WOW. Most impressive game in tonight SF. Women single: 12 yrs old girl LIANGXiaoYu beat MOKJingQiong 21:7 21:15. The match clearly shown the gap between Local & foreign talent interm of skill set. Her foot work is the main different. Like LCW with built in Spring in her legs.
Well in my view it's not very positive for the two young foreign talents to inch another step forward in tomorrow's final. The opponent they are up against are simple too much for them to overwhelm. For Liang Xiao Yu, she'll be facing Colleen Goh,who won a HAT-TRICK of national women singles Championship, our local 21 years old girl is arguably the best female player I've seen in the recent years. Not to forget the scene of Edwin Djohan hammering Chew Swee Hau in last year's final..I would say he's too high a mountain to climb for Andrianus.
LIANGXiaoYu will win in today WS final. She still got alot of reserve. Hope that Colleen can push her all the way today. But personally I think XiaoYu will be the champion, she've improved alot for the passed 4 yrs. Think Singapore can produce this type of player but have to start early probably at 4yrs old like XiaoYu. His parent did a fantastic job so far. Hopefully she can rep singapore in Youth Olympic in 2010 if she is 13 now.
I knew Liang Xiao Yu must be very young but not as young as 13! She was as determined to win last night, although the more experienced and much older Mok Jing Qiong really tested her in the second game before losing 7-21, 15-21. Liang is speedy and has good footwork but she is still not as powerful with her smashes and relied more on a cat and mouse game. If she could handle Colleen Goh's strength in this afternoon's final, I would say Liang has every chance to win and become the youngest WS winner in Singapore. It must be another record to see two unseeded players fighting for the WS titile! Same goes with MS Andrianus Adi Prasojo who upset the more experienced Aaron Tan (4) yesterday. But doing the same to ex-national player Erwin Djohan (2) in today's final will need much more from Andrianus. He has to try to put Erwin on the wrong foot as often as possible with his deceptive shots and try to minimise his unforced errors. Playing to Erwin's forte by lifting the shuttle will only mean a rather powerful smash in return. Not that Andrianus does not possess a good smash himself but it is better for him to attack more than defend. His tricky and cruel net shots may do the trick. I'm sure coach Wong Shoon Keat, himself a past Singapore singles champion, will have good tips for Andrianus. Despite the dearth of talents in Singapore badminton, I was pleased to see Grace Chua Hui Zhen blossoming into a fine singles player. Though seed just #12 in GSU15, Grace has defeated all her opposition until yesterday, when she almost created another upset, losing out to Thai girl, Natthporn Triyachart in three games, 18-21, 21-15, 19-21. The last time I saw Grace was when she was a small girl with pig tails, I think. There was another Singapore girl in pony tail who was her match. But now Grace has grown much taller and stronger and if she continues to improve she could well become one of Singapore's better singles players! Pictures below of our young lady Grace Chua
A sudden downpour prevented me from going to the stadium for the Finals today. I was looking forward to the WS and the MS. As there was no live scores, I had to wait for the results on the tournament website which must have been delayed slightly. What I saw initially was that Liang Xiao Yu had lost to Colleen Goh in three games, 13-21, 21-17 and the last being a cliff hanger at 25-23. But when I turned on again, the result had changed and instead it was Liang who had won. Now who exactly had won the WS title? If it was indeed Liang, it must have been a record for one so young at 13 years old. I also want to know her real age and how Liang managed to win against the more experienced and more powerful Colleen. Did Liang make less unforced errors and frustrate Colleen with her hardwork and retrieving ability? There is another girl by the same Liang surname who won the GSU15 title. I wonder whether they are sisters? As for Andrianus' devastating loss in the MS, I could only guess that he allowed Erwin to dominate him with his powerful smashes. Andrianus must have been unable to execute his delicate and tricky net shots more often than he wished and returned more high shots for Erwin to hammer them down. Thus he was all at sea and made many uncharacteristic errors. But this is only my guess.
she's 13 yrs old..she was champion of Malaysia ASBC Kedah badminton open under 14 girls champion this April. Guess her coach Mr Zhang Qing Song just want her to challenge her limit this time round. Same for Andrianus, Mr Wong feels he got the ability to excel on a higher level. And my goodness..I was wrong about xiaoyu's prospect of being a champion. *salute* just look at her relentless fighting spirit! although most of the times today Colleen Goh was the one moving her around on court and powering over her,we really should give credit for xiaoyu's coaches, parents and most importantly, herself for this grueling victory
I was there at the tournament. Xiaoyu was domintated by the obviously stronger Colleen, in terms of both strength and experience. However, she was diving for every shot and most of the times got to stretch full length to retrieve the shuttle. Had long and grueling rallies again and again, and in the final set Colleen finally succumbed. A true beautiful match between 2 champions.
