At least in this one particular case, there is no nepotism or racial bias. The Chinese superstar player wants the Malay.. The Malay coach wants the Chinese player over his own nephew. A breathe of fresh air
It just seems silly to me to hold a trial, which Goh clearly won twice, and then completely discredit what they have witnessed themselves. If they didn't hold a trial and just simply selected Ramdan based on international competition record, that's a fair assessment to say that Ramdan has achieved more But they had the trial to test specifically who is the stronger player at this current moment. Furthermore, even thought I have the utmost respect for LCW as the World number 1 player, he really doesn't have any authority in the hierarchy to decide who gets to play unless he was asked for an opinion as the team captain. However, telling the media of his opinion and something that clearly conflicts with the idea of a trial is just simply illogical. spewing his opinion while BAM is keeping quite about their squad selection demonstrates one of two things. Blatant disregard for the organization's authority, or LCW really doesn't care. Furthermore, if Goh just came off an injury and still beat Ramdan what is that saying about Ramdan? Plus, if he's recovering, doesn't that mean that he's literally only going to improve from now until the Thomas Cup? Either way, BAM chose to have a trial, and if they can't even hold up to the spirit of their choosing, they have some serious issues to deal with in terms of a clear objective.
What they should do is to have a third trial with both play against the captain. Whoever score more points will get the ticket. Fair, no?
I think BAM should play the role over here for the 4th person who should be participated in the Thomas cup squad. The selection is fair enough. That's the prove who is the best player for the current situation. Is just 2 common matters in here between Ramdan and Goh:- Goh Soon Huat : lower rank compare than Ramdan (current ranking 135) can say not much experience in the 'international' tournament plus just recover from injury. But he's good in the selection by beating Ramdan. Ramdan : Current ranking 51, very good in a few international tournaments. But, he lost to Goh for the trial selection. In my opinion, both of them are qualified to represent Malaysia for the Thomas squad is just to be enough, Yes! Goh should be in the team because he won the trial selection. Just forget what DLCW has said. He might have his own interest why he came out with that kind of statement. Just my 2 cents.
Published: Saturday May 3, 2014 MYT 7:30:00 AM Updated: Friday May 2, 2014 MYT 8:59:50 PM [h=2]Do right by Soon Huat, BAM[/h]BY RAJES PAUL Goh Soon Huat plays at this year's Malaysian Grand Prix Gold while national singles chief coach Rashid Sidek looks on. Soon Huat came up tops in both selection trials for the Thomas Cup Finals. [TABLE] [TR] [TD][TABLE] [TR] [TD] [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD]Email [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD][TABLE] [TR] [TD="class: gig-button-td"][TABLE] [TR] [TD] [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD]Facebook [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [TD]0[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] WILL the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) shoot themselves in the foot on Saturday? For the sake of fairplay and justice, let’s hope that the BAM council will make the right decision by naming Goh Soon Huat as the fourth singles player for the Thomas Cup Finals in New Delhi from May 18-25. After all, Soon Huat did come out tops in the selection trials for Thomas Cup Finals – not once but twice, mind you. There is no denying that Misbun Ramdan Misbun is a better player – having won five international tournaments abroad and is an aggressive player with immense talent and skill. But, he did lose to Soon Huat in the trials. So, if BAM were to chose Ramdan instead of Soon Huat, they’ll be sending the wrong message across – that the selection trial is just an exercise in futility. BAM, however, can accommodate both Soon Huat and Ramdan in the team if they decide to name a five-man singles and five-man doubles squad for the Finals. This will be a win-win solution. As it stands, five players are already confirmed for the doubles – Hoon Thien How-Tan Wee Kiong, Lim Khim Wah-Goh V Shem and Tan Boon Heong. But if BAM decide to go for six doubles and four singles, then they’ll have three options: give youngster Ow Yao Han a break; bring back old-timer Koo Kien Keat; or bank on mixed doubles specialist Chan Peng Soon to add depth. As for the Uber Cup Finals, there should not be any dispute. Former internationals and world No. 24 Ng Hui Lin-Ng Hui Ern should make the team without any opposition. The selection of the Thomas-Uber Cup Finals squads, however, should not be the only agenda for the day. BAM should also address the need for a national coaching director to helm the national team. In the lead-up to the team’s preparations for the Thomas-Uber Cup Finals this year, there was evidence of poor planning and lack of strong leadership in the coaching and training aspects. This month’s Sabah Open was scrapped because it was too close to the Thomas-Uber Cup Finals. A national coaching director would not have even thought of holding a tournament in the same month as the Finals. Reigning SEA Games women’s doubles champions Woon Khe Wei-Vivian Hoo almost missed qualifying for this year’s World Championships in Copenhagen because they were not sent to several tournaments this year. That caused their world ranking to take a hit. A national coaching director would have made sure that didn’t happen. The selection trials for the Thomas-Uber Cup Finals were done at one’s whims and fancy. A national coaching director would have put a lot of thought before suggesting it or even executing it. There is another important issue that deserves a lengthy deliberation by the council on Saturday – the development programme. Malaysia’s results in the Asian Junior Championships and World Junior Championships were disappointing, to say the least. There were no medals to show for and the problem of finding a successor for world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei still stands out like a sore thumb. Some council members are genuinely concerned about the lack of progress in the sport. So, rather than being silent observers, let’s hope they speak up.
