Nepal Training Stint 2010
Monday, 08 Feb 2010
“Nepal Badminton Association Happy with New and Young team of player’s performance in South Asia Games.”

Maldives Training Stint 2009
Thursday, 04 Feb 2010
  Maldives National Team Training Stint   Excerpt   “The Maldives team with BAC Support Team at Malaysia Olympic Sports Hotel on the last day of their South Asia Games preparation training stint in Malaysia .”   Article   The Maldives National Team Training Stint in Malaysia came to an end with the players all set for their action in Dhaka , Bangladesh for the South Asia Games. Under the guidance of BAC Coach, Mr. Choong Kee Cheong, the team went through training and competition from 13 th January to 25 th January 2010 in Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia .               The Stint was a joint effort between the Badminton Association of Maldives, Maldives National Olympic Committee, Badminton Asia Confederation and the Malaysian National Olympic Committee.   Badminton Asia Confederation development officer, Mr. M. Jivananthan Nair said “the joint effort for the succession of this stint is a role model for other member association to create similar opportunities for their national association. We encourage others to follow suit in working with us to organise development programs in their country and region overall”.                                                          

THE OFTEN ‘UNSEEN’ BUT INDISPENSIBLE TECHNICAL OFFICIALS
Tuesday, 05 Jan 2010
It is a common feature at any and all championships, be at badminton or other sports, that the main focus of attention to be the players, particular the famous ones and the prettier ladies. Spectators and fans tend to save their loudest applause for them and remember them long after the tournament is over and forgotten.   Unfortunately one group of officials who had played a significant role at these same championships often attracts the least attention unless of course they had committed some serious distraction that brings them into focus.   In badminton we call this select group of people, technical officials – referees, umpires and line judges. Their role in the success of any tournament is beyond measure, considerable in fact. It is their presence around the playing arena that ensures that tournaments are run smoothly and in accordance with the laws of the sport. They are indispensable at any championship.  

KOREAN OPEN TO LAUNCH 2010 SUPER SERIES
Monday, 04 Jan 2010
The Korean Open will kick off the 2010 Super Series with its US300,000 prize money on 12 th January. In previous years, the Korean Championships, one of the richest in the series had followed the opening leg in Kuala Lumpur but this season, the Malaysian event will be the second in the 12-leg series. According to confirmed entries, Lin Dan, Taufik Hidayat and Sony Dwi Kuncoro have opted out from the Men Singles which will place Lee Chong Wei in a favourably position to use the championship as the launchpad for a good start to the new year. The Open will also witness the absence of a number of top players, primarily from China in all five disciplines. In Ladies Singles, the top two Chinese, Wang Yihan and Wang Lin and India ’s Saina Nehwal will not be in action as well as four of the world’s leading Doubles pairs - Ma Jin & Wang Xiaoli and Du Jing & Yu Yang of China , Malaysians Chin Hui Eii & Wong Pei Tty and Lee Hyo-jung & Lee Kyung Won of Korea .

SEA Games 2009 Finals
Monday, 21 Dec 2009
INDONESIA SCORES BEST AT THE SEA GAMES   Indonesia won four of the seven gold medals at the recently concluded South East Asia Games in the Laotian city of Vientiane . After winning the Men Team title earlier, Indonesian players won gold medals in the Men Singles and Doubles and the Mixed Doubles in the Individual competition. Thailand took the Ladies Singles while Malaysia won the ladies Doubles.   Thailand sprang a mild surprise by having two of its girls in the Singles final – Salakit Ponsana and the 16-year old Ratchanok. This is the first time in the history of the Games that Thailand had so dominated the Ladies Singles. With the likes of Wong Mew Choo of Malaysia and Maria Kristin of Indonesia also in the Draw, a Thai 1-2 was least expected.   Both the girls played above themselves at the Games and deservedly shared the top two prizes. Salakit saw off the highly favoured Malaysian Wong Mew Choo 21-18, 21-14 in one semi-final while Ratchanok edged out the second Malaysian Lydia Cheah 21-15, 23-21 in the other. Indonesian challenge in the event had ended prematurely when Mew Choo defeated the Beijing Bronze medalist Maria in the last four and the teenager Ratchanok saw off the more experienced Firdasari also at the same stage.   The Final was a close affair between two players well accustomed to each other’s play. But experience finally won out after a close three-game match with Salakit scoring a 21-14, 18-21, 21-10 win against her teammate.   If Thai girls had dominated Ladies Singles then it was Indonesia that took control of the Men Singles with Sony Dwi Kuncoro and Simon Santoso leading the charge. In the absence of the injured Malaysian World No.1, Lee Chong Wei, there was hardly any opposition to really bother them.  

