THE celebrations looked a touch overdone but Wong Choong Hann can be forgiven for the outpouring of emotion following his Thomas Cup quarter-final second singles win over Japan’s Kenichi Sato at Istora Senayan yesterday.

Victory, which gave Malaysia an unassailable 3-0 lead, was achieved in fairly routine fashion but the celebrations were actually more of thanksgiving as Choong Hann felt that he had atoned for what happened in the 2006 edition in Tokyo.

Then, a ruptured Achilles tendon when playing second singles against South Korea’s Park Sung Hwan at the same stage meant the end of Choong Hann’s campaign and there were also doubts as to whether the 2003 world championships silver medalist would ever play again.

“I feared the worst when I entered the court, thinking whether I would suffer the same fate. I disappointed the team in Tokyo and I’m thankful I managed to win my match and secure Malaysia’s winning point today (yesterday),” said World No 15 Choong Hann.

In Tokyo, Malaysia managed to beat the Koreans 3-2 but Choong Hann’s absence was felt in the semi-finals against Denmark as they made their exit.

There were no signs of injury yesterday though as Choong Hann won 21-13, 21-18.

“National chief coach Yap Kim Hock also advised me to relax. That helped as I stayed focused and victory was easily achieved.”

But having safely come through the quarter-finals, Choong Hann must now prepare to play a major role in tomorrow’s semi-final against champions China.

Choong Hann is expected to play World No 3 Bao Chunlai, a player he has not beaten in their last two meetings.

In fact, Chunlai leads the head-to-head 6-3 but Choong Hann reckons he, and Malaysia, have a chance against China if they play as a team.

“We have to follow the instructions of the coaches and if we do that, we can win.”

If Malaysia do, it will be interesting to see just how emotional Choong Hann gets.

Article source:

The New Straits Times

MALAYSIA have decided that they want to emerge as the winners of Group B for a direct entry to the Thomas Cup quarter-finals, even if it means going into the same half as defending champions China.

Malaysia chalked up a 5-0 win over England yesterday and they will play against South Korea at the Istora Senayan in Jakarta today. The losers will have to play an extra tie to get into the quarter-finals in the other half of the draw, which should have Indonesia and Denmark.

National singles coach Misbun Sidek said yesterday of their final group fixture: “Today, we fielded our best players. We will do the same to take on the South Koreans.”

If Malaysia beat South Korea to top the group, they will play against either Germany or Japan in the quarter-finals. The Germans were beaten 2-3 by Thailand in Group D yesterday and they will have to earn the quarter-final berth in a play-off against the runners-up in Group C.

Sweat it out: Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah needed all their experience to beat England’s Robert Adcock-Robin Middleton 21-19, 21-16.

And a quarter-final win for Malaysia will give them a tie against China for a place in the final.

Yesterday, a Malaysian team at full strength came under stiff challenges from the English side.

Lee Chong Wei, Wong Choong Hann and the veteran pair of Germany or Japan, especially, had to dig deep into their reserve to win their matches. The other two points came from Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong and Mohd Hafiz Hashim.

Misbun said that it was a good warm-up ahead of the tie against South Korea.

“The players took time to get adjusted to the draught in the stadium, the lighting and the whole environment. Some of our players struggled but I am not worried at all. Chong Wei did not show variety in his game and he has to improve on this,” he said.

National doubles coach Rexy Mainaky admitted that the Malaysian players would have to double their efforts, especially in the doubles.

“I understand why the players struggled today. They were the best Malaysian players and nothing but a win was expected from them. This affected their play,” he said.

On their chances against South Korea, Rexy said that it would depend on the line-up their opponents chose to field.

“You know the Koreans. They are full of mystery when it comes to the Thomas Cup Finals. In the Thomas Cup qualifiers (in Vietnam in February), they fielded a singles player in the doubles. They always have tricks up their sleeves,” he said.

“It is good for us if they field an under-strength team. Then, we can beat them easily and achieve our target. But the tie could go down to the wire if they field their best.

“At the last Finals, Malaysia managed to win only one point (from the doubles) and it will be great if both the pairs can deliver this time.”

If both teams are at full strength in the singles, Chong Wei will face Park Sung-hwan. The second and third singles matches will pit Choong Hann against Lee Hyun-il and Hafiz against Shon Seung-mo respectively.

