ENGLAND have a great chance of making the semi-finals of the Sudirman Cup for the first time - and that's after just one match. But what a match as their doubles stars once again picked up the points to produce a 3-2 victory over Malaysia in their opening Division 1A match in Glasgow's Scotstoun International Sports Arena. Even though they face holders and five-times winners China on Tuesday, Ian Wright's team know a win over Thailand can book them that place in the last four. Gail Emms and Donna Kellogg were the heroines after saving three match points in beating Wong Pei Tty and Eei Hui Chin 22-20 18-21 23-21 in the night's decider. Emms had got England off to a flying start when she and Nathan Robertson, the world and Commonwealth champions, maintained their unbeaten record in live rubbers by winning the opening mixed doubles. But Malaysia's strength in singles proved too much for world No 19 Andrew Smith and Commonwealth gold medallist Tracey Hallam. Then came the fightback. First world silver medallists Robert Blair and Anthony Clark got England level when they beat world No 2 pair Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong, winning 18-21 21-16 21-16. Then it was left to European champions Emms and Kellogg to finish the job by beating Wong and Eei. Clark said of their battling display: “We played them recently in Korea and had a very close match but we lost on fitness but we didn’t go down at all tonight. “We have got a new coach who has changed our training and taught us the new ways that the top Asian players are training, and already it has make a big difference not just to our fitness but to our mental approach to the game. And Blair added: “We had to win to keep the match alive and they were big favourites but once it started to get close we seemed to improve our levels.” Kellogg said of their nerve-jangler: "It was fantastic It was fantastic for myself and Gail to take the match. Everybody put in some great performancs and to beat Malaysia is tremendous." Head coach Ian Wright said: "We've had really good preparation, a good team spirit, two world-class doubles performances in the level doubles and we are now looking forward to taking on China tomorrow. "If we want to be taken seriously as world contenders we have to try to compete against teams like China. We won't be putting out a weak team like Thailand did tonight."
SIGH.... how come Malaysia can lost???:crying::crying::crying: didnt watch the match, but was really shocked when get to knw kkk/tbh lost....:crying:
huh.. i feel hurt to read this news,but congratulation to England..MAS really need magic and Luck now ..:crying::crying:.
Tan Kim Her really can make life difficult with MAS men's doubles, first with Korea, now with England. He really is a great coach. As for the Women's Doubles, can't really fault their loss, it was touch and go all the way on all 3 sets.
I guesss KKK/TBH crumble under pressure... 1st time play in team competition which require much more mental strength! Hope they grow from here!
putting out a weak team he meant going in the game as full Unit. (first choice selection) not resting players but take the bull by the horns. In the process picks up quality xperience.
Was Rexy there during KKK/TBH match ? Anyway congrat to the Eng pair. Will be waiting for their game against CY/HF of China to see weather they really improved.
not their 1st time.......2nd i believe, 1st one was AG 06, they lost to the Korean Pair......and Rexy was so disappointed with them at that time and threatened to quit BAM and that was a loss to a good pair from Korea, LJJ/HJM. Now to an English pair sumore, haizzzz, duno what Rexy is going to do to them now............im trying to have faith in them though........but honestly, it's really hard.
TKH has obviously done a great job to the English pair.......Is he following Rexy's route as well.....??? England >>> next destination = BAM??
Why would he need to follow like Rexy? Has Rexy coached KOR? TKH's also excellent in spotting badminton talent so wouldn't be surprised to see young ENG MDs in the future.Wish them all the best.
OK, I got it now. It simply means "We won't be putting out a weak team like what Thailand did tonight."
I'm not sure whether it's pressure or overconfidence but I agreed that they do not perform well in team event. What a coincidence! They are expected to win every match but failed during the first hurdle (the crucial ones) and this makes their route to the SF almost impossble. I didn't watch the match and couldn't comment on their performance. But looking at the score, it's supposed to be close encounter! That's MD and badminton, anything is possible! Whatever it is, they have to put aside the defeat, concentrate on the coming match.
What a sad case of Malaysia failing when it matters. KKK & TBH are just not up for the task i think. They need time. I reckon CTF & LWW would have done better for this sort of team tournaments with their vast experience. But i suppose its good exposure for the two of them. I always thought the danger was in the mens doubles. AC & RB are not the kind of pairing we should be under estimating. Anthony Clark is a gritty player as seen in the All England earlier this year. I believe England deserves to go through the semi finals. They've done well in recent years and i expect them to be in high spirits playing at neighbouring soil. Kudos to all the ENG pairs, they've been very consistent. Our WD & XD were always going to drop points for us.
Was a great match, emms and kellog were so tired and the malaysians were isolating the wrong player, donna is the big one that loves to smash. they wobbled a bit at the end of the second game and in the middle of the third but brought it back nicely. AMAZING!!!!!
we should have knw it when Mas decided to send 10 players for 2007 SC... i dunno why they did tat... they have 7 world class pair but they choose 1 pair which was not in top form since april... why dun they bring 2 more experience player which i think LWW/CTF will do... it is so risky with no backup player... i dunno wat will happen if 1 of our diamond player get injury... MD will have KKK + WCH or TBH＋LCW? i think bam juz take it easy... save money??? the 1 we should blame should be BAM!!! rexy can't do anything if bam dunwan...
