MY: BADMINTON: Thomas & Uber Cup Reports
Sooraj Nair
* POSTED WITH PERMISSION *
* Copyright Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd *
* The Star Online, http://www.jaring.my/star/ *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Related Stories:
* Uber Cup: High-riding Malaysia brought down to earth
* Match-ups
* Better to meet China in the semis
* Results
PANG CHEN'S THE HERO AS AUSSIES GET WHITEWASHED
By S.T. Arasu
_________________________________________________________________
AUCKLAND: National champion Pang Chen clinched Malaysia's winning
point in their opening Group Y match at the Thomas Cup qualifying
rounds at the Auckland Badminton Hall yesterday.
The Thomas Cup debutant took the cue from teammate Rashid Sidek with a
clinical 15-1, 15-1 disposal of David Bamford to give Malaysia an
unassailable 3-0 lead.
Pang Chen's Nusa Mahsuri teammates Rashid and Ong Ewe Hock had picked
up the opening two points for the Malaysians.
Malaysia took both the remaining doubles matches to whitewash the
Australians 5-0.
Rashid had an easy workout yesterday. He took just 19-minutes to brush
aside Murray Hocking 15-1, 15-1. The Australians, knowing full well
that they were not a match for the Malaysians, opted to rest their top
ranked player Craig Booley.
Despite his clear superiority in skills, Ewe Hock struggled during the
early stages of both his games against Stuart Metcalfe before winning
15-7, 15-10.
Ewe Hock should have wrapped up the game in doubles quick time but was
more toying around with his opponent.
But it was Pang Chen who captured everyone's imagination.
He hardly made a mistake in his 18-minute annihilation of Bamford. The
lanky shuttler impressed with his attacking game and could prove to be
the player to beat at third singles.
Cheah Soon Kit-Yap Kim Hock had a slow start before they picked up
Malaysia's fourth point in the first doubles. They outwitted Peter
Blackburn-Paul Staight 15-11, 15-2.
Wira Tangkis professionals Soo Beng Kiang-Tan Kim Her were given an
anxious time by a defensive Hocking-Mark Nichols pair.
But the Malaysian duo mustered their experience in beating the
fighting Australians 15-9, 15-10.
Malaysia takes on Taiwan in their second group match today.
Taiwan put themselves virtually in the semi-finals when they beat
Thailand 3-2 in a crucial match yesterday.
HIGH-RIDING MALAYSIA BROUGHT DOWN TO EARTH
AUCKLAND: High-riding Malaysia were brought down to earth by a more
skilful Japanese side in a Group Y Uber Cup match at the Auckland
Badminton Hall yesterday.
Malaysia, who qualified for the second round by surprisingly winning
Group B earlier this week, were hardly a match for the Japanese, who
won 5-0.
Japan led by their world No. 17, Hisako Mizui, wrapped up the match
after the first three singles matches.
Malaysia, who romped past Australia in the first round on Tuesday,
received no favours from the Japanese side.
The Australians had wanted to avoid the tougher Group Y and
practically threw their match against Malaysia.
Unlike the Australians, Japan chose to field their best in search of a
semi-final berth.
Hisako, best remembered for her stunning defeat of Susi Susanti at the
Asian Games in Hiroshima two years ago, defeated Chan Chia Fong 11-5,
11-0.
Malaysia chose to rest Ishawari Boobathy in place of Geevien Saha but
Hisako's sister, Yasuko, was more than a match, winning 11-6, 11-3.
Takako Ida sealed the match for Japan with an effortless 11-0, 11-1
win over Lee Winnie in the third singles.
Earlier in the morning, Group Y favourites China hardly raised a sweat
in their 5-0 defeat of New Zealand. The Chinese, favoured to enter the
finals here, rested three of their key players -- Wang Chen, Qin
Yiyuan and Tang Yongshu -- but were still more than a handful for the
Kiwis.
Likewise, Group X favourites, South Korea, fielded an understrength
side that still overwhelmed Australia 5-0. But the Australians also
chose to rest some of their top players yesterday.
The Australians are concentrating their efforts on beating both
Thailand and Taiwan to qualify for the semi-finals behind the Koreans.
Thailand, who qualified for the Finals for the first time two years
ago, were forced to struggle by outsiders Taiwan before winning 3-2.
MATCH-UPS
THOMAS CUP
MALAYSIA vs TAIWAN
THIS is a match that Malaysia should win comfortably. It will be the
first test of endurance for the Malaysian players before they move on
to the more difficult matches.
However, Taiwan beat Thailand 4-1 yesterday and may not go all out to
stop the Malaysians today. A win over Australia tomorrow would most
likely put them in the semi-finals.
First singles
Rashid Sidek vs Fung Permadi: It has been three years since the duo
met. Rashid was beaten by Fung in three games then. It is not going to
any easier for Rashid now.
The point could go either way.
