The club’s chief coach, Li Mao said they had already groomed six to seven elite players who were expected to deliver results when competing in international tournaments.

“Besides, we also have the second-tier players who will be able to take over from the seniors when the time comes,” he told the media at a press conference yesterday.

Li, a former national singles coach and the man responsible for grooming world No. 1 Datuk Lee Chong Wei, is expected to grace the opening ceremony of the Thumb’s Up Kawasaki Age-group Badminton Championship to be held at Thumb’s Up Badminton Academy at 9am today.

Among the big names who came from KBC were former BAM player Chan Kwong Beng, Mohd Razif Latif and 2003 All England champion Muhd Hafiz Hashim.

Others club members who are representing Kuala Lumpur include last year’s first runner-up Chiang Jiang Shiang, Loke Kok Peng and Woo Kok Hung.

They are expected to play in the Men’s Open which offers a prize money of RM2,200 for the champion, RM1,200 for the first runner-up and RM500 for each of the semi-finalists.

In the doubles event, the annual tournament had attracted entries which include defending champion Mohd Zakry Latif/Mohd Fairuzizuan who will meet other well-known contenders like Mohd Razif Latif/Hafiz Hashim.

The champion in the men’s doubles will bring home RM3,000 while the first runner-up will get RM2,000 and each semi-finalists will get RM500.

Li singled out Chan as the star to watch, saying the 24-year-old possessed good qualities and skills to become the champion.

Chan had returned home from the recent Vietnam Badminton Open with a gold medal in hand.

Li said they were not putting any pressure on the players and were concerned more about participation rather than winning medals.

“Our aim is to ensure that we can produce a steady stream of good players so as to carve a name for KBC,” the coach said who disclosed the club had 40 members who were playing under KBC’s brand name.

He said KBC was only registered early last year and had to-date, produced encouraging results.

“Our stable of players include those from Maldives, Estonia, New Zealand, Sweden, South Africa with Indonesia making up the bulk,” he added.

He invited local badminton enthusiasts to join the club to hone their skills and improve on their standard.

The 13th edition of the tournament — held every two years — is hosted this time by Malaysia, and even without superstar Lin Dan the defending champs may have too much firepower and all-around depth for the other 11 competitors.

All-England champion Chen Long, the world’s No. 2-ranked shuttler, has become a force and his recent victories over world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia give him added confidence as he headlines the Chinese campaign.

The Chinese also boast arguably the best men’s pairs team in reigning world champs and 2012 Olympic gold medallists Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng, who have looked nearly unbeatable.

Their women are just as strong with reigning world singles champion Wang Yihan and 2012 Olympic gold medallist Li Xuerui leading the charge.

Indonesia, India, Thailand, South Korea, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Germany, Taiwan, Denmark, Japan and Singapore will be aiming to derail the Chinese locomotive in the tournament, which runs to May 26.

The Chinese are grouped with India and Indonesia, and the top two teams will qualify for the quarter-finals, where a second round of seedings based on the latest world rankings will determine match-ups for the knock-out stages.

Last year’s runners-up Denmark, who are grouped with Singapore and Japan, will be hard-pressed to maintain their impressive record of making the semis following the recent retirements of stalwart Peter Gade and women’s star Tine Baun.

The Europeans have reached 10 Sudirman Cup semi-finals but never the overall title.

South Korea have won it three times and Indonesia once, but China have owned it since 1995, winning eight of the last nine Sudirman Cups, including the last four.

Traditional power Indonesia’s fortunes have slid in recent years, and while they were third two years ago, they may struggle to reach the semi-finals.

Thailand, meanwhile, are no longer the minnows of badminton, with fresh-faced youngster Ratchanok Inthanon, the All-England finalist and India Open champion, expected to continue her strong run of form.

Bolstered by another emerging force in men’s singles player Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk and versatile veteran Boonsak Ponsana, Thailand are favoured to qualify from their group.