Thank you for your confirmation. I thought Liang could just about make it with her speed and never-say-die attitude! But I still think Liang must be around 15 or above if the other Liang who won the U15 title is indeed her younger sister!
Some info of LIANGXiaoYu: She arrived with family in singapore in year 2006. Achievements: 2006 Cheers internation -- GU11 Champion. 2007 Cheers -- GU13 Champion, PilotPen -- GU12(single&double) Champion. 2008 Cheers -- GU15 Runnerup, PilotPen -- GU12 (single&double) Champion. 2009 Ashaway -- GU19 Champion. She is a PR who just completed her P6 with Yu Neng Primary and will joined Anglican high next year. She has achieved her target at the age of 13 by beating all the local women players, so next year onward her name will be known to all when she represent singapore in international competition. She has set a good example not only for local Badminton players to follow but also all local Coaches to learn from her coach especially her father who train her up at the age of 4+. Hopefully we see a local "LIANGXiaoYu" in the near future.
I just researched about xiaoyu too, she've gotten runner-up for under 17 women's singles for Cheers last year, losing out to Thitirat TRIYACHART 15-21,21-18,23-25. But gosh look at their size difference!
Thanks space needle p4 for the final photos when uncle Loh was unable to facilitate us with some this time round any photos on other final players?
I respect and congratulate Liang Xiaoyu victory in the womens singles. She is a fantastic player and had such fast feet. I enjoy watching her play. But please do not insult my intelligence by saying she is 12 or 13 years old. My company hire foreign workers from countries (i do not want to mention but its quite obvious) and they can easily cheat their age. The agent told me if you want their passport to be 21 instead of 15, not a problem. "Boss, if you want them to be younger also 100% no problem. All you need is to Pay!" was his reply. I was there to negotiate the transfer documents and was shock to see them processing 18 yr olds as 12 years old to apply for student pass for ages between 10 - 16 year old. Her game play, muscular developement, mental maturity and game analysis and processing is definitely 100% not that of a 12 or 13 year old. The only players where i believe their age is 100% true is from Singaporean born in Singapore such as KK hospital, Mount alvernia etc. My opinion is that LXY is probably 16 - 18 years old. Anyway she is a wonderful player. As for Colleen, well done. Being a full time student in a tough faculty in NTU must have taken its toll on you. Despite a lack of training, you manage to rubber with LXY. Well done. Come back stronger next year. Loh, its not difficult to find her real age. Just sponsor her a DNA age test which cost about USD$2000 and you will know her real age. Heard that her coach rejected such an offer 2 years ago when approach by a local businessman to confirm her age telling the businessman to mind his business. Hm... Rumour maybe...? lolz
Honey, have you ever heard of Precociousness and plain genius? Nobody thought that Homo Genius could ever run 100m below 9.70s but it's done. of cos for our local university 20 years old gal who was in National Team for a year..and the 18 - 20 years old girls from Singapore national second team,who train twice a day,6 days per week, the quality of training is questionable. But anyway, does age matter? She's not playing in an age group category. It's not as if she's acting young to bully some under 13 kids. She is the Ladies Single Champion of Singapore (minus national 1st team) and supposed to be "bullied" by others in that category.
If you read my post, i did not question her victory. I respect and enjoy watching her play. In fact i congratulate her victory as she is the womens open champion. What i addressed was the fact it would be insulting my intelligence is someone would tell me that she is 13. Probably 16-18 but defintely not 13! However that does not mask the fact that i love the way she played in the Open category and challenge those older than her. It isnt about which category she played! i am just pissed off when people call her a 13 yr old beating 18 yr old mok JQ. Get her to do a DNA age test to prove me wrong and i will shut up 4ever. Until then, her age is always a mystery. Ask any local coach with regards to her actual age and you will know what i mean...
