The story will be the same with the doubles where the world’s top ranked Koo Kien Keat & Tan Boon Heong will also not see action at the Games. Joining them in the ‘absent’ list will be Chong Tan Fook & Lee Wan Wah, a pair ranked among the top 8 in the world.
In the absence of these Malaysian hotshots, Indonesia will start firm favouites for the gold medals in both the men’s team and individual events. Taufik Hidayat and Sony Dwi Kuncoro should have little problem against the best from Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and the Philippines while their doubles pairing of Markis Kido & Hendra Setiawan will have the gold at their mercy.
Wong Mew Choo
Malaysia’s only hope of salvaging some glory from its traditional rival at these Games will depend very much on how its top singles lady Wong Mew Choo shapes up against the likes of Li Li of Singapore, Ponsana Salakjit of Thailand and Indonesia’s Yulianti Maria. Mew Choo should start the favourite though if her gold-medal winning performance at the recent China Open in the Super Series is any yardstick. Her 9th world ranking places her in an enviable position.
In doubles, an interesting clash for the gold could develop
between Indonesia’s Natsir Lillyana & Vita Marissa against Malaysia’s Wong Pei Ty & Chin Eei Hui. Though the Malaysians enjoy a markedly higher world ranking, inconsistency has been their main worry. Pei Tty & Eei Hui
In mixed event the toss-up for the gold has to be between Indonesians Lillyana Natsir & Widianto Nova and Marissa Vita & Limpele Flandy, whose world ranking at 2 & 4 respectively set them poles apart from the rest. The closest challenge could be from the Thai combination of Sudket & Saralee.
If the Indonesia men need only to go through the formality of arriving at the stadium to claim the gold medal in the men’s team event, the same cannot be said of the ladies.
In the Draw conducted recently, Malaysia has been seeded 1st with the Indonesians second, Singapore 3rd and Thailand 4th. The matches should provide some close results
Indonesia has traditionally dominated the badminton events and it would be interesting to see if Korat will be yet another lucky venue for it.
Except for Brunei,Myanmar and Timor Leste, all other members of the 11- nation SEA Games Federation will be participating in the badminton events.
The tournament will be held at the
Attachments
SEA 2005 TeamTieResult 1.xls