Players are warned to behave at All England ( taken from South Morning China Post, Wednesday,March 5,2008) Reuters in London The sport's elite came under severe scrutiny at this week's All England championships after unruly scenes at January's Korean Open final between world number one Lin Dan and ee Hyun-il of South Korea. Officials struggled to restore order in Seoul amid unprecendented scuffles and bitter exchanges as players and coaches argued following a series of tight line calls. The Badminton World Federation's (BWF) ruling council have announced a four strong special group calld the Major Incident Research Team and is considering introducing the technology used in tennis and cricket to decide close calls. Meetings in Birminghm in this week's All England tournament will seek ways of avoiding a repetition of the Korean incident. Players and officials will be reminded how on-court issues,prticularly in a Olympic year, can mar the sport. Disciplinary action could still follow the Seoul bust-up while BWF is thinking of having umpires operating as line judges from the semi-final stage of all major events from now on. BWF Sport Committee chair-woman Anne Smillie, noting a trend,told the BWF website:" We all want to see there sult determined by the players,not by courtside officials,orby who can argue the loudest."
I know this had been reported ( another version) Thai chiefs cry foul over fitness test ( taken from South Morning China Post, Wednesday,March 5,2008) Reuters Thai chiefs are furious with badminton's sponsor after it carried out its own pre-Olympics fitness tests and failed the country's to players. Siam Cement Group ( SCG) has ruled any player who fails the test will be denied the chance to qualify for the Games in upcoming Super series events in Europe. However,half of the players failed,including medal hope Boonsak Ponsana,who is expected to scoop the top honour at Thailand's annual sports awards lter this week. "this makes no sense,",said Thai badminton association president Charoen Wattanasin. "Even Boonsakfailed.There will an outcry if he does not go to the Olympics." Two others who failed were double players,which rules their partners out.An urgent meeting will be called to settle the dispute.
perhaps this should be the all-in-one news thread for the AE? kinda confusing to have so many threads pop up for one or two news articles...
here's something from the New Straits Times today: All England Championships: Misbun sees China players as top bets By K.M. Boopathy 05 March, 2008 CHINA'S players often have that special something when it comes to the All England and national singles coach Misbun Sidek has tipped Lin Dan as the early favourite to win the singles crown in Birmingham this week. Misbun, in a telephone interview from Birmingham, said China's top shuttlers have regularly dominated the All England over the last decade and he believes World No 1 Lin Dan will be the player with the best chance to win the title. "China's shuttlers seem to possess that extra when it comes to the All England. They always play well in this tournament and Lin Dan will be their best bet again," said Misbun yesterday. China will also be banking on World No 3 Bao Chunlai, World No 4 Chen Jin and World No 9 Chen Yu but it will be Lin Dan with the genuine chance to earn his fourth All England title after having won in 2004, 2006 and 2007. Misbun also tipped Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia and South Korean Lee Hyun Il, Sunday's German Open winner, to trouble China's juggernaut, but felt that Lin Dan or one of his compatriots will finish on top. "Lin Dan is a player for all seasons. He can adapt well to condition and always produces his best in the All England. He will be the player to beat this week," added Misbun. "He is his own enemy at times, but it will still be tough for the others to topple him. "Taufik has not won the event and that makes him dangerous while Hyun Il has been playing well but we have to see whether he can sustain himself after playing in so many tournaments." Misbun also felt that Denmark's Kenneth Jonassen will have a decent outing but does not see him as a favourite. So where does this leave Malaysia's hope Lee Chong Wei, the World No 2, who himself is chasing his first All England title? Misbun said Chong Wei's fate will hinge on the expected quarter-final clash against Taufik and believes the winner will go all the way to the final. "Chong Wei must clear the Taufik hurdle first. That's going to be his big match simply because Taufik badly wants to win this tournament," said Misbun. "Whoever wins the match will go all the way to the final. That's how crucial that (quarter-final) battle is going to be. I am hoping to see Chong Wei give it his best shot." Hafiz Hashim will be having a tough first round match against Chunlai and Misbun said the initiative must come from his protege if he wants to resurrect his career.
yeap, PG has asthma.... from thestar... BIRMINGHAM: Denmark's Peter Gade-Christensen is out of the All-England men's singles competition because of asthma. The world number eight seed, who won the title in 1999, was to play against Singapore's Kendrick Le e Yen Hui in the first round yesterday but Danish coach Thomas Stuer-Lauridsen said that it was not possible for Gade-Christensen to see action. “He cannot even run 100 yards, so there was no option but for him to pull out. But it is disappointing,” said Lauridsen. Singapore's Ronald Susilo, drawn against Olympic champion and number seven seed Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia, also withdrew because of injury. In the women's singles, England's top hope Tracey Hallam, the world number 16, was desperately disappointed to lose her race against fitness and was another late withdrawal. The Commonwealth Games champion has been struggling with a thigh problem. “I pulled out of last week's German Open with the hope of being able to play in Birmingham. But it is just too soon. It is really heartbreaking to miss the All-England,” she said. Germany's Juliane Schenk, who was injured in her semi-final of the German Open, was the fourth withdrawal from the main singles draws. – AFP
The assessment from Misbun about MS AE 08 so far is correct. He does seem to have a balanced view and good predictions about where some of the matches may be going.
Yeah, LD has good record in All England. He had entered finale four times in a row, 2004-2005-2006-2007 with runner-up position once in 2005, lost to his senior Chen Hong. Who will stop LD in this year edition? LCW,TH,his team-mate or no one?
Hawkeye I have been told that no meeting or discussion about Hawkeye yet by BWF.. Wondering when it will happen.......
Gillian Clark mentioned about badminton needing to progress with the times, in yesterday's commentary. BWF can't even fix their Thomas-Uber draw date properly.
