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In other news, Dollah Salleh has been appointed as our new national head coach! pic.twitter.com/1MaK3e1keZ — twtbola / bayBola (@twt_bola) June 28, 2014 The appointment of a local coach for the Harimau Malaya squad is sufficient, based on the squad's current performance and existing crop of players, says Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin. He was commenting on the decision of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to appoint Dollah Salleh as the football national chief coach from June 28 to replace Datuk K.Rajagobal whose contract was not renewed at the end of last year. Prior to this, FAM had listed two German coaches, Gert Engels and Wolfgang Sidka, as among the three short-listed candidates for the post which was vacant since last Dec 31. Khairy said he was not agreeable to FAM's earlier proposal to hire a foreign coach for the national squad as it would involve a high expenditure. "I have high hopes for the national squad after this ...

LIN Dan will be the player to beat in the Japan Open in Tokyo. The two-time Olympic champion safely negotiated past Japan's Sakai Kazumasa (12-21, 21-19, 21-17) and Liew Daren (21-18, 21-17) in the qualifying round yesterday. He plays compatriot Song Xue in today's main draw first round match. The defeat to Lin Dan will serve as a good experience for Liew Daren, who is hoping to resurrect his fading career. The World No 60 has failed to improve accordingly since winning the 2012 French Open. Liew Daren also failed to make an impression in the Thomas Cup last month. The World No 35 Lin Dan has been exceptional in tournaments since his return from his Olympic success two years ago by winning three straight titles at the World Championships, China Masters GP and Asian Championships Lin Dan, who will likely face Chong Wei Feng in the second round, is expected to upset the form book and play Chen Long in the semi-finals. Fans could see a final between World No 1 Lee Chong Wei ...

National number two men's singles player, Liew Daren continued his inconsistent performance after he failed to cruise into the main draw of 2014 Japan Badminton Open Super Series held at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. Daren,26, who failed to win any points for Malaysia in the recently concluded Thomas Cup in India, recorded a 21-17 and 21-18 win against Thomas Rouxel of France in the first qualifying match. He however lost 18-21 and 15-21 to the former world number two shuttler, Lin Dan of China in the second qualifying match today, according to the BWF website; www.bwfbadminton.org. Newly combined men's pair, Lim Khim Wah and Ow Yao Han followed Daren's footstep after losing 13-21 and 18-21 to host pair, Takuto Inoue and Yuki Kaneko in the second qualifying match. They earlier defeated another Japanese pair, Masahide Nakata and Katsuki Tamate; 21-15 and 21-14 in the first qualifying match. Malaysian world number one player, Datuk Lee Chong Wei who is also defending cha...

Pemain nombor dua perseorangan kebangsaan Liew Daren gagal mara ke peringkat seterusnya pada Kejohanan Badminton Terbuka Jepun 2014 yang berlangsung di Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium hari ini. Pemain berusia 26 tahun itu, sebelum ini menewaskan pemain Perancis Thomas Rouxel 21-17 dan 21-18 dalam pusingan kelayakan pertama. Beliau bagaimanapun tewas kepada bekas pemain nombor dua dunia Lin Dan dari China 18-21 dan 15-21 dalam pusingan kelayakan kedua hari ini, demikian menurut laman sesawang BWF website;www.bwfbadminton.org. -- BERNAMA

KUALA LUMPUR: The rain was no damper for the 1,500 guests who turned up in style for the glitzy "wedding of the year" reception of international badminton star Datuk Lee Chong Wei and Datin Wong Mew Choo here Friday night. Guests began arriving as early as 7pm, and spent the time taking photographs and admiring the white-themed decoration along the foyer of the hall at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. While walking into the hall on a red carpet, some of the guests were also interviewed by host Baki Zainal. The wedding reception boasted a guest list that included Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Hajah Haminah, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and his wife Puan Sri Norainee Abdul Rahman, Cabinet ministers, local and international celebrities, and several notable athletes. The much-anticipated event commenced at 8.30pm with the couple presenting themselves b...