Malaysia, led by favourite son and top-ranked shuttler Lee Chong Wei, and perennial powers South Korea also are expected to make the final four. — AFP

China’s Lin Dan is pictured during his Badminton Asia Championships match against Vietnam’s Tuan Duc Do in Taipei on April 17, 2013. Malaysia’s singles coach has suggested a conspiracy after badminton chiefs handed Lin a wildcard for this year’s world championships, a report said on Friday. –AFP

Malaysia’s singles coach has suggested a conspiracy after badminton chiefs handed four-time Chinese winner Lin Dan a wildcard for this year’s world championships, a report said on Friday.

Tey Seu Bock told the New Straits Times that the wildcard entry for the double Olympic champion — which could affect the chances of Malaysia’s world number one Lee Chong Wei — gave China an unfair advantage.

“I don’t understand the reason behind BWF’s decision to give Lin Dan a wildcard despite China having three players in the men’s singles. I cannot help thinking that people want China to win the title,” he said.

“Chong Wei will now have to face four China players, which is a huge mental challenge but it is not impossible for him to win.”

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) gave Lin special permission to play the world championships after his ranking dropped to 41 following an eight-month break since last year’s Olympics in London.

“What we have been hearing is that Lin Dan has been seriously contemplating retirement and it is a real surprise that China have accepted the wildcard,” the coach said.

“It will be tricky as Lin Dan will be unseeded and there is a possibility he could meet Chong Wei as early as the first round and this is going to be a massive challenge.”

Malaysia’s Lee, a three-time world player of the year, has been irresistible in many tournaments but he is still searching for his first world or Olympic title after a heartbreaking series of losses to Lin.

“Super Dan” has beaten Lee in the last two Olympic finals and in the title match at the last world championships in 2011, when the Chinese ace lifted the trophy for a fourth time. The next edition is in China’s Guangzhou in August. –AFP

The system, featuring ultra-slow motion cameras, will allow players to review line calls and umpire overrules, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) said in a statement.

“Challenges must be made immediately after the shuttle has landed and the call made by the line judge and before the commencement of the serve for the next rally,” the BWF said.

Badminton has joined tennis, rugby and cricket in adopting a review system.

A successful appeal will mean the player retains the challenge while two failed reviews will leave the shuttler without another for the remainder of the match, the BWF said.

Tennis players are allowed three successful challenges per set, with another one permitted in tiebreakers.

Top shuttlers including Lee Chong Wei, Taufik Hidayat and Saina Nehwal, have already welcomed the use of the new system, which they feel will help eradicate heated line-call disputes from the sport.

“Sometimes at crucial moments it is absolutely required, when you know that the decision has surely gone against you,” India’s doubles specialist and 2010 Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Ashwini Ponnappa, told Reuters last month.

“It will definitely make a difference in crunch situations and could eventually make a difference in the entire match.”

The system will only be available on one court at the June 10-16 Superseries Premier event in Jakarta. — Retuers

The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) yesterday confirmed that Chong Wei would not be competing in the open that kicks off at the Juara Stadium in Bukit Kiara today and ends of May 4, a day before polling for the 13th General Election (GE13).

BAM secretary Ng Chin Chai said Chong Wei had contacted him this morning to inform that he (Chong Wei) would be withdrawing from the competition due to an injury on his left finger.

“We held a meeting today and decided to accept Chong Wei’s decision to not play tomorrow (today),” he told Bernama, yesterday.

Chong Wei suffered the injury when playing against Kenichi Tago of Japan in the final of the Yonex-Sunrise Indian Open, yesterday.

He beat Tago 21-15, 18-21, 21-17 in a three-set thriller. — Bernama

Datuki Lee Chong Wei

NEW DELHI: World number one Datuk Lee Chong Wei lived up to his top billing by winning the Yonex-Sunrise India Open 2013 men’s singles title by beating Japan’s Kenichi Tago 21-15, 18-21, 21-17 after a three-set thriller.