Second singles
Ong Ewe Hock vs Chang Jeng-shyung: Jeng-shyung is one of the
up-and-coming Taiwanese players. But the youngster has less than a
year's experience in the international circuit.
But if Ewe Hock takes the match easy, he may be in for some trouble.
Should be a point for Malaysia.
Third singles
Pang Chen vs Liu En-horng: En-horng is one of the most experienced of
the Taiwanese shuttlers. He is also a fighter. Pang Chen will be
pushed to the limit here.
Point for Malaysia.
First doubles
Cheah Soon Kit-Yap Kim Hock vs Huang Chuan-chen-Horng Shin-jeng: Kim
Hock may not be as fit as he wants to be. And this match will be a
good indication of how well his body is going to take the punishment
in the days to come.
Point for Malaysia.
Second doubles
Soo Beng Kiang-Tan Kim Her vs Lee Sung Yuan-Wu Chun Sheng: Beng
Kiang-Kim Her should have no problems in beating this Taiwanese pair.
Yesterday, the Malaysians were struggling to get their attacking game
going against the Australians. But Sung-yuan-Chun-sheng are not that
sound defensively.
Point for Malaysia.
UBER CUP
Malaysia vs China
MALAYSIA will need a miracle to beat China.
The Chinese and the Koreans are the best teams in the competition.
At best the tie can only be described as an avenue to gain some
experience for the Malaysian girls.
First singles: Chan Chia Fong vs Ye Zhaoying
Second singles: Ishwari Boobathy vs Wang Chen
Third singles: Lee Winnie vs Han Jingna
First doubles: Kuak Sieok Choon-Norashikin Amin vs Ge Fei-Gu Jun
Second doubles: Lim Pek Siah-Chor Hooi Yee vs Qin Yiyuan-Tang Yongshu
BETTER TO MEET CHINA IN THE SEMIS
Smashing with Cheah Soon Kit
_________________________________________________________________
AUCKLAND: Yesterday's opening match against the Australians went very
well for us. We were confident of beating them and the overall
performance of the players was very encouraging.
We are confident of moving into the semi-finals. We should be able to
beat both Taiwan and Thailand in our remaining group matches.
Winning the next two matches as emphatically as the one against the
Australians would boost our confidence before the semi-finals.
The semi-finals is the place the real battle will start. Of the two
favourites in the other group, I fear the Koreans more.
I would personally prefer to meet the Chinese, whom we have a better
chance of beating.
This is not to say that we are much better than the Chinese. I prefer
to say that both sides are on a equal footing.
The last time we met the Chinese was in the 1994 Thomas Cup
semi-finals. We beat them 4-1 then.
But the Chinese side in Auckland is more matured and balanced. That
makes our task harder.
On paper, the Chinese may look much stronger than us. But I only see
two strong points in their team.
The first is Dong Jiong. Dong Jiong has improved by leaps and bounds
since the last Thomas Cup, when he lost to Ong Ewe Hock in Jakarta two
years ago. But now, he looks better than even Rashid Sidek.
Their next two singles players -- Sun Jun and Lin Liwen -- are also
good players. But I don't see them in the same mould as Dong Jiong.
These two are not as consistent as Dong Jiong. Both Ewe Hock and Pang
Chen can beat them.
The second strong point for the Chinese is the first doubles pair of
Huang Zhanzhong-Jiang Xin.
Unfortunately Kim Hock and I have to contend with them. This pair is
never easy to beat. Although we have beaten them before, they can be
tough to beat on their day. I dare not say how the match would go.
China's weakest link is their second doubles and I see no reason why
Soo Beng Kiang-Tan Kim Her should lose to them.
The Koreans, on the other hand, are an unpredictable lot.
They have three singles players -- Park Sung-woo, Lee Kwang-jin and
Kim Hak-kyun -- who can beat the best in the world.
And if Park Joo-bong plays, the Koreans will also have a very strong
second doubles.
RESULTS
THOMAS CUP
Group X
China bt New Zealand 5-0 (Dong Jiong bt Nick Hall 15-5, 15-2; Lin
Liwen bt Jarrod King 15-4, 15-1; Yu Lizhi bt Grant Walker 15-5, 15-1;
Liu Jianjun-Chen Xingdong bt Nick Hall-Glenn Stewart 15-8, 15-6; Ge
Cheng-Tao Xiaoqiang bt Dean Galt-Grant Walker 15-4, 15-11).
South Korea bt Japan 4-1 (Lee Kwang-jin bt Fumihiko Machida 15-6,
15-6; Kim Hak-kyun bt Seichi Watanabe 15-6, 15-6; Lee Dong-soo lost to
Takahiro Suka 9-15, 1-15; Kim Dong-moon-Yoo Yong-sung bt Fumihiko
Machida-Seichi Watanabe 15-1, 15-2; Ha Tae-kwan-Lee Dong-soo bt
Takahiro Suka-Norio Imai 15-7, 15-5).