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 2 (Bernama) -- National number one doubles pair, Koo Kean Keat and Tan Boon Heong, would be among the six bestmen at Datuk Lee Chong Wei's wedding ceremony, said the world number one shuttler. Besides Koo and Tan, Chong Wei said the other bestmen would be another two badminton players, Gan Teik Chai and Khoo Chung Chiat, and his closest friends. "There will be six bestmen and six bridesmaids for the wedding. I chose six because it is my lucky number," he told a press conference at DL Fashion, a bridal fashion house, here, Friday. His fiancee, former national singles Wong Mew Choo, was also present. Chong Wei also confirmed that China's player and his archrival Lin Dan would not be able to attend his wedding. "He has sent a message saying he is sorry that he cannot come. He will be taking part in the China Open to defend his title," said the Olympic silver medallist.

ODENSE: It’s going to be almost a year since Zulfadli Zulkifli won the world junior title – a first for the country. Although his progress has been rather slow compared to Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen – the player he defeated in the final of the world juniors in 2011 – Zulfadli is taking it all in his strides. After overcoming a string of injuries, Zulfadli is looking forward to ending the year by breaking into the top 50. Axelsen has already beaten several top players and is 20th in the world. Zulfadli’s plan to improve on his current world ranking of 66th, however, took a beating when he bundled out by Scott Evans of Ireland in the second qualifying round of the Denmark Open. “This is my first Premier Super Series event, so I was thrilled just to compete here. It shows that I have improved,” said Zulfadli. The 19-year-old, however, knows that he has to speed up his game plan in order to join the big league and show that he has what it t...

PETALING JAYA, Sept 26 (Bernama) -- Leading low-cost carrier AirAsia Berhad has taken a step forward to produce world-class shuttlers by setting up the AirAsia Badminton Academy (AABA) which will open its doors on Monday. AirAsia group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said AABA had set up three badminton centres to date, namely in Klang, Kepong and Petaling Jaya, at a cost of over RM200,000. "So far, a total of 120 students aged 12 and above have enrolled at the academy under the tutelage of four experienced coaches who were all former national badminton players and registered with the Badminton World Federation (BWF)," Fernandes told reporters after launching the AABA badminton centre at SP Forum 19 here, Wednesday. The coaches are Jason Lim, Bradon Lee, Guan Ming and Lee Winnie. Fernandes said AABA would undertake programmes designed to nurture a new generation of badminton players and create world class champions while advancing the development of the spo...

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 23 (Bernama) - The Malaysian badminton squad scored a double at the Japan Open which ended at Yoyogi Gymnasium in Tokyo today, said Badminton World Federation (BWF) on its website www.bwfbadminton.org. Top seed Chan Peng Soon/Goh Liu Ying easily beat Muhammad Rijal/Liliyana Natsir of Indonesia 21-12 and 21-19 in 33 minutes, Men's singles champion Datuk Lee Chong Wei brought more cheer after beating Boonsak Ponsana of Thailand, 21-18 and 21-18 in 41 minutes. Malaysia's hope of a hattrick was dashed after Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong unexpectedly lost to Kim Ki Jung/Kim Sa Rang of Korea, 16-21 and 19-21 in 32 minutes. Peng Soon, Liu Ying and Chong Wei each received $US15,800 (RM48,188) and US$15,000 (RM45,748) for their win while Kien Keat and Boon Heong took home US$7,600 (RM23,179) as the runner-up.

