for long. “I would not be in the right mind if I were to put them here for a long time. We will only spend a few days here because our current training centre at Bukit Kiara is being used for a competition (the national junior circuit Finals),” he said. “Because the shuttle travels faster, the players have a chance to work on their defence. I also believe that the change in environment will do them good.” Kim Hock that the camp here would also give the coaches more time to analyse the games of the players individually. “We have the chance to sit with them and discuss how to improve on their weaknesses because they have no where else to go,” he said. There is also the temptation of gaming in the casino nearby. But it is out of bounds to both players and coaches. “No one, not even myself or the other coaches can go to the casino. Anyone who flouts this rule will be sent home immediately. The stint here is part of our preparations for the World Championships. We need to stay focused on this,” said Kim Hock. A total of 33 players, including the sparring players, will remain here until Sunday afternoon. Of the players who will feature in the World Championships, only Mohd Hafiz Hashim has opted out of the stint. He is undergoing a weight-training programme under Misbun Sidek. The men’s singles players here are national number one Lee Chong Wei and Wong Choong Hann, who was the runner-up in the last World Championships in Birmingham in 2003. The men’s doubles pairs are Chan Chong Ming-Koo Kien Keat, Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Lin Woon Fui, Tan Bin Shen-Ong Soon Hock and Choong Tan Fook-Chew Choon Eng. The women’s players for the world meet are Wong Mew Choo and M. Sutheaswari; and four doubles pairs – Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty, Fong Chew Yen-See Phui Leng, Mooi Hing Yau-Ooi Sock Ai and Chor Hooi Yee-Lim Pek Siah. But Sutheaswari and Hooi Yee-Pek Siah are not involved in the stint here because they are not members of the national team. LISTEN UP: National singles coach Li Mao giving the shuttlers some instructions during their training session in Genting Highlands yesterday.