Chong Wei who had won the title in 2011 and lost it to South Korea’s Shon Wan Ho last year, was in his element today, to defeat his Japanese opponent who put up a spirited display at the Siri Fort Sports Complex in New Delhi, India.

The Malaysian number one was the only Malaysian left standing in New Delhi following the defeats of men’s doubles second seeds Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong and mixed doubles pair Chan Peng Soon/Goh Liu Ying, in the quarterfinals. — Bernama

“I will try hard to win the title for my baby,” he told reporters after winning round one of the Yonex-Sunrise India Open 2013, against Ireland’s Scott Evans in straight sets 21-16 and 21-5 in 23 minutes.

He won the title in 2011.

For round two, Chong Wei will play against Japan’s Kazumasa Sakai tomorrow.

On his choice to participate in the tournament despite the Badminton Association of Malaysia allowing him to skip it, the two-time Olympic silver medalists said: “Yonex is my biggest sponsor and I need to support them…besides, it is also an important tournament for India.

“(While) I do miss my son, it’s my duty (to take part in the tournament),” he said. — Bernama

The three golds — in the women’s singles and doubles and men’s singles –  compared with five they swept in the 2011 Asian tournament and four in the 2012 event.

Ko Sung-hyun and Kim Ha-Na of South Korea beat Zhang Nan and Zhao Yunlei, the boyfriend-girlfriend partnership who won the mixed doubles gold medals in London, 22-20, 21-17 in the biggest upset of the event that drew more than 6,000 fans in Taipei.

“The biggest surprise definitely was China’s loss in the mixed doubles,” an official with the organisers Chinese Taipei Badminton Association told AFP.

“China was relatively weak in the men’s doubles at the games as their London Olympics gold medalists in the men’s doubles skipped the tournament,” he said, referring to Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng.

Both of China’s teams lost out in the quarter-finals of men’s doubles, leaving two South Korean pairs to eventually vie for the top spot.

The first-seeded Ko Sung-Hyun and Lee Yong-Dae saw off third-seeded Kim Ki-Jung and Kim Sa-Rang 21-13, 22-20.

In the women’s singles, the second-seeded Wang Yihan beat her Chinese compatriot Li Xuerui, the London gold medalist and the first seed of the event, 21-13, 22-20.

In the men’s singles, Du Pengyu, the second seed, overwhelmed Chen Long, China’s bronze medalist in the 2012 Games, 21-17, 21-19.

“I should have reduced the number of errors,” Du told reporters, adding that the venue was a little bit windy, which made shuttle control difficult.

Controversial Chinese women’s doubles team Yu Yang and Wang Xiaoli saw off their Chinese fellow players Tang Jinhua and Ma Jin 21-15, 14-21, 21-15. The duo were booted out of the Olympics in a playing-to-lose scandal that rocked the London Games.

With some of their top Asian rivals skipping the event, Chinese players had a strong chance of replicating their achievement at the Olympics by winning all five titles on offer. — AFP

DOMINANT: Li Xuerui of China hits a return against Sayaka Takahashi of Japan in their women’s singles semi-final of the Badminton Asia Championships in Taipei. Li Xuerui won the match 21-18, 18-21, 21-12. — AFP photo

TAIPEI: China’s Olympic champion and world number one Li Xuerui and fellow Chinese players dominated the Badminton Asia Championships semi-finals yesterday in Taipei.

Li was locked in a tight fight with Japan’s Sayaka Takahashi until she claimed a wider lead in the third game to win 21-18, 18-21, 21-12. Another top Chinese player Wang Yihan saw off Japanese Eriko Hirose 21-12, 21-6.

China also took top spots in the men’s singles. Top seed Chen Long beat Malaysia’s Chong Wei Feng 21-17, 21-15 while Du Pengyu knocked off fellow Chinese Wang Zhengming 21-16, 11-6.