KUALA LUMPUR, 23 Sept (Bernama) -- Pemain nombor satu negara Datuk Lee Chong Wei menjuarai Terbuka Jepun Yonex apabila mengalahkan Boonsak Ponsana dari Thailand pada perlawanan akhir perseorangan lelaki di Stadium Yoyogi di Tokyo hari ini. Pemain nombor dua dunia dan johan kejohanan pada 2010 itu diberi tentangan sengit oleh Ponsana sebelum muncul juara dengan 21-18, 21-18. Tahun lepas, Chong Wei kalah kepada pemain China, Chen Long pada perlawanan akhir. Bagaimanapun, tahun ini China memutuskan untuk menarik diri daripada kejohanan atas alasan bimbang terhadap keselamatan atlet akibat hubungan Beijing dan Tokyo yang semakin renggang berikutan perbalahan perebutan wilayah. Dalam perlawanan beregu lelaki, Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong kalah kepada pasangan korea Kim Ki-jung/Kim Sa-rang. Selepas memulakan permainan dengan baik, malah mendahului 13-10 pada set pertama, Kien Keat dan Boon Heong memberi laluan kepada pasangan Korea itu menyamakan kedudukan seterusnya memenangi set perta...

KUALA LUMPUR, July 27 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Youth and Sports will continue pursuing its hope of setting up an academy for badminton although two previous attempts to acquire land for the purpose had failed. Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek said since an allocation of RNM24 million has been set aside under the 10th Malaysia Plan, the setting up of the academy would continue. "Our proposed plan is to combine the academies of badminton, cycling and a velodrome under one roof by building a 'Vision Valley' in Labu, Negeri Sembilan," he told reporters after visiting the Paralympics Sports Excellence Centre at the Kampung Pandan Sports Complex here Tuesday. He said the 'Vision Valley' would be set up through a joint effort with a private company. "However, the proposal is still under consideration and yet to be decided," he said. In 2008, the ministry had identified a location at Taman Maluri, Cheras for the setting up...

CHONG WEI telah merekodkan gelaran Terbuka Malaysia sebanyak lima kali. BEKAS pemain badminton No. 1 negara, Ong Ewe Hock ( gambar ) menyifatkan Datuk Lee Chong Wei sebagai pemain paling berkualiti pernah dilahirkan. Pada masa yang sama, Ewe Hock mengakui bahawa pemain ranking pertama dunia itu memang layak untuk bergelar juara pada Kejohanan Badminton Terbuka Malaysia yang berakhir Ahad lalu. Pada kejohanan Super Series Dunia pertama itu, Chong Wei mudah menewaskan pemain Korea Selatan, Park Sung-hwan 21-14, 21-13 sekali gus mengulangi kejayaannya pada 2004, 2005, 2006 dan 2008. "Saya dapat lihat perbezaan Chong Wei dengan mana-mana pemain lain," jelas Ewe Hock yang pernah muncul juara Terbuka Malaysia pada tahun 1996 dan 2001. "Dia memiliki semangat yang cukup luar biasa dan jarang dimiliki mana-mana pemain terutamanya pemain Malaysia. Kekuatan itulah yang membezakan Chong Wei dengan yang lain." Ewe Hock juga menjelaskan bahawa kejayaan Chong Wei mera...

Clockwise from left: Men’s singles Lee Chong Wei; Mixed doubles Nova Widianto (top) and Liliyana Natsir of Indonesia; Women’s doubles Lee Kyung Won (left) and Lee Hyo Jung of Korea; Men’s doubles Jung Jae Sung (top) and Lee Yong Dae of Korea; Women’s singles Tine Rasmussen of Denmark. THE conclusion of the Proton Malaysia Open has raised the question again: How long more can Malaysia ride on Lee Chong Wei on the international scene? The scenario in this edition was the same as that of last year's as Chong Wei was the last man standing then as his teammates fell even before the semi-finals. Thankfully, he went on to win the title then and came to the rescue again this year for his fifth Malaysia Open title. Barring injuries or tiredness, Chong Wei is the favourite for the Korea Open which begins with the qualifying round today, thanks to the absence of China. Much will depend on Chong Wei's physical condition which was the difference between him and his riv...

