The Star Online > Sports
Saturday September 9, 2006
Favourable draw could provide a Malaysian world champion
PENANG: It's all falling into place for the Malaysian badminton doubles players. A favourable draw for all three pairs in the fray could well provide the first Malaysian world badminton champion at the World Championships in Madrid on Sept 18-24.
World number three Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah, number five Chan Chong Ming-Koo Kien Keat and debutants Mohd Fairuzizuan Tazari-Lin Woon Fui, the sixth seeds, all stand a good chance of stealing the spotlight away from men’s singles world number one Lee Chong Wei.
Veterans Tan Fook-Wan Wah have been handed an early chance to make amends for their spectacular third game collapse in the Hong Kong Open final against Indonesians Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan last week.
The two pairs are on course to meet in the third round in Madrid. If the Malaysians get their expected revenge, the reward could be an “easy” quarter-final matchup against either Tadashi Ohtsuka-Keita Masuda of Japan or England’s Anthony Clark-Robert Blair.
Also in the bottom half of the draw are Mohd Fairuzizuan-Woon Fui. The Malaysian Openfinalists will get their baptism of fire in the third round against China’s second best pair Guo Zhendong-Xie Zhongbo.
A victory over the Chinese would set-up a last eight meeting against second seeds Jung Jae Sung-Lee Yong Dae.
National doubles coach Rexy Mainaky is not discounting the possibility of an all-Malaysian semi-final at the World Championships.
“It is a very good doubles draw for Malaysia, especially for Tan Fook and Wan Wah. After being handed a clear path to the last four, it is unlikely that they will blunder by making the same mistakes against the Indonesian pair.
“I am confident that they will go far in the world meet. It will be a bonus if Fairuzizuan and Woon Fui can also rise to the occasion and set up an all Malaysian semi-final,” said Rexy.
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