NST Online: Sports

Rivalry brings out the best in Lee, Lin Dan

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 06:06 PM PDT

2011/08/18
By K.M. Boopathy
boopathy@nst.com.my

China's Lin Dan (right) is the only player capable of beating Lee Chong Wei.

THEY are best of friends off court but Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan of China hate to lose to each other and this has taken their rivalry to another level.

Lin Dan's uncanny ability to peak effortlessly at major events, said national singles coach Tey Seu Bock, has helped him keep ahead of Chong Wei for the last six years.

This year's wins in the World Championships in London on Sunday and the Korea Open -- which offers the highest prize money of US$90,000 (RM267,885) on the badminton circuit -- have proved Lin Dan's pedigree despite him suffering an alarming drop in form in other events.

However, Seu Bock said Chong Wei, for his part, has become very consistent by becoming the only player to have reached all the finals -- eight so far -- on the international stage and winning six of them.

"Lin Dan has been suffering uncharacteristic defeats to several players since the 2008 Olympics but when it comes to a major, he makes an extra effort to deny Chong Wei.

"In fact, Chong Wei also hates losing to Lin Dan but the latter's special gift to be able to peak on the big occasion gives him the edge," said Seu Bock.

"Their rivalry has been intense for the last six years but it has been very close over the last two. Currently,Lin Dan is the only player capable of beating Chong Wei but that is not going to happen too often as their rivalry suggests.

"This is due to Chong Wei's improvement and maturity as a player. In fact, since losing to Taufik Hidayat (of Indnonesia) in the last World Championships, he has lost only twice (to Lin Dan) in 13 tournaments.

"Lin Dan has inflicted enough disappointments (on Chong Wei) and I am optimistic of seeing a more confident Chong Wei giving his arch rival a taste of his own medicine in coming meetings.

"We have to put our objectives in perspective and the biggest challenge of all, the Olympics, is a year away and Chong Wei will be pushing even harder and take his game up another notch.

"Chong Wei may have lost the early battles but I hope he will be victorious in the London Olympics and it will be good if Lin Dan is on the receiving end."

The current record is unflattering for Chong Wei who has won only eight while Lin Dan has snatched 17 victories over the Malaysian.

The China ace has already started the build-up to the Olympics by announcing his desire to earn back-to-back gold in London.

Chong Wei is also aiming for the same and a cracking finale is expected if both shuttlers remain on course.

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Hearts seek to catch Spurs cold

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 05:34 PM PDT

PARIS: Hearts are one of Scotland's most historic clubs but have had few reasons to celebrate anything in recent times so they will be hoping for a much-needed boost today when they host English Premier League giants Spurs in a Europa League playoff first leg clash.

The prize for the winners of the two-legged 32 matches will be a place in the group stages and Hearts are sorely in need of a good news story following a turbulent start to the season both on and off the pitch.

Unpredictable Lithuanian owner Vladimir Romanov has already sacked one manager in the shape of the popular Jim Jefferies -- who guided them to the 1998 Scottish Cup trophy in his first spell -- and replaced him with Portuguese Sergio Paulo because he wanted a coach who knew how to win in Europe.

Paulo's coaching career, like his playing one, is patchy at best but the 43-year-old at least takes the four-time champions -- whose last trophy was the 2006 Scottish Cup -- into the tough assignment on the back of their first league win since March, a 3-0 victory over hapless Aberdeen.

Paulo for his part is not concerned by the fact Spurs are the hot favourites and are keen on showing their place in the last eight of last season's Champions League was the precursor of great achievements on the continental stage.

"I am not worried," Paulo told the club's website.

"Our players know that they are facing a very good team, but if our effort is good and our focus is good then there is no reason why we can't win."

Hearts at least have the advantage that they are already well into their season whilst Spurs have yet to kick a ball in anger.

Spurs insist that they are totally focused and Welsh star Gareth Bale says that they have also learnt from last season's Champions League play-off against Swiss side Young Boys which almost saw them go out after they conceded three goals early in the first leg before recovering to score two away goals -- and won the second leg 4-0.

"You learn from experiences like that and they stand you in good stead," he told his club website.

"We know what to expect from Hearts, we know they will probably come at us from the start, but we will also be raring to go.

"They'll be just as determined to qualify and we'll need to start well."

Scottish football fans nerves will be jangling as both their Glasgow giants Celtic and Rangers are also in action -- they have no-one in the Champions League after Rangers crashed out in the qualifying round.

They will want to pull off good results in the first leg and ease the possibility of a new historic low for Scottish football as if all three go out it will leave Scotland without a representative in the group stages of both European competitions.

Like the Glasgow duo the two Roman clubs also make their first appearance in this season's competition but both Lazio and AS Roma appear to have simple tasks against Macedonian side Rabotnicki and Slovakian outfit Slovan Bratislava respectively. -- AFP

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Kredit: www.nst.com.my

Rabu, 17 Ogos 2011

NST Online: Sports

NST Online: Sports

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