Skip to main content

BADMINTON: Lost cause, says Zolkples

NO HUNGER: Kien Keat-Boon Heongdon't have winning mentality

NATIONAL Sports Council (NSC) director-general Datuk Seri Zolkples Embong is disappointed with the BA of Malaysia's (BAM) decision to retain Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong as a pair for another year despite them being past their prime.

Zolkples was expecting the BAM executive committee (exco), which met on Wednesday, to be ready to move forward and approve the proposal of the two new combinations of Tan Boon Heong-Goh V Shem and Koo Kien Keat-Lim Khim Wah rather than hang on to a pair who have stagnated. Zolkples stressed that seeing Kien Keat-Boon Heong become champions is what everyone wants but he believes the pair have lost that exceptional ability shown in their breathtaking win in the 2006 Asian Games.

"I am very disappointed with BAM's decision as I was looking forward to the association splitting Kien Keat and Boon Heong and announcing the new combinations. Surprisingly, they have been given another year but I seriously feel they no longer have a future as a pair," said Zolkples.

"With the new combinations, at least we will have two balanced pairs and BAM can work towards the 2016 Olympics.

"Reaching quarter-finals or semi-finals is not a problem for them but we want them to become champions. If their target is just the quarter-finals, I think they can go on playing even until 2020.
"I was frustrated with Kien Keat-Boon Heong with the way they performed in the bronze medal playoff in the London Games. After coming close to beating the Koreans (Chung Jae Sung-Lee Yong Dae), they just threw the second game away without a fight. That was the moment I felt that their winning edge and hunger was gone.

"If it was Lee Chong Wei, he wouldn't have given up. Chong Wei, despite losing the second game against Lin Dan (in the Olympics final), fought back in the third and battled hard. The spirit doesn't exist in Kien Keat-Boon Heong."

Zolkpes also urged BAM to be clear of the role of the proposed project manager and felt that a coaching director would be better suited.

He said the appointed person should be given full authority to run the national team and must have the credentials to produce results.

Zolkpes stated that if BAM is interested in hiring South Korean Park Joo Bong, NSC is open to discussions with the association.

"BAM needs a chief coach or a coaching director with authority. He must be given the power to run the national team and BAM must back his decisions," said Zolkples.

"The issue is not whether he is a local or a foreigner but the candidate must be with the right credentials.

"I was BAM secretary when Joo Bong was here and he is quite efficient. However, he hardly had any authority and BAM had more often supported the players than him. This must change and the chief coach or coaching director must call the shots."

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

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...
2 comments
Read more

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,...
1 comment
Read more

Chance to catch Messi and company

  FAM deputy president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah and vice president Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin with FC Barcelona chief executive officer Antoni Rossich yesterday. Pic by Osman Adnan LIONEL Messi's presence alone could sell half the tickets despite reigning world club champions FC Barcelona's date with a Malaysian XI at the National Stadium on Aug 10 falling on the third day of Hari Raya. The much anticipated visit of the four-time European champions comes with expectations from fans who want a full star-studded line-up. "The summer will be a busy period with a lot of uncertainty with players moving away and coming in. "But yes, our plans are to bring our full team here," said FC Barcelona chief executive officer Antoni Rossich yesterday. Rossich was speaking at the announcement of the friendly match, which is part of the three-match FC Barcelona Asia Tour 2013, which sees the giants also visiting China and Thailand. Also pre...
2 comments
Read more