SEA Games 2009
Monday, 14 Dec 2009
  MALAYSIAN GIRLS AND INDONESIAN MEN TRIUMPH IN LAOS   Malaysia and Indonesia shared honours in the Team Championships of the badminton events at the 25 th South East Asian Games that came to a close at the Laos National Sports Complex in Vientiane on Sunday evening.   In the finals, Malaysian girls beat the Indonesians 3-1 while their men counterparts were edged out by the same margin by the Indonesian men.   The Malaysian ladies had earlier eliminated Singapore 3-0 in one semi-final while Indonesia recorded a similar thrashing of Thailand .   The Malaysian girls won their opening two matches through Wong Mew Choo in the Singles and Wong Pey Tty & Chin Eei Hui in the first Doubles but Lydia Cheah playing second singles for Malaysia was soundly beaten by Olympic bronze medalist Maria Kristin. But this defeat was only to be a slight hiccup before the Malaysian girls took an unassailable 3-1 lead in the best of five matches along with the Gold medal through their second doubles pairing of Wong Khe Wee & Ng Hui Lin.   In the men event, Sony Dwi Kuncoro set the stage for an Indonesian success with a drawn-out three games win over Hafiz Hashim, 20-22, 21-14, 21-12,

East Asian Games 2009
Monday, 14 Dec 2009
EAST ASIAN SOLIDARITY IN THE BADMINTON PROGRAMME   As if by some mutual understanding, five participating finalists from five different member countries shared out the five gold medals in the finals of the badminton events at the 5 th East Asia Games in Hong Kong on Sunday afternoon.   China which had earlier in the competition dominated both the ladies and men team events could only manage one gold medal in the individual championship. In winning the team gold medals, China humbled Taipei and Korea 3-1 in the Ladies and Men Team championship respectively.   In the Singles, there was a huge upset when Korea ’s Choi Ho Jin beat the highly favoured Lin Dan in two straight games 21-19, 21-18. Lin Dan had taken leave from the very lucrative Grand Finals of the Super Series in the southern Malaysian city of Johore Bahru last week to concentrate on these championships but Choi had other plans for the World and Olympic Champion.   In Ladies Singles, another upset when the higher ranked Zhou Mi failed to last the pace against her teammate Yip Pui Yin and conceded the gold medal after withdrawing in the third game of the final with the score reading 17-10 in favour of Yip. Zhou Mi had won the first game 21-15 but lost the second 13-21.   The Men Doubles was won by Hu Chung-hsien & Tsai Chia-hsin of Taipei who beat teammates Chen Hung-ling & & Lin Yu-lang   21-17, 22-20 in the final, while the Ladies Doubles saw the gold   medal going to Macau’s Zhang Dun & Zhang Zhibo. They upset the form book with a close 22-10, 21-16 win over China ’s Ma Jin & Wang Xiaoli.   China ’s consolation gold medal came in the all-Chinese Mixed Doubles Final where Tao Jiaming & Zhang Yawen beat Ma Jin & Zhang Nan 21-15, 21-14.

