GA_googleAddSlot("ca-pub-1197233282945943", "Star_Sports_Skyscraper");

Sports

Friday October 23, 2009

Juniors ready for the world

STORIES by LOGANATH VELLOO

THE Malaysian junior (Under-19) badminton squad will set out to prove that winning the Asian mixed team title this year was not a fluke in the world championships, which begin today at the Sultan Abdul Halim Indoor Stadium in Alor Setar.

Although it will not be an easy task, Malaysia have several factors working in their favour over the next four days.

Malaysia have the same squad who triumphed at the Asian Juniors in Kuala Lumpur in July. Again, they have home ground advantage.

And the draw could not have been more favourable to them. China, Indonesia, Thailand and Denmark, arguably Malaysia’s four strongest rivals in the competition, are all in the other half of the draw. Another traditionally strong challengers, South Korea, opted out of the championships.

But it will not be all plain sailing for Malaysia, who can expect a tricky tie in Group Z against unpredictable Japan tomorrow. It will be a repeat of the semi-final clash at the Asian Juniors semi-finals, which Malaysia won 3-1.

“It will be a folly to think that Malaysia have a free ride into the semi-finals. We cannot get carried away and need to take it one step at a time,” warned team manager Hou Kim Tho yesterday.

With Cambodia, Singapore and France not likely to stretch our juniors, victory against Japanese will take Malaysia into the semi-finals, involving the four group winners.

Current top national juniors Iskandar Zulkarnain and Tee Jing Yi (pic) will feature in the boy’s and girl’s singles matches respectively.

The decision is less clear cut in the boys’ doubles with coach Yap Kim Hock having the luxury to choose between the newly-formed Ow Yao Han-Chooi Kah Ming or Goh Jian Hao-Pang Zheng Lin, who proved reliable in the successful campaign in the Asian Juniors.

Ng Hui Ern-Lai Pei Jing, who had a good run in the recent Vietnam Open, are expected to get the nod for the tougher girls’ doubles matches. And the coaches have the option to mix-and-match players for the mixed doubles. “For the past two months, the coaches worked hard and have done all they can to prepare the players for this championships,” said Kim Tho.

“It’s time for the shuttlers to perform and prove their real worth. There is no bigger stage than performing in the world junior championships on home ground.” Malaysia are hosting the championships for the second time after 1994 in Kuala Lumpur.

For the record, Malaysia have never won the mixed team competition since the event was introduced in 2004. Malaysia open their campaign with ties against Cambodia and Singapore today.

The Malaysian team

Boys’ singles: Iskandar Zulkarnain, Mohd Syawal Ismail, Zulfadli Zulkifli, Mohd Ramdan Misbun.

Girls’ singles: Tee Jing Yi, Sonia Cheah, Yang Li Lian, Florah Ng.

Boys’ doubles: Ow Yao Han, Chooi Kah Ming, Pang Zheng Lin, Goh Jian Hao, Yew Hong Kheng, Tan Wee Tat.

Girls’ doubles: Ng Hui Ern, Lai Pei Jing, Ong Boon Hui, Shevon Jamie Lai.

Today's fixtures

9am: Thailand vs Vietnam (X1), Hong Kong vs Sri Lanka (X2), India vs Philippines (Y1), Taiwan vs Australia (Y2), China vs Macau (W), Indonesia vs New Zealand (W), Malaysia vs Cambodia (Z), Japan vs Singapore (Z).

3pm: Germany vs Vietnam (X1), Denmark vs Sri Lanka (X2), Canada vs Philippines (Y1), England vs Australia (Y2), Russia vs Macau (W), France vs Cambodia (Z).

7pm: Thailand vs Germany (X1), Hong Kong vs Denmark (X2), Canada vs India (Y1), Taiwan vs England (Y2), China vs New Zealand (W), Indonesia vs Russia (W), Malaysia vs Singapore (Z), Japan vs France (Z).

  • E-mail this story
  • Print this story

Sports Poll