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Friday May 25, 2007

Badminton: Choong Hann set to get nod

By RAJES PAUL

PETALING JAYA: Veteran men’s singles shuttler Wong Choong Hann is set to get his first big break this year when the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) finalise the squad for the Sudirman Cup today.

Based on his recent performances at the New Zealand Open, Choong Hann is the favourite pick ahead of KLRC Bhd’s Lee Tsuen Seng for the premier world mixed team event in Glasgow, Scotland, from June 11-17.

Both Choong Hann and Tsuen Seng have been on the provisional list of the Sudirman Cup squad released by the BAM two weeks ago but today one will be dropped.

At the recent New Zealand Open, Choong Hann put himself as a front-runner when he ousted Tsuen Seng in the semi-finals.

Choong Hann, however, could not keep pace against the fast-rising Indonesian star Andre Kurniawan Tedjono, losing 21-13, 18-21, 14-21 in the final.

The front-runner: Wong Choong Hann defeated Lee Tsuen Seng in the New Zealand Open semi-finals.
National chief coach Yap Kim Hock said yesterday that two players would be dropped from their provisional list of 12 players.

“We have given the coaches more time to decide on the squad. Today, we will drop one men’s singles and one women’s singles player. The coaches are looking into the players’ current form and also their ability to play both the singles and doubles events,” said Kim Hock.

If Choong Hann gets it, it will be his second major tournament since he limped out from the court with a ruptured Achilles tendon during the Thomas Cup Finals in Japan last year.

He was selected to represent Malaysia in the team event at the Asian Games in Doha in December as the fourth ranked men’s singles player but he did not play a prominent role.

After a six-month break, he tried to qualify for this year’s World Championships, which will be held at Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil from Aug 13-19, but failed.

Choong Hann lost out to Nusa Mahsuri’s Mohd Roslin Hashim who received a wild card entry.

In the women’s singles, the tussle is between Julia Wong and Lydia Cheah.

The others confirmed for the Sudirman Cup are Lee Chong Wei, Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, Wong Mew Choo, Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty and Tan Wee Kiong-Woon Khe Wei.

Malaysia will be playing in Division One and their target is to finish among the top four for the first time.

They have been drawn in Group A with defending champions China, England and Thailand.

In Group B are Denmark, South Korea, Indonesia and Hong Kong.

USEFUL LINKS:
Badminton Associaton of Malaysia

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