World Super Series Master Finals 2009
Tuesday, 08 Dec 2009
MALAYSIA SCORES A TRIPLE AT MASTERS FINAL   Unfortunately, the supposedly biggest event on the Super Series calendar for the year - the Masters Final - failed to live up to expectation in the southern Malaysian city of Johore Bahru over the weekend.   Prominently missing from the lineup were top players from China , Indonesia , Korea and Japan . In their absence, Malaysia took centre stage and scooped up three of the five titles, including successfully defending the Men Singles and the Ladies Doubles. For good measure, the Ladies Singles also came the host nation’s way.   World’s top ranked Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia was in his element when he saw off a determined fight back from Korean Park Sung Hwan in the Final to successfully retain the Men Singles title he won last year. The score 21-17, 21-17 was a credit to the Korean’s spirited effort. A day earlier, Sung Hwan had eliminated the favoured Bao Chunlai of China , 21-14, 21-14.   In the second semi-final on Saturday, Chong Wei had an interesting match-up against the time-tested warrior from Denmark , Peter Gade. The match went the full distance with the Malaysian finally prevailing on a stronger staying power at 21-16, 21-17.   Unlike Indonesia ’s Taufik Hidayat who has been unimpressive on the international circuit (Taufik lost in the quarter-finals) in recent times, Peter Gade still looks strong for a couple of years more.   The Ladies Singles title was a surprise gift to Malaysia ’s Wong Mew Choo. Not among the top eight in the original list, Mew Choo only came in as a last-minute replacement for the Chinese Lu Lan who withdrew from the tournament. Taking advantage of the offer, the Malaysian girl, who in recent times had been dogged by injuries, turned in a strong, consistent performance to cap her second Super Series title. She won her first – the China Open – in 2007. Along the way to the title in Johore Bahru, one of her high profile victims was the top seeded Indian youngster Saina Nehwal.  

LIN DAN BIDS 2009 ADIEU AND TARGETS LONDON 2012
Wednesday, 25 Nov 2009
In Shanghai on Sunday afternoon, China ’s Lin Dan issued a veiled warning to Malaysia ’s Lee Chong Wei and the rest of the world that he is serious about defending his Beijing Olympic Gold Medal in London in 2012. Since badminton was introduced as a medals sport at the Olympic in 1992, no Singles player has ever won gold back-to-back and Lin Dan intends to be the first.   Going by his recent demonstration of prowess on court, few will bet against him achieving that target. His most recent performance at the China Open gives strong indication that Lin Dan is not making idle threats. He virtually ‘toyed’ his way past a hapless 22-year old from Denmark who went by the unfamiliar name of Jan Jorgensen to win the 12 th and final leg of this year’s Super Series.

THE POLES WIN AN UNPRECEDENTED GOLD IN HONG KONG
Monday, 16 Nov 2009
The Hong Kong Open, penultimate leg in the 2009 Super Series will hold special and fond memories to a couple of relatively unheralded players from one of badminton minnows - Poland . Robert Mateusiak and Nadiezda Kostiuczyk are not complete strangers to the sport but when it comes to playing at the highest levels, among them the Super Series, they usually make up the numbers.   The depth in Mixed Doubles has remained pretty consistent with China , Korea , Indonesia , Denmark , England and Malaysia dominating. But this weekend at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Hong Kong , the Polish pair put to rest the fallacy that the mixed event was indeed the prerogative of the powerful nations of the game.

THAILAND SCORES AN UNPRECEDENTED ‘DOUBLE’ IN ALOR SETAR
Monday, 02 Nov 2009
Thai youngsters were a sensation at the conclusion of the World Junior Badminton Championship at the Sultan Abdul Halim Stadium in the North Malaysian city of Alor Setar over the weekend. In an exhibition of unprecedented quality of the highest level, they captured the Ladies Singles and the Mixed Doubles titles to win their nation’s first ever ‘gold’ in the World Junior event since its inception in 1992.   This was effectively the first time that Thai players had even qualified to the finals in any discipline, let alone winning one. In Alor Setar on Sunday night local time, they dispelled the virtual invincibility of the Chinese by having two of their players in the Final, an unparalleled achievement.   Ratchanok Intanon and Porntip Buranaprasertsu were the toast of Thailand . Seeded among the 5-8, they crawled their way through the ranks to face each other for the coveted title. And in the process, 18-year old Porntip saw off the Asian Champion and the top seeded Chen Xiaojia of China in a remarkable encounter that went all of three games in the semi-final, winning 16-21, 21-16, 21-19.