With some of their top Asian rivals skipping the event, Chinese players had a strong chance of replicating their achievement at the Olympics by winning all five titles on offer.

However, Chinese Olympic champion Lin Dan withdrew from the tournament over a shoulder injury on Friday. Lin has won every major title but had been off the scene since the Olympic final last August until this tournament.

China’s hopes for men’s doubles titles also ended on Friday when both of their teams lost out in the quarter-finals.

Controversial Chinese women’s doubles team Yu Yang and Wang Xiaoli saw off South Korea’s Ko A-Ra and Yoo Hae-Won 21-15, 21-17. The duo were booted out of the Olympics in a playing-to-lose scandal that rocked the London Games.

Fellow Chinese women’s duo Ma Jin and Tang Jinhua beat Indonesia’s Gebby Ristiyani Imawan and Tiara Rosalia Nuraidah 21-18, 21-8.

China’s mixed doubles team Zhao Yunlei and Zhang Nan defeated Hong Kong’s Lee Chun-hei and Chau Hoi-wah 21-16, 21-11. — AFP

JUST 24 MINUTES: Lin hits a return against Tuan Duc Do of Vietnam during their men’s singles first round match at the Badminton Asia Championships in Taipei. — AFP photo

TAIPEI: China’s legendary Lin Dan saw off Vietnam’s Tuan Duc Do in just 24 minutes yesterday as he flew to his first victory since successfully defending his Olympic title in London last year.

‘Super Dan’, an icon in China and rated by many as badminton’s greatest player, made light of his eight-month break as he breezed through 21-12, 21-6 to reach the second round of the Badminton Asia Championships in Taipei.

The 29-year-old has won every major title going but he has been off the scene since the Olympic final last August, apart from his marriage to fellow badminton athlete Xie Xingfang and an exhibition match in December.

Do, the world number 422, put up a fight early on but the match was over as a contest when Lin reeled off 10 points in a row at the start of game two, followed by another six-point burst.

Lin, whose ranking has dropped to 40 during his long absence, will face a greater test on Thursday when he comes up against third seed Hu Yun of Hong Kong, a semi-finalist at last month’s Swiss Open.

Chinese top seed Chen Long beat Hong Kong’s Ng Ka Long, while women’s Olympic champion Li Xuerui went through against fellow Chinese Yu Sun, a qualifier.

With some of their top Asian rivals skipping the event, China have a strong chance of replicating their achievement at the Olympics by winning all five titles on offer. — AFP

A test set-up will be used at next month’s Sudirman Cup in Malaysia before the new system goes live at the Indonesian Open in September, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) said in a statement.

“What we are doing is similar to other sports – the rules and principles are essentially the same as sports such as tennis, though the technology and process may differ slightly,” said BWF deputy president Paisan Rangsikitpho.

“At the end of the day we want to further enhance the integrity of match play and the decisions which are made.”

However, the new system remains very much in the planning stages with the BWF still undecided on which of the various available technologies to use, just a month from the start of the Sudirman Cup.

“This decision is more about the rules than (about) the exact technology,” Rangsikitpho said.

“We are still considering various options but it will be a camera-based system which makes it possible for a line-call referee to reassess the call with slow-motion technology.

“We want to get the mechanics of this operation working properly and ensure that both players and match officials understand how it should be done, step by step. That’s our priority right now.”

Britain’s Hawk-Eye system has become part of the landscape in top-level tennis, and is also well established in international cricket, although India, which wields great financial clout, remains suspicious. This month England’s Premier League sanctioned the use of Hawk-Eye from next season, a first for a domestic football league, while world body FIFA chose Germany’s GoalControl system to police this year’s Confederations Cup. — AFP

Lin, arguably the sport’s greatest player, has not hit a shuttlecock in anger since last year’s Olympic final, apart from playing – and losing – a farewell exhibition match against retiring Danish great Peter Gade in December.

