agreed!!! KKK was superb at the net when they defeated the world champion few times back then. Now CY is even better/consistent at the net than kkk is.......
after watching Fairuz/Zakry today, i think that KKK/TBH has a better chance of defeating FHF/CY as KKK/TBH can play better overall.......in front of the net as well as controlling the rally.......just that they werent consistent enough and CY/FHF have improved alot.
I really don't think CY/FHF improved at all. KKK is playing much worse now than he was at the beginning of the year. He made many mistakes from the very beginning of the MDSF. And in the later part of the match obviously he lost his cool (and of course, when you lost your cool, you play worse and worse). TBH actually played pretty well and most of the times it's TBH vs. C/F, with KKK running around trying to intercept but really having no idea what he is doing. In fact, the first game and the first half of the 2nd game are not different from any other first halves of their previous meetings.
Yes, i would.. ..somewhat concur on this...Seemed like Cai Yun's & Fu's game have improved quite a bit..Better defense and now able to change their strategy/tactic esp. against the M'sians..
A couple surprises, but CHN still reigns.. What an ending to the just concluded "South East region" Super Series tourneys. As the Finals day of action not only brought new surprises and endings but also proved to be one of the most disappointing day for the INA squad and their loyal fans. And once again the mighty CHN squad proved that they are still the top badminton nation as they dominated their competition not in the Singles events, but esp. in the Men Doubles events. One would wonder, if only their top singles players were to compete in the Finals, who knows, they probably would have swept all the events... On that note, here is my brief recap of the actions.. - In the WD Final, the up-coming-partnership of DuJing & YuYang proved to be a bit too much for their experienced compatriots. Not affected by their lack of physical height to their compatriots, DuJing & YuYang ran off in the 1st set and never looked back. After losing the 2nd set, they jumped ahead in the 3rd set, only to see their lead dwindled towards the end. But with great determination they finished off the match to stave off any comebacks by their compatriots. With this victory, LYB has himself another capable WD pairing as he looks to put together another solid WD pair/team for next yr's Olympics. - In MS, we saw the emergence of MAS' own son, LCW, as he took to the court and displayed some splendid and efficient badminton. Backed by the INA supporters, incl. Taufik himself, LCW left no chances for BCL to establish his game. His performance was so efficient, esp. in the 1st set, that some fans wonder what had infused the young MAS to finish off the match so quickly. Some fans also wondered, was BCL actually a bit tired after his brilliant performance the day before in defeating Taufik? Or was it the same old BCL, who also lost @ last yr's IO Finals. At the end, LCW's victory showed a glimpse of his old self as he stood tall and left a message to all of his M'sian brethren and sisters and to the MS field, that he is, arguably, back. Will his good form and momentum carry over to the upcoming Super Series tourneys and the much anticipated World Championships?? We shall wait & see.. - In the following WS match, it started out great for the defending champ, but WangChen's assertiveness proved to be the difference as the match progressed. She was so determined that towards the mid point of the 1st set, she accidentally hit the shuttle which hit ZhuLin's eye. The accident might not be serious, but it sure seemed to affect ZhuLin's demeanor and play thereafter. Soon, the ex-Chinese player pushed herself ahead and won the 1st set with ease. In the 2nd set, ZhuLin attempted to regain her rhythm but last yr's IO WS champ just wasn't able to fend off WangChen's aggressive play. It as downhill in the latter half of the 2nd set as WangChen definitely seemed to be in control. She ended the match in a seemingly effortless fashion, leaving the defending champ still feeling the after affect of the accident.. - The MD event of the night once again showed CHN's pair's victory last week's at the S'pore Open was not a one time deal. After winning against their much experienced counterparts the previous night, the young MAS pair of Zakry & Fairuzizuan were once again dealt with another experienced pair. But unlike the heavy-legged veteran pair they faced in the Semifinal round, this time they had to face against the younger Fu & Cai. Early in the set the MAS pair tried to establish their game, but Fu & Cai were never rattled & finally figured out what to do as they close the 1st set. It was a pretty close affair esp. towards the end of the 2nd set, but just like in the previous week's SO, the mentally tough CHN pair proved to be too tough & good for the younger MAS pair. Nevertheless, despite their defeat it was a beneficial experience for Rexy's boys and both pairs could possibly meet once again in the future for another showdown. - Which left us with the last match of the night, a match with some implication as the INA squad prepares for the upcoming Sudirman Cup. With fans cheering them on and giving support, Nova & Lilyana were INA last hope in getting a title in this tourney. After their convincing win over the CHN pair last week in the SO, the INA pair tried to continue the same success in the 1st set. But perhaps with the pressure of playing in front of their homecrowd & with GaoLing aka The Smiling Assassin, looking ever-so-fierce, on the other side of the net, the INA pair never got their rhythm as they lose the 1st set. It was the same in the 2nd set, as the CHN pair never looked back and they pushed their way to another victory, adding another title to their new partnership & redeeming their previous week's defeat in the SO. The last match of the night left no doubt that the INA badminton scene, once a powerhouse in badminton, is in a dire-strait need. And with the upcoming Sudirman Cup just a few weeks away, they are now left a bit scrambled as they prepare to once again salvage whatever is left in their storied history. Overall, these last 2 Super Series tourneys have been a challenging and grueling series. With half of the Super Series events over and half more to go, will these athletes continue and maintain their top level performance?? And as we bid adieu to the Indonesian Open and look forward to the upcoming Sudirman Cup, CHN's badminton supremacy still stands above the rest of the competitions' eyes. But this time, doing so and establishing their strength with their Men's Double.
Typo.. ..oops, meant to write: "..What an ending to the just concluded "South East Asia region" Super Series tourneys."..