CHINA RETAINS THE SUHADINATA CUP
Friday, 30 Oct 2009
And yet again, China was crowned World Champions in the Mixed Team event of the Junior Championships. Played in the north Malaysian city of Alor Setar, the Chinese youngsters overwhelmed Malaysia 3-0 in the Finals on Monday evening to record their fourth victory in the five times the series have been played since its inception in 2004. The only blip in their otherwise perfect score came in 2006 when the Koreans upset the odds. An added glamour at the presentation ceremony in Alor Setar was the brand-new glittering Suhandinata Cup, which the Chinese youngsters received with much joy and pride. The Cup was a gift from one of Indonesia ’s most revered and renowned badminton families.

MALAYSIA HOSTS THE 11TH WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Thursday, 22 Oct 2009
The 11 th edition of the World Junior Championships will be held in the north Malaysian city of Alor Setar from 23 rd October to 1st November 2009. Twenty-two nations will participate in the 10 th day event which will have two trophies up for grabs. These are the newly introduced Suhandinata Cup, awarded to the Mixed Team champions and the Bimantara Cup for the Individual events.   Competition for the Suhadinata Trophy will be held between 23-27 October while the Individual championship will begin on 28 th October. A total of 109 players will participate in the two competitions.   In the Mixed Team Championship, defending champion China has been top seeded with Malaysia seeded 2. India and Thailand are joint third-fourth seeds. The grouping: Group W: China , Indonesia , Russia , New Zealand , Macau Group X:   Thailand , Germany , Vietnam , Hong Kong , Denmark , Sri Lanka . Group Y:   India , Canada , Philippines , Chinese Taipei , England , Australia Group Z:   Malaysia , Japan , France , Singapore , Cambodia .

BAC TO HOST 1ST REFEREES WORKSHOP
Monday, 05 Oct 2009
In conjunction with the World Junior Championships, Badminton Asian Confederation will organize its First Referees Workshop. The two-day event will be held in Alor Setar, Kedah from 27 th October 2009.   Seventeen candidates from eight countries - China Iran, India, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and host nation Malaysia have confirmed participation in the workshop. They include Ms Liu Qian                                                        -   China Ahmad Azad Pahlawan, Ms Zahra Rahmaty H     -   Iran H. Gyaaneshwor Singh, Anil Singh, Sudhakar Vemuri, Gursharan Singh, Kunta Pani Rao, Girish Natu                                                        -   India Benjamin Domingo                                             -   Philippines Philip Lee                                                           -   Singapore Oliver Guruge                                                     -   Sri Lanka Unang Sukardja                                                  -   Indonesia Anthony Linggian, Vincent Lim, Loh Meng Kiang, Lai Chan Yeun              -   Malaysia           Workshop facilitators and presenters include Paisan Rangsikitpho, Henry Ee, Francis Siow and Chua Soo Hock.   Among the topics that will be covered during the four-day workshop would include   ‘Progression Path of Referees from Confederation to BWF Level’, “Role and Responsibilities of Referees and Delegation of Duties,”   “Competition Regulations on Clothing” and “Draw and Scheduling”.   At the conclusion of the Workshop on Wednesday 28 th October, the candidates will set for a written examination for both Accreditation and Certification.    

CHUNLAI DERAILS TAUFIK’S MISSION
Thursday, 01 Oct 2009
Yet again, Taufik Hidayat failed in his mission to secure his first Super Series title since detaching himself from the Indonesian national training centre and going on his own. He had his best opportunity at the Japan Open over the weekend where the likes of Lin Dan, Chen Jin and Chong Wei were not around to stop him from the target. The Chinese hotshots had stayed away from the tournament while Chong Wei was shown the exit in an unexpected upset at the hands of Simon Santoso earlier in the championship. With only Bao Chunlai to get past, Taufik froze at the final hurdle and was bundled out quite tamely, 21-15, 21-12.   So it is back to the drawing board for the former World and Olympic Champion. But with age against him and the resurgence of a younger set of players from China , Thailand and Vietnam , his task ahead is not envious. But the ‘Old War Horse’ is never known to throw in his towel.