Last August, Lin ripped off his shirt and raced around the London venue in celebration, weeping and saluting the crowd, after he defeated his arch-rival Lee Chong Wei to become the first double men’s singles Olympic champion.

The tattooed 29-year-old has since kept a low profile, although he donned military uniform to marry long-term sweetheart and former world champion Xie Xingfang at a decked-out Beijing university gymnasium in September.

Now attention will focus on the form of the People’s Liberation Army officer and whether China can repeat their feats of London, when they took all five titles despite losing their top women’s doubles pair in a cheating scandal.

China arrive with a brimming coterie of stars including women’s Olympic champion Li Xuerui, and Zhao Yunlei and Zhang Nan, the boyfriend-girlfriend partnership who won the mixed doubles gold medal in London.

China’s formidable line-up also features women’s doubles pair Wang Xiaoli and Yang Yu, who were among eight players disqualified from the Olympics for trying to lose group matches, in a bid to win a favourable quarter-final draw.

However, representation from other countries is patchy. With Malaysia’s Lee, the world number one, sitting out the event, Taiwanese fans will miss the chance to see a rematch of the Olympic final. — AFP

DOUBLE JOY: Adam (left) and Alfred pose with their medals after the medal presentation for Boys U18 singles.

KUCHING: Twins Adam and Alfred Lau led Sarawak to capture nine out of 16 titles at the Sabah-Sarawak Zone of the 100Plus National Junior Circuit badminton tournament in Tuaran, Kota Kinabalu recently.

The pair from Sarawak Badminton Association were in terrific form as they not only bagged the Boys U-18 doubles crown but also dominated the Boys U-18 singles contest where Adam beat younger brother Alfred in the final.

Adam got off to a winning start in the singles opener where he overcame Mohd Al Azim of Sabah 19-21, 21-17, 21-17.

He went on to beat Sabahans Fino Bieen Saibin 17-21, 21-12, 11-4 (retired) in the quarterfinals and Affeadrey Atek 21-16, 21-15 in the last four.

In the final, Adam led Alfred 21-16 in the first set but the younger Lau retired in the second set to hand his brother the title.

The duo then came back from one set down 14-21 to beat Brandon Caire and Joshua Lee 21-13, 21-14 for the doubles crown.

In the earlier stages of the competition, Adam-Alfred received a bye in the first round, beat Sabahans Fino Bieen Saibin-Seah Shu Yang 21-23, 21-12, 21-15 in the last eight where they met Sarawak’s Clement Chieng-Gerald Ong and won in straight sets of 21-17, 21-19.

The twins were given a scare in the final when they lost 14-21 in the first set.

However, they were able to recover strongly and win the next two sets 21-13, 21-14 to claim the doubles title.

Joining Adam and Alfred in the Grand Finals of the national circuit in Kuala Lumpur are Clement Chieng-Gerald Ong (Sarawak), Brandon Caine-Joshua Lee and Lawrie Herman-Mohd Al Azim from Sabah.

Meanwhile, Sarawak made a clean sweep in the Girls U-14 doubles contest, with Kam Wei Li-Shawn Lee beating Kristy Tay-Zuelaika Idris 21-10, 13-21, 21-11 in the final.

Joint third were Felicia Fong-Joyce Voon and Valerie Liong-Yong Ying Xiu.

The other categories won by Sarawak were Kourtney Kho-Vivienne Kua (Girls U16 doubles), Kam Sing Siong (Boys U16 singles), Jonathan Kho-Kam Sing Siong (Boys U16 doubles), Zuelaikha Idris (Girls U14 singles), Barrie Chong-Nik Azizi (Boys U12 doubles) and Nik Azizi (Boys U112 singles).

hooray: Rosmah (front right) handing over Axiata Cup to Chong Wei (centre) after the national squad team beat Thailand 3-1 at the Axiata Cup Championship 2013 final in Cheras Badminton Stadium. Also seen Axiata group CEO Datuk Seri Jamaludin Ibrahim (front left). — Bernama photo

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia beat Thailand 3-1 to emerge Axiata Cup 2013 champions at Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium, Cheras here Sunday night.

