NST Online: Sports

Posted: 24 Aug 2011 05:10 PM PDT

2011/08/25
K.M. Boopathy
boopathy@nst.com.my

Wong Pei Tty (front) and Chin Eei Hui are the ones BAM are banking on to win gold in the Sea Games in Indonesia.

THE BA of Malaysia (BAM) still harbours hopes of winning gold at the Sea Games in Indonesia despite Lee Chong Wei and men's doubles Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong not competing.

Instead BAM will be depending on women's doubles Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui and mixed doubles Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying to deliver despite the obvious challenge of hosts Indonesia who will be gunning for a clean sweep of the seven gold medals on offer.

Malaysia surprised many by winning the women's team gold two years ago while Pei Tty-Eeu Hui secured the second gold medal.

BAM scretary Ng Chin Chai said Malaysia will be going for gold in the Sea Games although Chong Wei will be giving the event a miss.

"It will be tough without Chong Wei and Kien Keat-Boon Heong, but the back-up players will have the opportunity to break through in Indonesia," said Chin Chai.

"Despite the absence of our top players, we will still be fighting for gold as Pei Tty-Eei Hui and Peng Soon-Liu Ying should be around. They are capable of battling for gold. We are also hoping for some surprises from the others.

"Back-up pair Goh Wei Shem-Lim Khim Wah have been showing good progress while the second spot is going to be an affair to fill the void left by Kien Keat-Boon Heong.

"Players like Liew Daren, Chong Wei Feng and Chan Kwong Beng as well as back-up Arif Latif and Goh Soon Huat are in the running for the men's singles slots."

BAM may decide to name a new combination for the men's doubles after Zakry Latif and Fairuzizuan Tazari quit the parent body last week and two new combinations -- Tan Wee Kiong-Hoon Thien How and Mak Hee Chun-Ong Soon Hock -- will battle to be Malaysia's second doubles.

However, the presence of Olympic champions Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan and Muhammad Ahsan-Bona Septano, who were semi-finalists in the World Championships in London, means Indonesia will be clear favourites for the men's doubles.

Mixed doubles will also be a tough call as Ahmad Tantowi-Liliyana Natsir of Indonesia are the favourites which means Pei Tty-Eei Hui appear to be the only genuine contenders for gold, but only if the Malaysians can end their losing streak against favourites Meiliana Jauhari-Greysia Polii of Indonesia.

Squash / Men's World Team Championship: Malaysia continue strong progress

Posted: 24 Aug 2011 05:06 PM PDT

2011/08/25
Devinder Singh
devinder@nst.com.my

Kamran Khan defeated Austria's Andreas Freudensprung 11-9, 5-11, 11-7, 11-4 on Tuesday. Malaysia won 3-0 to secure top spot in Pool E.

MALAYSIA boosted their chances of advancing to the quarter-finals of the Men's World Team Championship after a 3-0 win over Austria set up a second round clash against South Africa in Paderborn, Germany on Tuesday.

Victory against the South Africans in the tie played late yesterday, would mark Malaysia's fourth quarter-final appearance and make up for the national team's second round exit at the hands of Pakistan two years ago.

But having trounced Asian champions Pakistan 3-0 on Monday, Malaysia secured top spot in Pool E in relatively comfortable fashion after routing Austria without the rested National No 1 Azlan Iskandar.

Pakistan, however, suffered the embarrassment of being ousted in the group stage by a modest Denmark 2-1 as Asian Games silver medalist Aamir Atlas Khan suffered a shock defeat against Kristian Frost Olesen.

There were no such worries for Malaysia though as Asian champion Nafiizwan Adnan led the way with an 11-6, 11-1, 12-10 win over Jakob Dirnberger before Kamran Khan, playing his first match of the championship, beat Andreas Freudensprung 11-9, 5-11, 11-7, 11-4.

Ong Beng Hee wrapped up the win, albeit after being pushed hard by Aqeel Rehman, 14-12, 11-9, 11-9 in the dead rubber.

"Azlan was not selected to give him some time to practice and get a better feel," said national coach Allan Soyza in an e-mail.

"The team were not expected to be troubled by Austria and Wan duly delivered the first point despite being forced into a tie-breaker in the third game. Nafiizwan looked much better and more settled on the bouncy courts.

"Kamran had his debut and was quite uncomfortable with the courts and also his opponent who was not too weak either.

"A combination of good play by the Austrian and Kamran's naiveness of wanting to blow his opponent away contributed to his struggles in the first two games.

"Once he settled down and focused on what he needed to do and block out everything else, he was in cruise control.

"Beng Hee took it as more of a routine practice and was never really troubled although the scores may say otherwise."

Should Malaysia claim the expected win over South Africa, who were beaten 3-0 by India in final pool play, either France, who beat Malaysia 3-0 in the 2007 quarter-finals, or Finland await in the last eight.

RESULTS -- Pool A: Germany 3 Spain 0, England 3 Ireland 0; Pool B: Egypt 3 New Zealand 0, Hong Kong 3 Sweden 0; Pool C: France 3 South Korea 0, Netherlands 2 Argentina 1; Pool D: Australia 2 Finland 1, Colombia 3 Bermuda 0; Pool E: Malaysia 3 Austria 0, Denmark 2 Pakistan 1; Pool F: Kuwait 3 Hungary 0, India 3 South Africa 0; Pool G: Canada 3 Namibia 0, Mexico 2 Scotland 1; Pool H: Switzerland 3 Ukraine 0, Italy 3 United States 0.

Kredit: www.nst.com.my

Rabu, 24 Ogos 2011

NST Online: Sports

NST Online: Sports

0 ulasan:

Catat Ulasan