[h=2]Thomas Cup: It's Soon Huat![/h]BY LIM TEIK HUAT Goh Soon Huat in a file photo. BAM have chosen him as the fourth single's player in the Thomas Cup Finals in New Delhi. [TABLE] [TR] [TD][TABLE] [TR] [TD] [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD]Email [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD][TABLE] [TR] [TD="class: gig-button-td"][TABLE] [TR] [TD] [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [TD]Facebook [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [TD]0[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] [/TD] [TD] [/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] PETALING JAYA: Good sense prevailed when the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) named Goh Soon Huat as the fourth singles player for the Thomas Cup Finals in New Delhi from May 18-25. The badminton community was on tenterhooks waiting for BAM’s decision as there had been talk that they would heed world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei’s suggestion that Misbun Ramdan Misbun be included because he is more aggressive and has won five international tournaments so far. On Saturday, it all came down to honouring their word at their council meeting and BAM went with the winner of the two selection trials. Soon Huat, who had beaten Ramdan twice in the selection trials, has yet to prove himself outside the country. But BAM president Tengku Tan Sri Mahaleel Tengku Ariff believes Soon Huat has vindicated BAM’s faith in him. Soon Huat will join Chong Wei, Chong Wei Feng and Daren Liew in the single’s, while BAM have entered six doubles players – Tan Boon Heong, Hoon Thien How, Lim Khim Wah, Goh V Shem, Tan Wee Kiong and Chan Peng Soon – to complete the 10-member strong Thomas Cup squad. “It’s a decision the council members were unanimous on and we were transparent. We wanted the best athletes to go. After looking at the physical condition report and the report from the coaches that he put in a lot of hard work, we opted for Soon Huat,” said Tengku Mahaleel, adding that centralised training will start on Monday. “The shuttlers will check in tomorrow and they will stay together with the coaches to encourage team-building before they leave for New Delhi on May 15.” The team have been finalised but the expectations have been toned down compared to previous editions considering the lack of depth this time. Realistically Malaysia do not have a chance at all to contend for the title and Tengku Mahaleel admitted their target is to reach the semi-finals. “We would like to win but the reality is we are the underdogs this time. But I would like to challenge the players to perform beyond their capabilities.” Malaysia are in Group C with South Korea, Germany and India. Only the top two teams from the group will advance to the quarter-finals. Two years ago, at the Finals in Wuhan, China, Malaysia lost 3-0 to the hosts in the quarter-finals. Tengku Mahaleel also defended the decision to send their women’s doubles shuttlers to Kelantan to train for three days. The stint involved reigning SEA Games champions Woon Khe Wei-Vivian Hoo, Amelia Anscelly-Soong Fie Cho and Lee Meng Yean-Lim Yin Loo, who have been picked as the doubles players for the Uber Cup Finals taking place in New Delhi at the same time. “We got the coaches to work on different game plans as well as improve their service.” Besides the six doubles players, the singles players going to the Finals are Tee Jing Yee, Yang Li Lian, Lim Chiew Sien and Lim Yin Fun.