By RAJES PAUL KUALA LUMPUR: The Korean Open will give a better indication of Lee Chong Wei’s calibre as the world number one and youngster Liew Daren’s ability to make a charge into the top ranks. The Open in Seoul, beginning tomorrow, is the second-leg of the Super Series. Chong Wei has justified his status as the world number one twice on home ground. He won the Super Series Masters Finals in Kota Kinabalu last month and nailed his fifth Malaysian Open title in Bukit Jalil on Sunday. Now, the Beijing Olympic silver medallist gets the chance to further enhance his reputation in cold Seoul where he again takes the top billing. If he succeeds, it will be his first Open title outside of Malaysia as world number one. Coach Misbun Sidek said that Chong Wei had grown stronger mentally and he was confident that his favourite singles player would pull it off. “I am happy that Chong Wei got off to a good start this year,” said Misbun, who is expected to resume his coaching d...

kosmo.com.my JAGUH dunia yang lainnya semua sudah ditumbangkan, tetapi gelaran Seluruh England belum lagi digenggam. Mungkin itu yang perlu diburu oleh Datuk Lee Chong Wei ( gambar ) bagi melengkapkan koleksi kejuaraannya. Andai prestasi jadi ukuran, Chong Wei memang layak melakukannya. Namun, pencapaian pemain No. 1 dunia itu di pentas Seluruh England tidak begitu membanggakan. Dia sekadar mara ke separuh akhir sebanyak tiga kali daripada lima penyertaan. "Sudah semestinya saya gembira dengan pelbagai kejayaan yang saya raih selama ini dan berharap dapat menambah koleksi kemenangan pada tahun 2009 ini. "Namun, apa yang lebih penting ialah gelaran Seluruh England. Kejuaraan ini belum pernah saya raih dan sudah pasti saya inginkannya," jelas Chong Wei yang berjaya merekodkan gelaran kelimanya pada Terbuka Malaysia di Stadium Putra kelmarin. Sama seperti Chong Wei, jurulatihnya iaitu Datuk Misbun Sidek juga seperti terkena badi Seluruh England apabila dia gagal me...

Reports: RAJES PAUL KUALA LUMPUR: The home fans will be rooting for an all-Malaysian men’s singles semi-final between Lee Chong Wei and Liew Daren. But Chong Wei is more fancied to advance than Daren in quarter-final matches against Indonesian Simon Santoso and Dane Peter Gade-Christensen respectively at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil today. Yesterday, Chong Wei defeated Vietnamese Nguyen Tien Minh 21-9, 18-21, 21-7 in a second-round match that saw the world number one struggling to adapt to the draught in the stadium in the second game. And Daren continued a fairy tale run in his home Open, blowing away a toothless Hsueh Hsuan-yi of Taiwan 21-14, 21-12. Although Choong Wei had to slog for the win over Tien Minh, the top seed and defending champion felt that he was playing better by the day. “I got off to a good start but found it hard to cope with the draught. I tried to catch up after losing my momentum but that did not happen and I decided to conserve energy for ...

MAK Hee Chun and Tan Wee Kiong were touted as doubles players to watch out for in their junior days. But they were with different partners as Hee Chun was partnering Teo Kok Siang and the pair won the Asian and world junior titles last year. Wee Kiong's success was in the mixed doubles as he partnered Woon Khe Wei for the 2007 Asian junior title and won the boys bronze with Lufti Zaim Khalid. That wasn't enough for national doubles coach Rexy Mainaky as he felt the duo's future was as a pair and he paired them off when he overhauled the doubles department last year. The impact was almost immediate as Hee Chun-Wee Kiong showed their potential by almost causing a major upset in their first ever competitive match as a pair in the Malaysia Open on Wednesday. Hee Chun-Wee Kiong fought tooth-and-nail with former world champions Lars Paaske-Jonas Rasmussen before losing 21-18, 19-21, 21-16 in their first round match. Hee Chun said he and Wee Kiong learnt a ...

