Chong Wei wants cheers, not jeers

LEE Chong Wei can still recall Malaysia being jeered by their fans in the failed 2000 Thomas Cup campaign at Putra Stadium and has vowed that this will not happen this time around.

Chong Wei said he will lead the campaign from the front in the May 9-16 tournament.

Chong Wei was a junior when Malaysia were knocked out in the group stages in 2000 but the World No 1 is determined that 2010 will hold fonder memories for him.

He is already on track as he has four campaigns under his belt -- three as first singles -- and has learnt to live with the pressure well.

He was, despite Malaysia falling in the semi-finals, unbeaten in the 2008 Thomas Cup in Jakarta and Chong Wei said his role as first singles will be crucial to Malaysia, especially as the team will need the fans supporting them.

"I was still a junior player then and it was not a pretty sight seeing Malaysia getting jeered by the fans then. I hope the fans will be with us throughout the Thomas Cup," said Chong Wei.

"So far, I have enjoyed excellent support from the fans and I have also done well when competing in Malaysia and I hope this continues in the Thomas Cup Finals.

"The first singles will be crucial for us and I want to stay unbeaten like in 2008. If I can do well, this will spur the team and obviously the fans will have plenty to cheer for.

"We have to perform as a team and I am optimistic Hafiz (Hashim) and (Wong) Choong Hann will do their part. China have a balanced lineup but we can still challenge them.

"Lin Dan might be feeling a little down after the All England but he is experienced and it is going to be a close battle if we meet each other." NST

Comments

Ex-coach's jail sentence cut to a year

PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal yesterday sentenced former athletics coach C. Ramanathan to 12 months' jail for molesting two junior athletes 19 years ago. A three-man bench led by Datuk Mohd Hishamudin Mohd Yunus unanimously dismissed Ramanathan's appeal against conviction, but varied the jail sentence of four years to a year, which was to run concurrently. Following yesterday's ruling, Ramanathan, 75, a former teacher, walked out a free man as he had served 10 months in Kajang Prison. Convicts get one-third remission for good behaviour while in prison. However, he will lose his pension. Hishamudin, who sat with Datuk Abdul Wahab Patail and Datuk Linton Albert, said the court found no merit to overturn the conviction. "However, in reducing the sentence, we considered Ramanathan's age and the long years the appeal has taken." Deputy public prosecutor Awang Armadajaya Awang Mahmud submitted that then High Court judge Tan Sri Abdull Hamid E...

Govt Always Gives Emphasis To Sporting Culture, Says PM

KUALA TERENGGANU, May 29 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badaw i said the government always gives emphasis on cultivating a strong sporting culture in achieving excellence at the international level. As such, the Prime Minister said, it was important to scout for young talents in sports. "I observe that the Malaysia Games (Sukma) has become one of the important platforms to do so. "In this arena, the potentials and skills of the youngsters can be identified for development so that they can achieve greater success in sports," he said in his message in the souvenir book of the 12th Sukma from May 31 until June 9. Abdullah said he was aware that competition in sports was very keen and challenging but this did not mean that Malaysian athletes were incapable of competing at the international level. "The fact is that we have all the characteristics required to be excellent. We must inculcate a strong fighting spirit so that we don't easily surrender,...

Indonesia Choose Komodo Dragon As SEA Games Mascot

KUALA LUMPUR, April 26 (Bernama) -- Host for the 26th SEA Games, Indonesia has chosen the Komodo dragon as mascot for the 2011 Games which will be held in Jakarta and Palembang from Nov 11 to 25. The Indonesia SEA Games Organizing Committee (Inasoc), was qouted by Jakarta Post as saying that a pair of Komodo dragons, a male (Modo) and a female (Modi), were chosen in recognition of the Republic's conservation efforts to protect the dwindling number of the rare lizard. Modo and Modi were unveiled last night at a function in Jakarta, to mark the 200-day countdown before the games open on Nov 11 in Palembang. The Komodo dragons, the largest lizard in the world, only live on the Indonesian islands of Komodo in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara. On Jan 15, Inasoc unveiled its logo, a Garuda eagle, to symbolize the power and grandeur of Indonesia. Indonesia dominated the Games between 1977, when it first competed, and 1997, failing to top the medal charts only twice in that p...

Malaysian Sports - Today's back pages!

Search This Blog