Thomas Cup priority

 

Lee Chong Wei

BE PREPARED: Chong Wei to guide inexperienced teammates ahead of New Delhi finals

WINNING the next two super series -- India (April 1-6) and Singapore (April 8-13) -- is not a priority for Lee Chong Wei who instead wants to guide his inexperienced teammates for the Thomas Cup Finals in New Delhi in May.

Although expectations will be high for Chong Wei to bag the India Open and Singapore Open after beating China's Chen Long in the All England early this month, national singles coach Tey Seu Bock said it will not be easy for the World No 1 to peak for every tournament he plays in.

Malaysia, seeded third, will be battling for a place in the semi-finals in New Delhi after falling in the quarter-final stage in Wuhan, China two years ago.

The India Open will be held at the same venue as the Thomas Cup Finals -- the Siri Firt Complex -- and most of the squad will using the super series to get an early feel to the conditions.

Chong Wei is once again expected to battle Chen Long for the India Open title but Seu Bock said the focus at the moment is geared towards Thomas Cup preparations.

"Chong Wei showed his class in the All England but it is not possible for him to peak in every tournament.

"His aim in the India and Singapore is to do well but the main focus will be the Thomas Cup Finals," said Seu Bock.

"Chong Wei has played at the Siri Fort Complex where he won the India Open last year so he is use to the conditions but it will be an early warm-up for the other players.

"There is no pressure on Chong Wei in the India Open and in any case it is too early to hype up the clash between Chen Long and him," said Seu Bock.

"He will be back playing in the Singapore Open after missing a few editions and I expect him to maintain his performance and hit top form in the Thomas Cup."

Among the Thomas Cup squad members who will be playing in the India Open and Singapore Open are singles player Chong Wei Feng and doubles combinations Hoon Thien How-Tan Wee Kiong and Goh V Shem-Lim Khim Wah and they will need good results to boost their confidence ahead of the Thomas Cup Finals.

Tan Boon Heong, who is also assured of a place in the Thomas Cup squad, will get some match practice with Ow Yao Han in India and Singapore.

Arif turns giant killer
ARIF Latif stunned men's singles top seed Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk at the Malaysian Open Grand Prix Gold in Johor Baru yesterday but the country's top men's doubles pair crashed to a humiliating first round defeat.

Tanongsak blew an 18-16 lead in the first game and though he recovered from a 5-10 deficit in the second, the Thai could not prevent Arif from inching ahead as the Malaysian always stayed a point or two in front before completing a 21-19, 21-18 victory.

Arif will meet Taiwan's Yang Chih Hsun in the second round but Zulfadli Zulkifli's campaign ended early when the 14th seed was forced to retire while trailing Indonesian Siswanto 14-10.

Men's doubles top seeds Hoon Tien How-Tan Wee Kiong were also left licking their wounds after losing 21-16, 22-20 to Singapore qualifiers Danny Bawa Chrisnanta-Chayut Triyachart despite the World No 8 pair saving four match points in the second game.

In a notable women's single result, Tee Jing Yi knocked out fourth seed Aprilla Yuswandari of Indonesia 21-18, 21-14 and will meet Japan's Sayako Sato in today's second round.

BADMINTON: Boon Heong and new partner on a roll
TAN Boon Heong and his new partner Ow Yao Han advanced to the men's doubles quarter-finals of the Malaysian Open GP Gold in Johor Baru yesterday along with one other national pair.

With his regular partner Koo Kien Keat having left the national set up, Boon Heong has been paired off with Yao Han on an experimental basis and the eighth seeded pair claimed a 28-26, 21-13 win over Hardianto-Agripinna Prima Rahmanto Putra of Indonesia in the second round.

Also through were second seeds Goh V Shem-Lim Kim Wah, who outlasted national teammates Chooi Kah Ming-Teo Ee Yi 21-18, 15-21, 21-11 and will next meet India's Alwin Francis-Arun Vishnu.

Tee Jing Yi continued her fine showing by reaching the women's singles last-eight after beating Sayako Sato of Japan 21-17, 21-18.

Malaysia will be represented by two pairs in the women's doubles quarter-finals in Amelia Anscelly-Fie Cho Soong and Lee Meng Yean-Lim Yin Loo.

BADMINTON: V Shem-Khim Wah stay hot at home
MEN'S singles Chong Wei Feng took advantage of the absence of top players to reach the semi-finals while defending champions Goh V Shem-Lim Khim Wah also stayed on course in the Malaysia Open grand prix gold in Johor Baru yesterday.

Wei Feng defeated R.M.V. Gurusaidutt of India 21-12, 5-21, 21-19 in 59 minutes to register his best result this year after failing to get past the quarter-final stage in earlier tournaments.

He will play Sourabh Verma of India, who defeated Chou Tien Chen of Taiwan 22-20, 18-21, 21-15, today.

However, back-up player Soo Teck Zhi's run came to an end when he suffered a 21-10, 21-4 thrashing by Simon Santoso of Indonesia in 28 minutes.

Men's doubles V Shem-Khim Wah continued to sizzle at home when they defeated Alwin Francis-Arun Vishnu of India 21-18, 21-14 to reach the last four.

V Shem-Khim Wah won their first international crown by bagging last year's Malaysia GP gold and also made an impact by adding the Malaysia Open premier super series in January.

Much was expected in tournaments in Europe but they could only reach the last eight of the German Open last month and lost in the first round of the All England earlier this month.

However, the fans can count on V Shem-Khim Wah's exceptional form at home to be tested when they play Indonesia's Gideon Markus Fernaldi-Markis Kido in the last four today.

Gideon-Markis ended another Malaysian pair -- Tan Boon Heong-Ow Yao Han's hopes with a 28-26, 6-21, 21-19 win in 53 minutes yesterday.

Women's doubles Lee Meng Yean-Lim Yin Loo were the surprise package when they reached the last four after beating Sari Shinta Mulia-Yao Lei of Singapore 21-17, 22-20.

They will take on Ou Dongni-Xiong Mengjing of China today.

Amelia Anscelly-Soong Fie Cho lost 21-12, 21-15 to Yu Xiaohan-Zheng Yaqiong of China while women's singles Tee Jing Yi also folded after suffering a 21-12, 21-17 defeat to Hsu Ya Ching of Taiwan in the quarter-finals. By K.M. Boopathy