That's possible also. LHI's return to form is very timely after a poor season last year. In fact LHI only had one poor game all week, the 1st game in the match against Sony. I was surprised when he turned the tables eventually, probably due to his superior fitness.
JR/LP have already created 3 major upsets, beating KKK/TBH, LWW/CTF and FH/CY. What's one more upset?!
Ok folks, the time is 2:15 am. This is Abedeng, your commentator, who will be reporting live via blackberry device from the venue in the next 11 hours. To begin, we will start the program with the mixed doubles final match, between the error prone Lee Hyo-Jung/Lee Yong Dae, up against tomboyish Yu Yang and her steady partner, He Hanbin. Despite their errors, the Koreans had been able to knock out two World Champion pairs in Nathan Robertson/Gail Emms and Nova Widianto/Lilyana Natsir, and as such, must start as slight favourites for the contest.
Next, we have a mouth watering women's singles match, with Denmark's Tine Rasmussen, the Japan Super Series champion, up against the World Champion, Zhu Lin.of China. Tine had beaten 3 of Zhu Lin's illustrious teammates on her way to her Japan Open title, and would be anxious to reinforce a message to the CHN coaching camp that no amount of team orders, deception or dirty tactics could stop the CHN women's singles squad from being strongly challenged in the Olympic Games in August. Zhu Lin, on her part, must retain her title at all costs, in order to please Chief Coach Li Yongbo.
Later in the program, the match that most BF forummers are waiting for, the men's singles title battle between Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia, up against one of his bogeymen, Lee Hyun-il of Korea. This is also very much a battle between two coaches, with Misbun Sidek, Malaysian coach, locking horns with Li Mao, former Malaysian and current Korean coach.
After men's singles, we have the expectedly boring women's doubles match, an all-CHN affair between World Champions Yang Wei and Choong Tan Fook's sweetheart Zhang Jiewen, up against the smiling assassin Gao Ling and her new partner Zhao Tingting. As this game is expected to be long drawn, it is best that the commentator take this chance to have a lunch break, go to the rest room or take a nap before we come to our final program.
Our last program is the men's doubles, pitting Denmark's 2003 World Champions Lars Paaske and his BF forummer partner Jonas Rasmussen, doing battle with current World Champion an in-form pair, Hendra Setiawan and Markis Kido of Indonesia. Paaske/Rasmussen have disposed of World No 1, Koo Kien Kiat/Tan Boon Heong and another World Champion pair, Cai Yun/Fu Haifeng, in their run up to the final. Both matches ran close to one hour and in 3 games. Setiawan/Kido were no less merciless, destroying completely twice All-England and European winners Jens Eriksen/Martin Lundgaard Hansen and Tony Gunawan/Candra Wijaya, in double quick times. They will be looking for their 3rd successive Super Series title, and a climb to World No 1 ranking.
MEN'S SINGLES Lee Chong Wei [1] vs Lee Hyun Il - LCW to be dominant. Misbun outmaneuvers Li Mao. Home crowd goes home happy. MEN'S DOUBLES Lars Paaske/Jonas Rasmussen vs Markis Kido/Hendra Setiawan [2] - closer than many can imagine. If JR/LP can play "smart", they can upset the INA stars. Would be nice to see new faces on top of the podium, so I'll call for a JR/LP win. WOMEN'S SINGLES Zhu Lin [3] vs Tine Rasmussen - Tine has proven her worth in the last 6 months. She will need to keep ZL on the court as long as possible to capitalize on ZL's suspect stamina. If it goes to a rubber, Tine is my gal. WOMEN'S DOUBLES - don't give a ****! Just hoping LYB doesn't stick his dirty nose into affairs, but then again... MIXED DOUBLES He Hanbin/Yu Yang [6] vs Lee Yong Dae/Lee Hyo Jung - I like the KOR pair but the CHN duo have done very well too. A toss up but it a win by LYD/LHJ will give the tournament winners list a nice international look.
MEN'S SINGLES Lee Chong Wei [1] vs Lee Hyun Il - Home favorite to take it in 2 tight games. MEN'S DOUBLES - Match of the day Lars Paaske/Jonas Rasmussen vs Markis Kido/Hendra Setiawan [2] - The increasingly dependable MK/HS should win it in 3 games. LP/JR is a threat though, having beaten KKK/TBH and CY/FHF in earlier rounds. But fatigue can be a factor. if it goes to rubber, the younger & fresher MK/HS should take it. In other words, LP/JR must win the first game. WOMEN'S SINGLES Zhu Lin [3] vs Tine Rasmussen - Tine should win this one, and should manage to pull another upset in front of the malaysian crowds (and at LYB's face.) WOMEN'S DOUBLES - Gao/Zhao vs Du/Yu. Before we talk about team-order, I just wonder which three WD pairs are China planning to send to OG?? It's looking a bit crowded with Zhang/Wei, Zhang/Yang, Gao/Zhao, and Du/Yu. They can only send the top three (provided they're all ranked in the top 4). Whoever wins tomorrow is probably the one who's 'chosen' to be the 3rd pair to go to Beijing. It's entirely possible that both pairs will duke it out, like they did recently (HK SS?). My pick? The cute Gao Ling , of course. MIXED DOUBLES He Hanbin/Yu Yang [6] vs Lee Yong Dae/Lee Hyo Jung - This one's a tough one, but my pick goes to the Koreans who've done extremely well so far.
MS Champion - LCW - he has been quite consistent lately, go CW & may the Boleh spirit be with you ... MD Champion - JR/RS - We (KKK/TBH) took the Denmark Open'07, so this time we let the Dane to take the Malaysia Open'08 ... share share mah =)
Im on the danes to take the MD title, man they really played well esp Paaske has found his long lost form. His net anticipation and all those flat jabbings is driving Cai/Fu crazy yesterday.
I like to see these players get the title MD - Lars Paaske/Jonas Rasmussen (a bit tough though) WS - Tine Rasmussen MD - Lee Yong Dae/Lee Hyo Jung WD - Gao Ling/Zhao Ting Ting on MS, full confidence on Lee Chong Wei!!!
As usual (like the HK Open Final), I am among the few ppl who are betting on Kido/Hendra to take the title However, I think I am not disappointed if the Danes were to beat Kido/Hendra today. They TOTALLY DESERVE this title here in KL!
Mine's almost the same as yours MD - Lars Paaske/Jonas Rasmussen (They're the underdogs again but I pick them because they deserved it. It'll be hard unless the INA pair makes mistakes) WS - Tine Rasmussen XD - Lee Yong Dae/Lee Hyo Jung WD - Ling Gao/ZHang TingTing MS Lee Chong Wei this guy is combination of class act + mad skillz