At the same tournament last year, Malaysia only qualified for the semi-finals.

National singles chief coach Rashid Sidek said the presence of Datuk Lee Chong Wei encouraged the other players to play well and collect points.

“The mixed doubles pair served a pleasant surprise as the others are stronger than us. Liew Daren and Chong Wei Feng are inconsistent and Chong Wei’s presence will inspire them at Sudirman Cup,” he told reporters after the match.

National doubles coach Paulus Firman said the doubles players weakness was to send the shuttle upfront and not behind.

“Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong need to be more confident when facing the opponents,” he said.

Malaysia got off to a poor start when Sonia Cheah lost to Ratchanok Intanon, 16-21 and 17-21 but drew level when Goh Liu Ying/Chan Peng Soon beat Sudket Prapakamol/Saralee Thoungthongkam, 21-16 and 21-15 in the mixed doubles.

World number one player Chong Wei then gave Malaysia another point when he beat Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk, 21-12 and 21-18.

Victory was sealed when world number two pair, Kien Keat/Boon Heong beat Boonsak Ponsana/Songphon Anugritayawon, 21-10 and 21-17.

Earlier, in the third place playoff, Asian Selection beat Indonesia 3-1.

Asia got the first point when Tai Tzu Ying beat Lindaweni Fanetri, 21-18 and 22-20 and Lee Hyun Il beat Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka, 21-19, 16-21 and 21-6.

The men’s doubles saw Bao Chun Lai/Zheng Bo beat Hendra Setiawan/Mohammad Ahsan, 21-12 when the match was stopped after Mohammad Ahsan was hurt.

Indonesia’s single victory was via Muhammad Rijal/Debby Susanto who beat Ashwini Ponnappa/Tarun Kona, 16-21, 21-16, 21-15 in the mixed doubles.

The champions won US$400,000 (RM1.24 million) while the runners-up received US$200,000 (RM620,000).

The third and fourth placed teams received US$150,000 (RM465,000) and US$100,000 (RM310,000) respectively. — Bernama

WELCOME: Datin Wong Mew Choo, wife of badminton world number one Datuk Lee Chong Wei with her newborn baby boy at the Gleneagles Hospital Kuala Lumpur. Former national shuttler Mew Choo gave birth to 3.4kg Kingston Lee via Caesarean section at 1.30pm on Friday.

SET TO ROAR: Adam (right) and Alfred are gunning for the Boys U-18 doubles crown at the 100Plus National Junior Circuit Sabah-Sarawak Zone badminton tournament in Sabah from Apr 10-12.

KUCHING: Sarawak’s twins and doubles pair Adam and Alfred Lau are eyeing a spot in the Grand Finals of the 100Plus National Junior Circuit badminton tournament in Kuala Lumpur from June 12-16.

They are now in Tuaran, Sabah to compete in the Sabah-Sarawak Zone of the national circuit that starts from Wednesday until Saturday.

Both 17 years old with Adam 20 minutes older than Alfred, the twins will play in the Boys U-18 doubles in which they are the top seeds.

They have been given a bye in the first round. In the quarterfinals, they will take on the Sabah pair of Fino Bieen Saibin and Seah Shu Yang, who are the fifth seeds.

A win will put them in the semi-finals where they will meet either teammates Clement Chieng Jia Yew-Gerald Ong Zhi Li, or Sabah’s Datu Mohd Saffuan Nizam Sardik-Mohd Fard Arimi Siting, or Mohd Danniel Fakhiny Tresno-Mohd Sharizan Tahir.

“We are ready for the challenge and we are very confident of winning the doubles title,” Alfred said when met recently.

The brothers won the Boys U-16 doubles title in 2011 and were not selected to play for Sarawak last year.

