Tag: Malaysian Open

Nielsen-Pedersen hoping for better luck this time (pic)

BIRMINGHAM: World No. 4 mixed doubles pair Joachim Fischer Nielsen-Christinna Pedersen of Denmark are the in-form pair right now.

They won the Superseries Finals in Kuala Lumpur last year before returning to Malaysia in January, where they made the final of the Malaysian Open – losing to China’s Xu Chen-Ma Jin.Joachim Fischer Nielsen and Christinna Pedersen in a file photo. They beat India’s Tarun Kona-Ashwini Ponnappa 21-13, 21-16 in the first round of the All-England.

Nevertheless, Nielsen-Pedersen have consistently beaten the top Chinese pairs and Indonesia’s reigning world champions Tontowi Ahmad-Liliyana Natsir.

But the All-England is one tournament where the Danes have generally never done well – losing in the first round last year and only making the quarter-finals in 2011 and 2012.

Continue reading Nielsen-Pedersen hoping for better luck this time (pic)

Yao Han to partner Boon Heong (pic)

BIRMINGHAM: Tan Boon Heong may not stay single for long after all.

Boon Heong, who turns 27 in September, was left in the cold following poor results with Koo Kien Keat, with a first round defeat in the Malaysian Open in January being his last tournament.

With Kien Keat’s resignation from the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) last month, Boon Heong was left with no partner.

The BAM had entrusted the coaches with the the decision of who to pair with Boon Heong, and they have selected two-time world junior champion (2009-2010) Ow Yao Han.Ow Yao Han has been without partner Teo Kok Siang since Kok Siang was injured during a car accident in January, ruling him out for at least three months.

The pair have been slotted for the Malaysian Open GP Gold from March 25-30 in Johor – their first tournament together as a pair.

Continue reading Yao Han to partner Boon Heong (pic)

Three pairs make it to German Open quarters (pic)

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian Open champions Goh V Shem-Lim Khim Wah led the way as three doubles pairs booked their spots in the quarter-finals of the German Open in Mulheim.

 

 

On Thursday, V Shem-Khim Wah cut it close as they battled to a nail-biting win over home favourites Michael Fuchs-Johannes Schoettler 21-18, 16-21, 21-19 in the second round.Lim Khim Wah (right) and Goh V Shem in a file photo. The pair advanced to the last eight of the German Open after defeating Michael Fuchs-Johannes Schoettler 21-18, 16-21, 21-19.

 

 

The seventh-seeded pair will go on to meet top seeds Hiroyuki Endo-Kenichi Hayakawa of Japan in the quarter-finals.

 

 

The Japanese duo, who are currently ranked third in the world but are still seeking their first title since the Australian Open in 2010, brushed aside Belgium’s Mattijs Dierickx-Freek Golinski, 21-7, 21-14.

 

 

“Despite the score, I thought we played pretty well against the Germans,” said V Shem.

Continue reading Three pairs make it to German Open quarters (pic)

BAM to reveal Kien Keat’s fate (pic)

PETALING JAYA: The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) will reveal doubles shuttler Koo Kien Keat’s fate on Friday, after finally coming to a conclusion following months of speculation.

Kien Keat and partner Tan Boon Heong went through a massive loss of form and their first round defeat at the Malaysian Open to China’s Chai Biao-Hong Wei proved to be the last straw.It is unlikely that a new partner for Tan Boon Heong will be found so soon as national doubles coach Pang Cheh Chang is currently with the national squad at the German Open in Mulheim.

Continue reading BAM to reveal Kien Keat’s fate (pic)

Chong Wei donates racquet to good cause (pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei once again showed that he has a heart of gold by donating his winning racquet for a good cause.

On Friday, Chong Wei gave away the racquet that was used to win his 10th Malaysian Open title to kick-start the Badminton World Federation’s (BWF) Equipment Donation Project.Lee Chong Wei with the racquet he donated to Badminton World Federation’s Equipment Donation Project.

Continue reading Chong Wei donates racquet to good cause (pic)

V Shem more confident going to Europe this year (pic)

PETALING JAYA: A sensational outing in the Malaysian Open has given men’s doubles shuttler Goh V Shem extra motivation to erase his painful memories of Europe.

V Shem will be leaving with Lim Khim Wah for Mulheim on Saturday for the German Open Grand Prix Gold which is from Feb 25-March 2. The reigning Malaysian Open champions will also take part in the All-England from March 4-9 in Birmingham. Lim Khim Wah (right) and Goh V Shem celebrate after winning the Malaysian Open men's doubles last month. They will be taking part in the upcoming German Open GP Gold and All-England tournaments.

Last year, V Shem lost his cool when his service was faulted five times en route to losing in the second round to hosts Ingo Kindervater-Johannes Schoettler in the German Open.

Continue reading V Shem more confident going to Europe this year (pic)

Refreshed Daren hopes for a better year (pic)

PETALING JAYA; After an underwhelming start to the year, Liew Daren is feeling refreshed, mentally and physically, and is ready to step up his game.

And his first goal, will be to improve from his current lowly rank of No. 36 in the world to a more respectable position.Daren Liew hopes to rise up the world rankings from his currently lowly position of 36th in the world.

The 26-year-old was ranked as high as No. 10 in the world in 2012 but a spate of bad luck, poor form and injuries saw him hurtle down the rankings.

Continue reading Refreshed Daren hopes for a better year (pic)

Chong Wei: I lost to a better player (pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei has promised to bounce back stronger at the Malaysian Open after failing to get off to a dream start in the season-opening Korean Open in Seoul.

The 31-year-old shuttler went down 14-21, 15-21 to China’s Chen Long in Sunday’s 56-minute men’s singles final, thus crushing his hopes of winning the Korean Open for the fourth time.

It was Chen Long’s eighth win over Chong Wei in 15 meetings – and his fourth consecutive victory over the Malaysian – in a period of 14 months.Lee Chong Wei reacts after losing a point to Chen Long of China in the men's singles final of the Korean Open on Sunday. The Malaysian world No.1 lost the match in straight sets.

The powerful Chen Long, who is trying to fill in the shoes of five-time world champion Lin Dan, produced an efficient display to give himself an early 25th birthday present.

Chen Long, who turns 25 on Jan 18, accelerated to a 7-0 first-game lead in just six minutes – showcasing his brilliance at the net and superb execution of smashes from the baseline.

Continue reading Chong Wei: I lost to a better player (pic)

Malaysian Open badminton championship – Top Indo pair’s back for more (pic)

BUKIT JALIL: The Malaysian Open will always be memorable for reigning men’s doubles world champions Hendra Setiawan-Mohd Ahsan of Indonesia.

It was here a year ago that their new partnership took flight as the unseeded pair won the men’s doubles title in their first tournament together at the Putra Stadium.

And they haven’t looked back, since.World champion men's doubles pair, Mohd Ahsan (2nd right) and Hendra Setiawan (right) warm down after a training session for the Malaysian Open badminton championship beginning on Wednesday at Bukit Jalil.

The duo went on to win three Super Series titles in Indonesia, Singapore and Japan and also came out tops in two world events – the World Championships in Guangzhou and the BWF World Super Series in Kuala Lumpur.

The world No. 1 are now back for more.

Continue reading Malaysian Open badminton championship – Top Indo pair’s back for more (pic)