I applaud the decision made by BAM to include GOH as the 4[SUP]th[/SUP] single, this is a massive decision that not only affect the current crop of players but also those youngster who want to be world beaters, to work hard and believe in yourself. Sentimental wise, I would like to see Ramdan get the slot because of what the Sideks has done for Malaysia badminton and I also believe Ramdan is a better player against others players, but Ramdan style is not suited to beat GOH, that’s why Ramdan lost 3 times to GOH. However, what BAM said before the trial must be honoured, the winner get the fourth slot. What BAM did today is a victory to Justice, Fair Play and Honour… Well done BAM !!!
Published: Sunday May 4, 2014 MYT 8:03:00 PM Updated: Sunday May 4, 2014 MYT 8:11:11 PMNg sisters saddened by Uber Cup snubBY RAJES PAULNational No.1 women's pair Ng Hui Lin (right) and sister Hui Ern has been left out of the Uber Cup squad because they could not attend the recent selection trials. - FilepicNational No.1 women's pair Ng Hui Lin (right) and sister Hui Ern has been left out of the Uber Cup squad because they could not attend the recent selection trials. - Filepic EmailFacebook0KUALA LUMPUR: Former internationals Ng Hui Lin-Ng Hui Ern are disappointed that they are not going to the Uber Cup Finals in New Delhi from May 18-25.The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) did not consider the Ng sisters for the Finals although they are ranked higher than the other pairs because they did not attend the three-day selection trials last week.World No. 27 Hui Lin-Hui Ern could not attend the trials due to study commitments. They returned to England to resume their studies after a short break in April. The duo are currently in the final year of their economics degree course at the Lough*borough University.On Saturday, the BAM picked world No. 23 Woon Khe Wei-Vivian Hoo, Amelia Anscelly-Soong Fie Cho (No. 30) and Lee Meng Yean-Lim Yin Loo (No. 44) in the 10-member squad for the Finals.The others are women’s singles shuttlers Tee Jing Ji, Lim Chiew Sien, Yang Li Lian and Lim Yin Fun.Hui Lin-Hui Ern, who will complete their four-year studies next month, said they will not let the setback dampen their spirits.“It is disappointing but we will move on from here. There are other things to look out for and we will motivate ourselves to continue with our pursuit for excellence in badminton,” said Hui Lin.The duo have qualified for this year’s World Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark, in August together with Khe Wei-Vivian.
o gag order, say BAMBY LIM TEIK HUAT EmailFacebook0KUALA LUMPUR: Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) deny there is a gag order yet shuttlers preparing for the Thomas and Uber Cup Finals in New Delhi from May 18-25 are now off-limits to the media.The shuttlers are currently undergoing centralised training at Juara Stadium in Bukit Kiara, and any request for an interview with a player or coach now has to go through Rashid Sidek, who is the Thomas-Uber Cup project leader.The courts are also off-limits to the media during the morning and afternoon training sessions unlike previous preparations for major assignments.It is understood that the order comes from BAM president Tengku Tan Sri Mahaleel Tengku Ariff who doesn’t want the players to be disturbed during training.BAM general manager Kenny Goh denied there is a gag order in place.”There is no gag order ... but interviews have to go through the proper channels. In this case, it is Rashid.”It’s the last phase of centralised training and we want the players to focus on what they are doing and not be distracted.”The 10-man squad for the Thomas Cup Finals are world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei, Chong Wei Feng, Liew Daren, Goh Soon Huat, Hoon Thien How, Tan Wee Kiong, Lim Khim Wah, Goh V Shem, Tan Boon Heong and Chan Peng Soon.Malaysia are in Group C, which also comprises South Korea, Germany and India.As for the Uber Cup, the squad consists of Tee Jing Yi, Yang Li Lian, Lim Yin Fun, Lim Chiew Sien, Vivian Hoo, Woon Khe Wei, Amelia Anscelly, Soong Fie Cho, Lee Meng Yean and Lim Yin Loo.They are in Group D with Japan, Denmark and Germany.Various activities, including gymnasium workouts and video viewing sessions, have been plannned for the players during the 10-day centralised camp, which started on Monday.The shuttlers and coaches leave for New Delhi on May 15.The top two teams in each grouop will advance to the last eight and a fresh draw will determine the quarter-final match-ups.