Admitting that they do feel some pressure as top seeds, the brothers vowed to do their very best to win the title for Sarawak.

“We have good understanding between us and I have partnered Alfred for quite some time. We have been preparing for this tournament for four months,” said Adam who completed his form five at SMK St Joseph last year and obtained 3As, 5Bs and 1C for his SPM.

The younger twin Alfred also did well by getting 3As, 3Bs and 3Cs.

The duo are also hopeful of getting selected to represent Sarawak in Sukma 2016.

They will put further studies on hold this year to concentrate on competing in the national junior circuit and other national tournaments.

Both took up badminton while they were in primary four at the encouragement of their father Kenny Lau.

They came under the Sarawak Badminton Association’s (SBA) wings in 2007.

In the National Junior Circuit Sarawak Selection at the SBA Badminton Hall this year, the twins captured the Boys U-18 doubles title and Alfred beat Adam to lift the Boys U-18 singles title.

Meanwhile, Sarawak are represented by 61 players at the zonal meet in Sabah.

Sarawak players are seeded top in seven categories when compared to nine top seeds last year.

Categories competed at Dewan Sri Sulaiman, Tuaran are Boys/Girls U-12 singles and doubles, Boys/Girls U-14 singles and doubles, Boys/Girls U-16 singles and doubles, and Boys/Girls U-18 singles and doubles.

Champions and runner-ups for Boys/Girls U-14, 16, 18 qualify for the Grand Finals while the champion, runner-up and semi-finalists of the Boys/girls U-12 will book their tickets to Kuala Lumpur.

The top seeds are Nik Azizi (Boys U-12 singles), Barry Chong-Nik Azizi (Boys U-12 doubles), Nalthan Lissem (Boys U-14 singles), Owen Ting-Stanley Chiong (Boys U-14 doubles), Alfred Lau-Adam Lau (Boys U-18 doubles), Valerie Liong (Girls U-14 singles) and Kourtney Kho-Viviene Kua (Girls U-16 doubles).

DO US PROUD: Aziz (fifth right) handing over the state colours to the team at SBA Hall yesterday. At right is SBA secretary Abdul Hadi. — Photo by Davidson Kho

KUCHING: Sarawak players are hoping to repeat their 10-title feat last year in the 100Plus National Junior Circuit Sabah-Sarawak Zone badminton tournament in Tuaran, Sabah from Apr 10-12.

The state will be sending 61 players to the annual tournament which then offer spots in the Grand Finals in Kuala Lumpur from June 12-16.

Out of the number, 31 are sponsored by the Sarawak Badminton Association (SBA) while the rest will be competing at their own expenses.

“We are expecting our players to do pretty well although they are not playing on homeground. We do hope that they will perform as well as in last year’s meet when we achieved the best result ever – winning 10 out of 16 categories contested,” said SBA president Tan Sri Datuk Amar (Dr) Abdul Aziz Abdul Hussein in a press conference yesterday.

According to him, Sarawak players are seeded top in seven categories when compared to nine top seeds last year.

Categories to be competed at Dewan Sri Sulaiman are Boys/Girls U-12 singles and doubles, Boys/Girls U-14 singles and doubles, Boys/Girls U-16 singles and doubles, and Boys/Girls U-18 singles and doubles.

Champions and runner-ups for Boys/Girls U-14, 16 and 18 will qualify for the Grand Finals while the champion, runner-up and semi-finalists of the Boys/Girls U-12 will book their tickets to Kuala Lumpur.

The top seeds are Nik Azizi (Boys U-12 singles), Barry Chong-Nik Azizi (Boys U-12 doubles), Nalthan Lissem (Boys U-14 singles), Owen Ting-Stanley Chiong (Boys U-14 doubles), Alfred Lau-Adam Lau (Boys U-18 doubles), Valerie Liong (Girls U-14 singles) and Kourtney Kho-Viviene Kua (Girls U-16 doubles).