LIN DAN LEADS A SWEEP OF THE LI-NING CHINA OPEN
Wednesday, 23 Sep 2009
It was a long time coming but it was no unexpected – a Chinese whitewash of a Super Series. And appropriately it came at a hometown tournament… the Li-Ning China Open in the city of Changzhou last weekend. Chinese superiority was so apparent in this US250,000 seventh leg of the 2009 Super Series that by the time the draw got down to the last eight, there was only one non-Chinese player left. And the chances of Boonsak Polyana of Thailand putting a plug on the Chinese people’s expectations of a clean sweep of all five titles, narrowed drastically when Lin Dan saw off his arch-rival, the world’s no. 1 and top seeded Malaysian Lee Chong Wei in one semi-final. And fittingly it was the hugely talented Lin Dan, playing the fifth and final match of the night, who sealed the historic scoreline.

SRI LANKA ENTERS NEW FRONTIERS
Friday, 11 Sep 2009
It is a pleasant coincidence that 9 th August will remain auspicious in the annals of Sri Lankan sport, particularly badminton. For it is on this date, two years running that the island nation’s athletes set two enviable records that will remain etched in its history.   On 9 th August 2008, 23-year old Thilini Jayasinghe became the nation’s first lady badminton player to qualify for an Olympic Games and exactly a year later to the day, two teenagers Achini Rathnasiri & Upuli Samanthika Weerasinghe won the nation’s first gold medal in badminton at an Asian Championship. The girls achieved this singular success at the 2009 Asian Under-16 Championship held in Colombo .

THE PRETENDERS HOG THE LIMELIGHT IN TAIPEI
Wednesday, 09 Sep 2009
On that one rare Sunday afternoon on 30 th August, it was not China that stole the spoils at the US$170,000 Chinese Taipei Yonex Open badminton championships but rather a group of players from the new emerging forces of Asian badminton – Vietnam , China Taipei and India .     Vietnam’s Nguyen Tinh Minh won the men’s individual gold, while Shao Chieh Chieng of Taipei took the Ladies Singles title with her team-mates Hong Ling Chen & Yu Lang Lin bagging the Men’s Doubles and India‘s Diju and Jwala Gutta taking home the Mixed Event. China ’s consolation came in the Ladies Doubles through Yang Wei & Zhang Jiewen.   Though the Taipei Open is ranked a rung below the Super Series, it does attract some good players from the likes of China , Indonesia , Korea , Denmark and Malaysia for such tournaments do carry a certain amount of prestige and some useful monies.

BAC 2009 World Junior Championships Training Camp Intake 2
Friday, 04 Sep 2009
BAC 2009 World Junior Championships Training Camp Intake 2 Venue :  Kuala Lumpur Date   :  3rd to 17th November 2009  

MALAYSIA ATONES FOR HYDERABAD FAILURE
Tuesday, 25 Aug 2009
Malaysia picked up a couple of consolation prizes at the Macau Gold Tournament over the weekend after its disastrous performance at the Hyderabad World Championships a week earlier.   Since the inception of Badminton World Federation’s most prestigious championship in 1977, Malaysia remains the only country among the top echelon of badminton playing nations not to have won a title at the event. At some period in time during the ensuing years, China , Korea , Denmark and Indonesia had engraved their names as World Champions while Malaysia continues to chase the elusive ‘gold’.   At Hyderabad , the world’s top ranked Lee Chong Wei was viewed as the probably candidate to break the jinx but he failed to get past the quarter-final stage. So again the nation lives with a hope – a hope that one day it is able to produce that one player who will make up for lost time.