But Malaysia may rest Tan Fook-Wan Wah and field Kien Keat-Boon Heong at first doubles against against All-England champions Jung Jae-sung-Lee Yong-dae. The younger Malaysian pair will have the better chance to cope with the pace of the Koreans.

This option will give Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif-Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari a match against Lee Jae-jin-Hwang Ji-Man.

Results

>> THOMAS CUP

>GROUP A

China bt Nigeria 5-0: Lin Dan bt Greg Orobosa Okuonghea 21-6, 21-11; Bao Chunlai bt Akeem Ogunseye 21-9, 21-3, Chen Yu bt Jimkan Bulus 21-7, 21-6; Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng bt Okuonghea-Ogunseye 21-4, 21-3; He Hanbin-Shen Ye bt Bulus-Faghemi 21-8, 21-11.

Canada bt Nigeria 5-0: Bobby Milroy bt Greg Orobosa Okuanghea 21-19, 21-5; Stephen Wojcikiewicz bt Jinkam Ifraimu 21-8, 21-17; David Snider bt Olauluwa Faghemi 21-15, 21-19; William Milroy-Mike Beres bt Jinkam Ifraimu-Olauluwa Faghemi 21-16, 21-7; Toby Ng-Alvin Lau bt Greg Orobosa Okuanghea-Akeem Ogunseye 21-10, 21-11.

> GROUP B

Malaysia bt England 5-0: Lee Chong Wei bt Andrew Smith 21-17, 21-15, Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah bt Robert Adcock-Robin Middleton 21-19, 21-16; Wong Choong Hann bt Rajiv Ouseph 22-20, 21-16; Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong bt Christopher Adcock-Christopher Langridge 21-12, 21-12; Mohd Hafiz Hashim bt Ben Beckman 21-15, 21-14.

> GROUP C

Denmark bt New Zealand 5-0: Kenneth Jonassen bt John Moody 21-8, 21-13, Lars Paaske-Jonas Rasmussen bt Henry Tam-Nathan Hannam 21-9, 21-10; Peter Gade bt Joe Wu 21-4, 21-11; Jens Eriksen-Martin Lundgaard Hansen-Craig Cooper-John Moody 21-12, 21-12; Joachim Persson bt Kevin Dennerly 21-7, 21-5.

> GROUP D

Thailand bt Germany 3-2: Boonsak Ponsana bt Marc Zwiebler 21-17, 21-19; Sudket Prapakamol-Tesana Panvisavas lost to Ingo Kindervater-Kristof Hopp 20-22, 17-21; Poompat Sapkulchananert lost to Dieter Domke 21-12, 19-21, 16-21; Songphon Anugritayawon-Nuttaphon Narkthong bt Roman Spitko-Michael Fuchs 21-19, 23-21; Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk bt Marcel Reuter 21-14, 21-19.

Indonesia bt Thailand 3-2: Sony Dwi Kuncoro lost to Boonsak Ponsana 17-21, 15-21; Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan bt Tesana Panvisvas Nuttaphon Narkthong 21-11, 21-16; Taufik Hidayat lost to Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk 21-23, 18-21; Joko Riyadi-Hendra Gunawan bt Sudket Prapakamol-Songphon Anugritayawon 17-21, 21-8, 21-12; Simon Santoso bt Pakkawat Vilailak 21-11, 21-9.

>> UBER CUP

>GROUP W

China bt Usa 5-0: Xie Xingfang bt Eva Lee 21-10, 21-7; Gao Ling-Zhao Tingting bt Panitha Pongasavithas-Vimla Pongasavithas 21-5, 21-9; Lu Lan bt Chen Kuei Ya 21-5, 21-3; Yang Wei-Zhang Jiewen bt Eva Lee-Mesinee Mangkalakiri 21-5, 21-6; Zhu Lin bt Rena Wang 21-4, 21-8.

Germany bt Usa 5-0: Xu Huaiwen bt Lauren Todt 21-9, 21-6; Juliane Schenk bt Chen Kuei Ya 21-5, 21-5; Karin Schnaase bt Rena Wang 21-17, 21-5; Juliane Schenk-Kathrin Piotrowski bt Eva Lee-Mesinee Mangkalakiri 21-14, 21-13; Birgit Overzier-Michaela Peiffer bt Panita Phongasavithas-Vimla Phongasavithas 21-14, 21-15.

