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

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

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

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