taneepak said:
Yes, watching badminton on TV is not the same thing as the real thing. TV is just in 2 dimensions, not 3-D. You also don't get to watch the Malaysian and Indonesian supporters putting on their best act. No where else outside Malaysia and Indonesia can you get such incredible crowd atmosphere.
Hallo, I was part of the incredible crowd atmosphere during the 1988 and 1992 Thomas Cup Finals at Stadium Negara, and no World Championships will ever beat that. Was even sitting beside to our overweight leading Malaysian cheerleader (our secret weapon) in 1988, and that was when he wasn't even formally acknowledged by BAM. Now, BAM even allows him to go and hug the players immediately after a match while they are still on court shaking hands.
In the 1988 Thomas Cup Semis between MAS and INA, we were actually outnumbered by the Indonesian supporters 2 to 1 and the score was 0-2 after Misbun and FKK fell. For all intents and purposes, this was Istora Senayan, not Stadium Negara anymore. Indonesian supporters starting showing their "weaponry", their shouts, flags and winning banners. But it didn't matter, our secret weapon went to work when Rashid Sidek took on Ardy Wiranata, a player he had not defeated prior to that night.
Finally, to cap off a memorable night, that great man shouted "Sungkit!!! Sungkit!!!" everytime Cheah Soon Kit was due to unleash his jumping smashes in the final and deciding match. And Cheah and Ong Beng Teong made history to beat Lim Swie King/Bobby Ertanto in 3 games for a come-from-behind 3-2 victory.
Yep, that victory was as much due to our secret weapon as to the fighting spirit of the 1988 squad .....
The Thomas Cup victory 4 years later was better managed, and this time we outnumber the Indonesians. In the critical 4th match ('cos we are guaranteed to lose the 5th one), with the score 2-1 to MAS, there were shouts, singing and dancing even before Cheah/Soo's match against Ricky/Rexy ended. So much so that we could see Soo Beng Kiang and Ricky Subagja's hands tremble during service ......
Anyway, saw my old friend last at S'pore Open semifinals recently, and in the final, was kinda sad seeing him on TV so forlorn when Choong/Lee went down.