NST Online: Sports

Posted: 22 Sep 2011 04:53 PM PDT

2011/09/23
From Devinder Singh
devinder@nst.com.my

TOSU: Statistics don't lie and the numbers from Malaysia's Olympic qualifier 2-0 loss to Japan on Wednesday painted a damning picture.

As anyone who watched the game would agree, Japan dominated from start to finish and the figures will attest to that.

Japan peppered the Malaysian goal with 26 shots, half of them saved by skipper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, easily the national Under-22 team's best player of the night.

In contrast, Malaysia managed only two attempts, the first of which did not come until the 53rd minute with Abdul Shukur Jusoh's wayward shot before Fandi Othman had a go in the 62nd minute.

Malaysia earned their first of two corners in the 81st minute and only had 32 percent of ball possession.

Outplayed is putting it kindly but coach Ong Kim Swee, while admitting there is a huge gulf in standard between the two teams, said Malaysia can only improve on the display at the Tosu Stadium.

"Japan are at a different level from us," said Kim Swee after watching his side beaten for the first time in the qualifying campaign for the 2012 London Olympics.

"From this match, we saw how fast Japan were able to move and we were too slow at getting the ball. Japan closed us down easily in the middle and we were not able to go forward.

"We need to learn the lessons from this game to apply to our remaining five matches. The good thing is that we play our next two matches at home and we have to use home-ground advantage to get back on track."

Syria, who defeated Bahrain 3-1 in the other Group A match in Zarqa, Jordan on Wednesday, are Malaysia's next opponents on Nov 23 followed by Bahrain four days later.

Both of Japan's goals resulted from Malaysia giving the Japanese too much space and the score line could easily have reached double figures had it not been for the excellent Khairul Fahmi.

"He played very well and kept the score down for us," said Kim Swee of the goalkeeper.

"It is not just about saving shots but also his ability in organising the defence and motivating the players."

The state and club-based players will be released for the Malaysia Cup after returning home yesterday and those not involved in the Malaysia Cup will regroup in October for an Under-23 invitational tournament in Vietnam in preparation for the Sea Games the following month.

Badminton: Triple cheer in Tokyo

Posted: 22 Sep 2011 04:50 PM PDT

2011/09/23
By K.M. Boopathy
boopathy@nst.com.my

LEE Chong Wei remained rock solid in his hunt for a third Japan Open crown while men's doubles Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong and Goh V Shem-Lim Khim Wah made it a perfect campaign so far for Malaysia when they advanced to the quarter-finals in Tokyo yesterday.

Chong Wei faced strong resistance from China's rising star Wang Zhengming in the first game but the World No 1 stamped his class to register a 21-19, 21-14 win in 34 minutes.

It should be another stroll in the last eight as Chong Wei will meet local hope Kenichi Tago, who defeated Chou Tien Chen of Taiwan 21-17, 21-11, today.

Kien Keat-Boon Heong secured their place in the last eight but not without a fight from Japan's Yoshiteru Hirobe-Kenta Kazuno. The Malaysians hung on to win 17-21, 21-11, 21-18 in 46 minutes.

V Shem-Khim Wah were impressive in their 19-21, 21-19, 21-19 win over China No 2 Chai Biao-Guo Zhendong in 57 minutes to set up a quarter-final clash against Kien Keat-Boon Heong.

National doubles chief coach Tan Kim Her said he was not surprised by Kien Keat-Boon Heong's win but it was a timely breakthrough for V Shem-Khim Wah.

"It is good to see both pairs doing well, especially V Shem-Khim Wah who have not been consistent in the bigger events.

"This is their first quarter-final appearance in a Super Series event and I hope they can continue producing better results in future tournaments," said Kim Her.

"Kien Keat-Boon Heong will have the advantage but it doesn't matter who wins as we will have Malaysian semi-finalists in Japan.

"The fact that we didn't send a doubles coach to the Japan Open adds value to V Shem-Khim Wah's performance as our younger players rely too much on the presence of a coach."

Meanwhile, China's Olympic champion Lin Dan and Chen Jin struggled in their second round matches before setting up a quarter-final encounter yesterday.

Lin Dan of China slogged for a 21-19, 11-21, 21-18 win over Hong Kong's Hu Yun while Chen Jin overcame P. Kashyap of India 21-15, 6-21, 21-18.

RESULTS

2nd rd (selected) — Men's Singles: Lee Chong Wei (Mas) bt Wang Zhengming (Chn) 21-19, 21-14; Lin Dan (Chn) bt Hu Yun (HK) 21-19, 11-21, 21-18; Chen Jin (Chn) bt P Kashyap (Ind) 21-15, 6-21, 21-18; Peter Gade Christensen (Den) bt Shon Wan Ho (Kor) 21-17, 21-17; Chen Long (Chn) bt Takuma Ueda (Jpn) 21-15, 15-21, 21-19.

Doubles: Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng (Chn) bt Liao Min Chun-Wu Chun Wei (Tai) 21-16, 21-13; Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong (Mas) bt Yoshiteru Hirobe-Kenta Kazuno (Jpn) 17-21, 21-11, 21-18; Goh V Shem-Lim Khim Wah (Mas) bt Chai Biao-Guo Zhendong (Chn) 19-21, 21-19, 21-19; Ko Sung Hyun-Lee Yong Dae (Kor) bt Naoki Kawamae-Shoji Sato (Jpn) 21-16, 21-15.

Kredit: www.nst.com.my

Khamis, 22 September 2011

NST Online: Sports

NST Online: Sports

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