> GROUP X

South Korea bt South Africa 5-0: Hwang Hye-joun bt Kerry Lee Harrington 21-8, 21-7; Lee Yun-hwa bt Stacey Doubell 21-6, 21-4; Bae Youn-joo bt Annari Viljoen 21-6, 21-4; Lee Kyung-won-Lee Hyo-jung bt Michelle Edwards-Chantal Botts 21-7, 21-7; Kim Min-jung-Ha Jung-eun bt Viljoen-Jade Morgan 21-5, 21-6.

> GROUP Y

Malaysia bt New Zealand 5-0: Wong Mew Choo bt Rachel Hindley 21-18, 21-6; Lim Pek Siah-Ng Hui Lin bt Donna Kranston-Emma Rodgers 21-7, 21-16; Julia Wong bt Michelle Chan 21-18, 21-7; Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui bt Rachel Hindley-Renee Flavell 21-13, 21-14; Lydia Cheah bt Jessica Jongowisastro 21-11, 21-8.

Denmark bt New Zealand 4-1: Tine Rasmussen bt Rachel Hindley 21-9, 21-6; Mie Schjott Kristensen-Christinna Pedersen bt Renee Flavell-Danielle Barry 21-10, 21-8; Nanna Brosolat Jensen bt Michelle Chan 21-8, 12-21, 23-21; Helle Nielsen-Marie Ropke bt Donna Cranston-Emma Rodgers 21-12, 23-21; Camilla Sorensen lost to Jessica Jonggowisastro 17-21, 11-21.

> GROUP Z

Indonesia bt Japan 4-1: Maria Kristin lost to Eriko Hirose 21-9, 20-22, 20-22; Lilyana Natsir-Vita Marissa bt Satoko Suetsuna-Miyuki Maeda 9-21, 21-19, 21-14; Adrianti Firdasari bt Yu Hirayama 21-11, 20-22, 21-13; Greysia Polii-Jo Novita bt Shiota Reiko-Tomomi Matsuda 21-14, 21-18; Pia Zebadiah bt Kaori Mori 21-19, 21-17.

Article source:

TheStar News

KUALA LUMPUR: Forward S. Selvaraju will get the chance to get his scoring act right again in the Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament, which begins tomorrow in Ipoh.

The Perak-born player has given inconsistent performances in previous tournaments. He scored three goals in the Champions Trophy in Kuala Lumpur last December and expectations were high on him to deliver the goods in the Olympic qualifying tournament in Japan last month. But he fired blanks.

Coach Sarjit said that he was disappointed with Selvaraju’s performance in Japan but has decided to give him a chance to bounce back on the goal-scoring trail.

“I have included him in the team because he is an experienced player and I hope he will be sharp in the tournament in Ipoh,” said Sarjit.

Off target: Selvaraju failed to score during the Olympic qualifying tournament in Japan last month.

Selvaraju thanked Sarjit for keeping faith in him.

“I was really disappointed with my game in Japan and I promise to play much better and deliver the goals in the Sultan Azlan tournament,” he said.

Selvaraju made his national senior team debut in the tournament in Ipoh last year but failed to put his name on the score sheet.

The Tenaga Nasional employee said that he would definitely go all out to end his goal drought in the tournament.

“I will be playing in my home state and the pressure will be on me to perform. My only fear is aggravating my hamstring injury, which I suffered early last year,” said Selvaraju, who has 27 international caps to his credit.

The other forwards in the team are Chua Boon Huat, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin, Ismail Abu and Mohd Amirullah Abdul Aziz.

The national team will have two days of training in Ipoh before they take on Pakistan in the opening match tomorrow.

The other teams in the fray are Argentina, Canada, Belgium, India and New Zealand. Four of them – Pakistan, Canada, Belgium and New Zealand – will feature in the Beijing Olympics in August.

In last year’s tournament, Malaysia were beaten 1-3 by Australia in the final. The Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) have set a target for the team to reach the final again.

Article Source:

http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2008/5/7/sports/21169071&sec=sports