Group Y
Taiwan bt Thailand 3-2 (Fung Permadi bt Kitipon Kitikul, 15-6, 15-4;
Apichai Theeraratskul 15-1, 9-15, 15-4; Liu En-horng bt Nattapol
Sarawan 15-5, 15-8; Lee Sung-yuan-Wu Chun-seng lost to
Siripong-Siripol 5-15, 2-15; Horng Shin-jeng-Liu En-horng lost to
Pramote Teerawiwatana-Sakrapee Thongsari 14-18, 6-15).
Malaysia bt Australia 5-0 (Rashid Sidek bt Murray Hocking 15-1, 15-1;
Ong Ewe Hock bt Stuart Metcalfe 15-7, 15-10; Pang Chen bt David
Bamford 15-1, 15-1; Cheah Soon Kit-Yap Kim Hock bt Peter
Blackburn-Paul Staight 15-11, 15-2; Soo Beng Kiang-Tan Kim Her bt
Murray Hocking-Mark Nichols 15-9, 15-10).
UBER CUP
Group X
Thailand bt Taiwan 3-2 (Somharuethai Jaroensiri bt Chan Ya Ling 2-11,
11-7, 11-7; Pornsawan Plungwech 11-3, 9-12, 4-11; Sujitra
Ekmongkolpaisarn bt Jeng Shwu-zen 11-8, 7-11, 12-9; Pornsawan
Plungwech-Plernta Boonyarit lost to Lee Ming-hwa-kao Hsin-lee 12-15,
15-13, 3-15; Somharuethai Jaroensiri-Sujitra Ekmongkolpaisarn lost to
Tsai Huz-min-Jeng Shwu-zen 9-15, 8-15).
Uber Cup
South Korea bt Australia 5-0 (Bang Soo-hyun bt Lisa Bryant Campbell
11-3, 11-0; Kim Ji-hyun bt Kelly Lucas 11-0, 11-0; Lee Joo-hyun bt
Rayoni Head 11-2, 11-4; Park Soo-hyun-Chung Jae-hee bt Amanda
hardy-Rhonda Cator 15-11, 15-2; Ra Kyung-min-Kim Shin-young bt Nicole
Harwood-Rayoni Head 15-4, 15-0)
Group Y
Japan bt Malaysia 5-0 (Hisako Mizui bt Chan Chia Fong 11-5, 11-0;
Yasuko Mizui bt Geevien Saha 11-6, 11-3; Takako Ida bt Lee Winnie
11-0, 11-1; Tomomi Matsuo-Masako Sakamoto bt Kuak Sieok
Choon-Norashikin Amin 15-10, 15-3; Aiko Miyamura-Akiko Miyamura bt Lim
Pek Siah-Chor Hooi Yee 15-10, 15-9).
China bt New Zealand 5-0 (Ye Zhaoying bt Amanda Carter 11-6, 11-5; Han
Jingna bt Megan heaney 11-2, 11-1; Zhang Ning bt Kati Tibor 11-2,
11-1; Ge Fei-Gu Jun bt Rhona Robertson-Tammy Jenkins 15-1, 15-3; Chen
Ying-Peng Xingyong bt Julie Still-Megan Heaney 15-2, 15-1).
Monday's results THOMAS CUP
Group A: Sri Lanka bt Singapore 3-2
Group B: Macau bt Argentina 5-0
UBER CUP
Group A: New Zealand bt Sri Lanka 5-0
Group B: Malaysia bt Singapore 4-1 (Chan Chia Fong lost to Zarinah
Abdullah 0-11, 4-11; Ishwari Boobathy bt Zanetta Li 11-2, 11-9; Lee
Winnie bt Chin Yen Peng 11-5, 11-0; Kuak Sieok Choon-Norashikin Amin
bt Zarinah Abdullah-Zanetta Li 11-5, 11-7; Lim Pek Siah-Chor Hooi Yee
bt Chin Yen Peng-Fatimah Kumin Lim 11-8, 11-7).
Tuesday's results THOMAS CUP
Group A: New Zealand bt Singapore 3-2
Group B: Australia bt Argentina
UBER CUP
Group A: Taiwan bt New Zealand 5-0
Group B: Malaysia bt Australia 4-1(Chan Chia Fong lost to Song Yang
8-11, 4-11; Geevien Saha bt Kelly Lucas 11-2, 11-4; Lee Winnie bt
Rayoni Head 12-9, 11-5; Kuak Sieok Choon-Norashikin Amin bt Lisa
Bryant Campbell-Kelly Lucas 11-10, 11-5; Lim Pek Siah-Chor Hooi Yee bt
Nicole Harwood-Kelly Lucas 15-4, 15-3
TODAY'S SCHEDULE
THOMAS CUP
Group X: Korea vs New Zealand, China vs Japan
Group Y: Thailand vs Australia, Malaysia vs Taiwan
UBER CUP
Group X: Thailand vs Australia, Korea vs Taiwan
Group Y: Japan vs New Zealand, China vs Malaysia