New Straits Times Badminton: Last chance for shuttlers 28 Sep 2006 K. M . Boopathy THE one gold target remains for the Doha Asian Games and failure to deliver, BA of Malaysia president Datuk Nadzmi Salleh said yesterday, could see several players and coaches dropped from the national team. Nadzmi, given the support extended, agreed the shuttlers had no business failing in the World Championships which ended in Madrid on Sunday. The failure prompted the National Sports Council, which had bankrolled almost RM1 million for the World Championships, to ask BAM to explain. Nadzmi, who met the players and coaches yesterday, said several weaknesses have been identified and BAM and the players must now start working towards ending Malaysia’s 36-year Asian Games gold drought. Nadzmi also advised the players to move forward instead of blaming line-calls and the actions of China head coach Li Yongbo during Lee Chong Wei’s quarter-final against Bao Chunlai. "We covered every angle in preparing for the World Championships but our players did not perform to expectations. But I believe they can perform better in the Asian Games and deliver the one gold," said Nadzmi after chairing the coaching and training committee meeting yesterday. "I’ve told the players to stop giving excuses and show more commitment in their Doha goal. If we fail again, then some of us have to go after the Asian Games and this includes coaches as well as players." "Based on the coaches’ feedback, lack of communication between the doubles players and also failure to deliver when expected to were the major problems. The players also had difficulty executing their game plan against specific opponents and these are the areas which will have to be worked on. "We will be sending a letter of explanation to the NSC as requested this week." Chong Wei, the top seed, was expected to reach at least the final but fell to his first defeat in six meeting to Chunlai of China in the last eight while Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah were bundled out in the third round by Indonesians Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan. Despite that, Tan Fook-Wan Wah have been included in the Asian Games squad together with Chan Chong Ming-Koo Kien Keat while third ranked Lin Woon Fui-Fairuzizuan Tazari were dropped although they reached the last eight in Madrid. National doubles coach Rexy Mainaky said Tan Fook-Wan Wah’s biggest problem is lack of teamwork and this is the aspect they must work on if they are to be successful in Doha. "Despite their experience, Tan Fook-Wan Wah didn’t play as a team. There must improve their communication after getting a second chance," said Rexy. "Woon Fui-Fairuzizuan were rattled by line calls and when their service was faulted. This shows their lack of experience and they might not be able to handle the pressure at the Asian Games. "The death of Chan Chong Ming’s father was unfortunate but I’m optimistic Koo Kien Keat and he will bounce back in Doha." BAM also named singles players Hafiz Hashim and Roslin Hashim but the surprise was Kuan Beng Hong’s inclusion despite the player’s lack of confidence and a string of poor results since his defeat against Denmark in the Thomas Cup semi-finals in Tokyo in May. However, Beng Hong’s inclusion was on the assurance of Li Mao who vowed to prepare the player physically and mentally to face the challenge in the Asian Games. Wong Mew Choo, Julia Wong and Norsyahliza Baharum, doubles pairs Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui, Joanne Quay-Lim Pek Siah and Ooi Sock Ai were named in the women’s team. Meanwhile, BAM agreed to Misbun Sidek continuing to train Hafiz separately in Kelana Jaya but suggested more sparring sessions with the national team which is based at Bukit Jalil. Misbun did not see a reason for joint training as felt his training programme is entirely different to Li Mao’s and sparring sessions are sufficient. "Hafiz has now fully recovered from a knee injury and I don’t think joint training will make much of a difference," said Misbun. "He has been showing progress and Hafiz and Roslin will be fully prepared for the Asian Games." The Asian Games squad — Men: Lee Chong Wei, Hafiz Hashim, Roslin Hashim, Kuan Beng Hong, Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah, Chan Chong Ming-Koo Kien Keat. Women: Wong Mew Choo, Julia Wong, Norsyahliza Baharum, Ooi Sock Ai, Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui, Joanne Quay-Lim Pek Siah.
It should be interesting to see how much support this will get??.. ...I understand there are still quite a few remaining notable tournaments left in the year, but looking at this yr end event, boy, i just hope all if not most of the available "top" players(mostly from Asian countries) able to play can come & compete...haiz I am hopeful there will be quite a big number of turnout, if not to finish off the year with a "bang" at least they can support the Asian Games itself...
