NST Online: Sports

Badminton / Indonesia Open: Chong Wei too hot for Christensen

Posted: 26 Jun 2011 05:33 PM PDT

Badminton / Indonesia Open: Chong Wei too hot for Christensen

2011/06/27
K.M. Boopathy
boopathy@nstp.com.my

LEE Chong Wei became the first foreign player to complete a hat-trick of Indonesia Open wins and also secured his sixth international crown of the year in Jakarta yesterday.

Chong Wei, the World No 1, made short work of Danish veteran Peter Gade Christensen, winning 21-11, 21-7 in a one-sided final.

Christensen, 35, looked more like a passenger in the 31-minute match as Chong Wei pocketed the second highest winning purse of US$45,000 (RM137,000) on the BWF Super Series circuit.

Chong Wei bagged his first Indonesian Open crown in 2007 before his domination began in 2009 and has been unbeaten in the event for three straight years.

It has been an outstanding year for the Malaysian who has reached the final of all seven tournaments, winning five -- World Super Series Masters Finals, Malaysia Open Super Series and Grand Prix Gold, All England and India Open -- before yesterday's title.

Chong Wei said he expected a tougher fight from Christensen and was surprised his experienced opponent gave in so easily.

"Rarely do you see Peter (Gade) give up on court. But today (yesterday) was a rare occasion. I have so much respect for him as a fighter on court. He never gives up whatever the score," said Chong Wei.

"Peter is certainly a good player... but we've played against each other 14 times so I knew how he would play his game."

Christensen conceded that nothing could have changed the outcome with the way Chong Wei played in the final.

"I could do nothing more against him today (yesterday). With his variation of shots and his speed, I had no answer. Chong Wei was just too good for me."

The victory augurs well for Chong Wei in his quest to win a first major crown, the World Championships, in London on Aug 8-14.

RESULTS (All Finals) -- Men's singles: Lee Chong Wei (Mas) bt Peter Gade Christensen (Den) 21-11, 21-7.

Doubles: Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng (Chn) bt Chai Biao-Guo Zhendong (Chn) 21-13, 21-12.

Women's singles: Wang Yihan (Chn) bt Saina Nehwal (Ind) 12-21, 23-21, 21-14.

Doubles: Wang Xiaoli-Yu Yang (Chn) bt Vita Marissa-Nadya Melati (Ina) 21-12, 21-10.

Mixed doubles: Zhang Nan-Zhao Yunlei (Chn) bt Ahmad Tantowi-Liliyana Natsir (Ina) 20-22, 21-14, 21-9.

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Football: Junior camps to identify talent

Posted: 26 Jun 2011 05:26 PM PDT

2011/06/27
By Fadhli Ishak
fadhli@nstp.com.my

Datuk Santokh Singh (green shirt right) and Nestle Products Sdn Bhd sports marketing manager Ng Ping Loong cheering with the children at the Milo Play More Learn More junior sports camp at MBPJ sports complex in Kota Damansara yesterday. — Picture by Chan Wai Yew

FORMER international Datuk Santokh Singh has urged the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and state sports associations to take full advantage of the "Milo Play More Learn More" junior sports camps being held throughout the country, to identify talented youngsters.

Santokh officiated the launch of the first of 12 such junior sports camps organised by Milo at the Dewan Komuniti MBPJ field in Kota Damansara yesterday.

He said the large gathering of players was also a good opportunity for sports associations to apply the latest in coaching techniques.

"Milo has done a great job in organising these one-day camps to give young children the chance to learn the proper skills of the game. However, the short duration may not be enough to fully develop their skills," said Santokh.

"FAM and state (sports) associations should use this chance to scout for new talent at grassroots level events like this to be further trained. This will add more talented players to boost the development of football in Malaysia.

"(Sports) associations should also take the opportunity to come and apply the latest in coaching and training techniques due to the high number of participants available."

Santokh praised the organisers of the camp for involving local residents associations and parents. "It is good to get parents and residents involved as they can continue to organise such events as they already have learnt the skills. They can be more involved with their children's activities."

More than 300 children under the age of 12 took part in the camp yesterday, which was intended to introduce them to the basic skills as well as inculcate good sporting values in today's youth for four sports -- football, netball, basketball and hockey.

The camp consisted of coaching clinics taught by qualified coaches which ended with mini-tournaments to give the children the chance to apply the new skills they had learnt during the clinic.

The next "Milo Play More Learn More" junior sports camp will be held at Emerald Park, Seremban Two on Sunday.

VENUES AND DATES -- Sunday: Emerald Park, Seremban 2; July 17: Bukit Bendera, Penang; July 30: Kuching Family Park, Sarawak; Sept 18: Temerloh, Pahang; Sept 25: Bukit Serkam, Malacca; Oct 2: Larut Tin, Perak; Oct 9: Pasir Gudang, Johor; Oct 15: Kampung Pasir, Kelantan; Oct 22: Jertih, Terengganu; Oct 30: Taman Kajang Jaya, Selangor; Nov 13: Kampung Medan Klang Lama, Selangor.

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Kredit: www.nst.com.my

Ahad, 26 Jun 2011