Skip to main content

Ramdan’s burning desire

LEGACY: Player wants to continue Sidek family’s Thomas Cup tradition

MISBUN Ramdan Misbun’s dream is to continue the legacy of the Sidek family in the Thomas Cup.
Regarded as one of the most promising local shuttlers, the World No 48 will play national player Goh Soon Huat in a special trial for a spot in the 10-member Thomas Cup squad at Juara Stadium in Bukit Jalil today.

The winner of this match will join World No 1 Lee Chong Wei, Chong Wei Feng and Liew Daren along with six doubles players in the competition in New Delhi on May 18-25.

Ramdan, the son of former national champion Misbun Sidek, was supposed to take on Zulfadli Zulkiffli yesterday with the winner playing Soon Huat but the former world junior champion did not show up. It is believed that the World No 59 has not recovered from an injury.

The BA of Malaysia (BAM) had a trial last month with Soon Huat topping independent shuttlers Tan Chun Seang and Arif Latif but nullified the results to accommodate Ramdan and Zulfadli, who were absent due to various reasons.

“Zulfadli did not turn-up but I heard he replied the invitation with a medical letter today. I believe he has not returned to full fitness after getting injured in the recent Malaysian GP Gold. We will continue with the trial with Ramdan facing Soon Huat for the fourth singles slot,” said national coach Rashid Sidek yesterday.

On whether Zulfadli’s absence has interrupted the team’s preparation for the Thomas Cup, Rashid felt the shuttler should have informed BAM earlier over his unavailability.

“We could have completed the trial today (yesterday). As a coach, I am only doing my duty and giving opportunities to players to fight for a spot in the team,” said Rashid, a former Olympic bronze medallist.

Rashid is anticipating a good match between Ramdan and Soon Huat.
“We can expect a quality match and healthy rivalry between two upcoming players. It will be tough to predict the outcome,” he added.

Ramdan, who is coached by his father, is making the grade in Europe-based lower-tier competitions with four victories to his name since December.

His uncles, Rashid, Razif, Jalani and Rahman played a pivotal role in Malaysia’s last Thomas Cup victory 22 years ago in Kuala Lumpur. Ramdan, a former national champion, is hoping to emulate them.

However, Ramdan’s dream could be squashed today as his opponent Soon Huat, a finalist of last year’s Malaysian GP Gold, is determined to make his debut in the Thomas Cup.

“I am in good shape heading to this match. Ramdan has his qualities so do I. If I win today, it will be good for my confidence but if I lose, I will fight on to earn a spot in the team for the next Thomas Cup,” said Soon Huat.

Soon Huat lost to Ramdan once — at the Malaysian Open qualifying tournament in January — but beat him twice last year.

Misbun Ramdan Misbun has won four Europe-based lower-tier competitions since December.

Read more: Ramdan’s burning desire - Badminton - New Straits Times

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Rajagobal Let Off The Hook

PETALING JAYA, April 24 (Bernama) -- National head coach Datuk K. Rajagobal was let off the hook by the Football Association of Malaysia's (FAM) Disciplinary Committee after finding no evidence that he had violated FAM's Article 88, as claimed. FAM Disciplinary Committee chairman Datuk Taufik Abdul Razak said the committee had decided not to charge Rajagobal after carefully analysing the video of the post-match press conference by the 56-year-old coach. "After listening to the recording of the post-match press conference, we decided to drop the charge against Rajagopal as he did not make such a statement. "Maybe his (Rajagobal) assessment and comments of the match was misconstrued by the media. There was no mention of the FAM policy throughout his comments," said Taufik after emerging from a three-hour Disciplinary Committee meeting at Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya, here, Wednesday. Rajagobal who does not mince his words when asked to com...
4 comments
Read more

Atlet Tempuhi Empat Kejohanan Besar Sebelum Olimpik Rio 2016

KUALA LUMPUR, 31 Mei (Bernama) -- Empat temasya sukan penting yang dijadual berlangsung mulai Disember ini hingga 2015 menjadi medan persiapan atlet negara sebelum menghadapi cabaran Sukan Olimpik 2016 di Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, kata Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Khairy Jamaluddin Jumaati. Kejohanan berkenaan ialah Sukan SEA di Myanmar pada Disember, Sukan Asia 2014 di Incheon, Korea Selatan, Sukan Komanwel 2014 di Glasgow, Scotland dan Sukan SEA 2015 di Singapura. Bercakap kepada pemberita selepas melawat Majlis Sukan Negara (MSN) di Bukit Jalil di sini, Khairy berkata kesemua temasya sukan itu dilihat amat penting dalam memastikan impian negara untuk membawa pulang pingat emas Olimpik pertama menjadi kenyataan. "Kita di Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS) mahupun MSN akan memastikan semua atlet mendapat bantuan sewajarnya dalam melakukan persiapan ke arah membawa pulang pingat emas pertama negara di Rio de Janeiro, Brazil nanti," katanya. Dalam perkemb...
6 comments
Read more

Uber Cub: Malaysian squad Can Spring A Surprise - Ahmad Shabery

KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 (Bernama) -- Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek remains confident that the national Uber Cup squad can spring a surprise when Malaysia hosts the Thomas and Uber Cup finals at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil from May 9-16. He said despite not being the favourite, the women's team was able to surprise everyone by winning the gold medal at the Laos SEA Games. "I am confident they (Uber Cup team) will be able to produce a similar surprise. Not only are they capable of reaching the semi-final, they can go further," he told reporters after having lunch with national shuttlers here Thursday. National badminton Team manager Datuk Syed Abu Bakar Abdullah who echoed the minister's confidence said: "In Laos, nobody expected the women's team to win the world, so why not the Uber Cup? All they need to do is try their very best." Women's team captain Wong Pei Tty said she and her team-mates have set a target of r...
1 comment
Read more