Badminton: Tan Fook-Wan Wah can’t afford to choke again 29 Sep 2006 K.M. Boopathy CHOKING in major events has become a norm for veterans Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah but another failure in the Doha Asian Games will put an end to their international careers. National chief coach Yap Kim Hock has had enough of watching Tan Fook-Wan Wah’s failures, the latest in the World Championships, and he expects them to deliver in the Asian Games on Dec 1-15. It was a sentiment echoed by national men’s doubles coach Rexy Mainaky who wants Tan Fook-Wan Wah to stand up and be counted as they are the most experienced pair, not just in Malaysia but also internationally. "It is not the end of the world and we can go for gold in the Asian Games. Tan Fook-Wan Wah should use this opportunity to prove themselves," said Rexy. "Their biggest obstacle lies within themselves. This is the last chance for them and they must deliver in Doha. "They should learn to be focused on the task at hand rather than what lies ahead. That was their undoing in Madrid where they were already thinking about winning the title despite struggling against Indonesia (in the second round). "Tan Fook has this tendency and it tends to affect his concentration and eventually his game falls apart." Rexy said he does not face the same problem with Chong Ming-Kien Keat as they work hard as a team and inconsistency is the weakness which they younger combination must get rid off. Having played against Tan Fook-Wan Wah in the 90s, Rexy wants them to achieve something big before they call it a day, or else they would be ruing all the missed chances for the rest of their lives. Tan Fook-Wan Wah fell twice in the All-England finals in 2004 and in January, failed in the bronze medal playoff in the 2000 Sydney Olympics and as the top seeds in the 2004 Athens Olympics, lost in the last eight. In the 2001 World Championships in Seville, Tan Fook-Wan Wah missed another opportunity when they were beaten by Ha Tae Kwon-Kim Dong Moon of South Korea, who were then playing their first tournament after almost a year, in the semi-finals while Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan, both only 21, forced them out in the third round in Madrid. "It is beyond imagination how the form of our players fluctuate. Perhaps, they do not have a strong will to win a world title," Rexy. "Maybe Malaysia have yet to win a major title, therefore the players have not experienced the feeling of becoming a champion at the highest level. "Somebody must break the deadlock and let’s hope Tan Fook-Wan Wah will achieve that in Doha." If they fail again, there may not get another shot.
from my limited knowledge, MAL has 2 separate national training groups and they rarely talk to each other. I find this to be inefficient, both money and national focus wise.
Cheung, Things have changed since we last spoke about this subject. Both Misbun and Hafiz (unless i'm mistaken) are both under National Funding & payroll. Roslin is still on private.
actually hafiz is under nusa mahsuri club or something like that.. chong wei and the rest are under BAM... roslin is also under nusa mahsuri..
Nope, http://www.bam.org.my/about.php You can clearly see Hafiz's name under 2006 - 2008 Project. Hence, National Payroll, & National Funding. TBBMBB(N)
I sense divisiveness within Malaysian badminton. If so, perhaps attention should be given to mending this division and forge a more unified and a more focused national squad. As the old adage goes: "together we stand, divided we ...."
It's high time Malaysian shuttlers have a deep look into themselves and truthfully ask themselves whether they have given all their heart and soul in becoming champions.Are you all willing to hone your skills to perfection,where there is not even an inch of imperfection.Are you all willing to go through the mill to be able to fight till the end?Learn not to give any excuses.Work even harder after every defeat.Don't ever get big-headed because of small victories.Nobody can make you the world champion if you are faint-hearted.Start thinking and change your attitude.The next world championship is ony about 10 months away.YOu can create history if you are willing to make sacrifices.Remember nobody owes you a living.
Hafiz's money might come from BAM, but he's training at NM. Is this correct? If so, then BAM have every right to look at Hafiz's performances. Ayob plays but not using BAM money so BAM cannot scrutinise his performaances.
Yes Cheung, That's right. BAM is also practising an open concept, where non national team players, can participate in open tournaments. What's more is that these club players might even represent the country in team events if they are selected with merit. Such as Sudirman Cup / Thomas cup / World Champs / etc. Cheers
do we really think BAM will fire their best players? Choong/Lee are unstable but they are still the most skilled MD pair Malaysia has. LCW for sure will have a lot of job security no one even come close to his performance in Malaysia.