“This will be a good exposure for our junior players and it will be good if they can make it to the Grand Finals in Kuala Lumpur where they will gain valuable exposure at national level,” he said.

Aziz said the present crop of junior players are being groomed for Sukma 2016 when Sarawak will play host. He said SBA are putting in more effort to groom more players as BAM has allocated more funds to the state badminton body for development.

“We will be getting more coaches to train the players and after state coach Dwi Ariyanto and his assistant Rukeita have been appointed as BAM coaches, we have written to Sarawak State Sports Council (MSN) to maintain the appointment of the MSN coach for our development programme,” explained Aziz.

To get more exposure for our players, Aziz said SBA will continue to organise big tournaments like the Malaysian International Challenge (MIC).

“We are hoping to organise the MIC this year at the Sarawak Indoor Stadium and the tournament will be renamed the Sarawak International Challenge,” Aziz revealed.

Later, in a simple ceremony at SBA Hall, Aziz handed over the state flag to the team led by team manager Soh Theng Sai.

Accompanying the team are assistant coach Bernard Phoa and official Simon Nawang.

Malaysia who could only muster a 2-2 draw against Thailand on Friday, did no better yesterday when women’s singles player Tee Jing Yi failed to clinch the first point after losing to Belaetrik Manuputi 10-21, 18-21, in straight sets.

In the men’s singles, Chong Wei Feng also lost to Tommy Sugiarto, 16-21, 11-21, in straight sets, leaving mixed doubles pair Chang Peng Soon/Goh Liu Yeng to work extra hard to reduce the deficit and save Malaysia the blushes by beating Muhammad Rijal/Debby Susanto 18-21, 21-16, 21-18.

The country’s men’s doubles pair Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong had to dig deep into their reserves to defeat Hendra Setiawan/Rian Agung Saputro to level the tie after a 21-12, 26-24 victory.

Malaysia will next face team Europe today before taking on Singapore at the Cheras Badminton Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, on March 29.

Apart from Malaysia and Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines and a selection from Asia and Selection from Europe are competing in the inaugural championships that offers winners a lucrative payout.

The winner of the Axiata Cup 2013 takes home US$400,000 (RM1.24 million); runner-up US$200,000 (RM620,000) while third and fourth placed teams receive

US$150,000 (RM465,000) and US$100,000 (RM310,000), respectively. Malaysia had beaten the Philippines 4-0 in their opening match. — Bernama

MAY THE BEST TEAM WIN: Standing at fifth and sixth left were Kapitan Micky Ngu and DSP Entusa Iman with the players from both teams before the start of the friendly badminton tourney between the police and the public.

SARIKEI : State Petanque Association (PEPSAR) together with Meradong District Petanque Association (PSPM) is organizing Sarawak Youth Petanque Championship to be held in Bintangor on April 6 – 7.

The two-day competition venues are Bintangor Community Hall and Darul Taqwa Mosque while the event is divided into Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles categories.

Each division is allowed to send eight representatives for the men’s and women’s category. According to a statement issued by the organizing committee said all contestants must be 20 years old and below. Only those who have never represented the state in past Sukma are eligible to compete.

The main objective of the championship is to select state players for the coming 2014 Sukma championship.

Apart from medals, the competition offers RM200, RM150, RM100 for the first, second and third prizes respectively while the fourth to eighth placed will receive RM30 each.

The best shooter and best pointer in each category will receive a medal. Participating teams are not required to pay entry fees but have to foot all the expenses such as food, accommodation and transportation. Interested teams are requested to register by April 1.

Those interested can obtain further information from PSPM chairman, Abang Mohd. Selanie (014-5905378), Abang Mohtar (013-8151535), Abu Bakar Kidam (019-8185143) or Mustapha Majid (019-8779926).

Both teams were represented by six doubles and team Kapitan Micky won the event 4 to 2.

Entusa said the event among others was aimed to promote goodwill among the police and the public. It is also as part of the Police Day celebration which falls on March 25.