CHONG WEI dipaksa bekerja keras sebelum menundukkan Nguyen Tien Minh semalam. KETIKA pemain wanita negara gah meneruskan cabaran, barisan lelaki turut mengikut jejak langkah yang sama. Diketuai pemain No. 1 dunia, Datuk Lee Chong Wei turut mara ke saingan suku akhir Terbuka Malaysia hari ini ialah beregu utama lelaki, Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong serta pemain pelapis, Daren Liew. Dua beregu campuran negara, Kien Keat-Ng Hui Lin dan Hoon Thien How-Chin Eei Hui juga turut mara ke pusingan suku akhir kejohanan Super Series pertama 2009 itu. Pada aksi semalam, Chong Wei yang memburu kejuaraan kelima pada Terbuka Malaysia, menundukkan pemain Vietnam, Nguyen Tien Minh 21-9, 18-21, 21-7. Daren yang berada pada ranking ke-140 dunia pula menewaskan pemain Taiwan, Hsueh Hsuan Yi 21-14, 21-12. Pada pusingan suku akhir hari ini, Chong Wei akan menentang pemain Indonesia, Simon Santoso manakala Daren akan berdepan lawan yang lebih sukar apabila dijadual menentang pemain handalan Denmark, ...

radiah@kosmo.com.my BARISAN wanita negara terus cemerlang pada Kejohanan Badminton Terbuka Malaysia di Stadium Putra, Bukit Jalil semalam. Paling membanggakan apabila dua perseorangan wanita, Julia Wong dan Lydia Cheah membuat kejutan dengan menewaskan pemain pilihan yang jauh lebih berpengalaman. Lydia yang menduduki ranking ke-40 dunia, menundukkan pemenang pingat perak Sukan Asia 2006, Yip Pui Yin dari Hong Kong 21-15, 21-17 sementara Julia menewaskan pemain pilihan kelapan dari Bulgaria, Petya Nedelcheva 19-21, 21-16, 21-10. Lydia yang bakal menyambut ulang tahun kelahirannya yang ke-20 tahun ini mengakui, dia masih belum memberikan aksi terbaik ketika menundukkan pemain pilihan ketujuh itu. "Ini merupakan pencapaian terbaik saya kerana saya belum pernah menundukkan pemain dalam kelompok 50 terbaik dunia setakat ini. "Ia juga merupakan kali pertama saya mara ke pusingan suku akhir Super Series. Namun pada perlawanan tadi, saya sebenarnya tidak dikerah untuk memb...

* Malaysian unless stated Men’s singles: Nguyen Tien Minh (Vie) bt Hong Ji-hoon (Kor) 21-9, 21-16; Mohd Hafiz Hashim bt Sho Sasaki (Jpn) 21-13, 19-21, 22-20; Chetan Anand (Ind) bt Bobby Milroy (Can) 21-10, 21-12; Hsueh Hsuan-yi (Tpe) bt Anand Pawar (Ind) 25-27, 21-16, 21-19; Kuan Beng Hong bt Ng Wei (Hkg) 21-11, 21-16; Dicky Palyama (Ned) bt Andrew Smith (Eng) 21-14, 23-21; Hsieh Hsin-yu (Tpe) bt Lee Tsuen Seng 21-10, 21-12; Anup Sridhar (Ind) bt Mohd Roslin Hashim 21-17, 21-14; Lee Chong Wei bt Andre Kurniawan Tedjono (Ina) 21-17, 21-18; Simon Santoso (Ina) bt Arvind Bhat (Ind) 21-15, 21-12; Peter Gade-Christensen (Den) bt P. Kashyap (Ind) 21-9, 14-21, 21-12; Liew Daren bt Boonsak Ponsana (Tha) 24-22, 19-21, 21-17; Park Sung-hwan (Kor) bt Kenichi Tago (Jpn) 21-19, 21-13; Chan Yan Kit (Hkg) bt Chong Wei Feng 21-17, 21-12; Wacha Przemyslaw (Pol) bt Sairul Amar Ayob 21-10, 15-21, 21-16; Sony Dwi Kuncoro (Ina) bt Wong Choong Hann 21-16, 21-16. Men’s doubles: Hoon Thien How-Lim...