Misbun hopes Zii Jia will rise above storm to shine in worlds

PETALING JAYA: Turn criticism into motivation. That’s Datuk Misbun Sidek’s encouragement to his former student Lee Zii Jia as the latter takes on Jonatan Christie of Indonesia in the men’s singles first round of the World Championships at Royal Arena in Copenhagen today. Misbun believes controversies before a major tournament could be a blessing in disguise. “Netizens are...

In-demand Misbun may take up offer to coach in another country

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Misbun Sidek is looking at several coaching offers from different countries in Asia and Europe. In a special press conference held Sunday (Aug 20), Misbun said several countries have offered him a job to coach their senior team after his service was ended by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) recently. He will decide...

Chong Wei wants action on court, not just lip service from Aaron-Soh and Co

PETALING JAYA: A valuable advice from former great Datuk Lee Chong Wei could not have been more timely for men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik as they begin their title defence at the World Championships in Copenhagen tomorrow. National doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky said Chong Wei visited the players on Wednesday and offered words...

Tze Yong feels he can perform consistently after piling on kilos

PETALING JAYA: A frail looking Ng Tze Yong may not have ruffled feathers during his World Championships debut in Tokyo last year but he is gearing up to surprise his opponents in Copenhagen next week after toughening up. He now weighs more and is sturdier. Tze Yong said that his weight during the Sudirman Cup was around...

Arif’s ankle trouble just a minor problem but he will stay on guard

PETALING JAYA: National men’s doubles shuttler Wan Arif Wan Junaidi is feeling a sense of relief following the diagnosis of his injury as a minor one and he is raring to go all out to make up for the training he missed. The 21-year-old Arif was progressing rapidly in his partnership with Yap Roy King before...

Enduring the pain: Ee Yi (front) suffered a right knee injury during the Australian Open from Aug 1-6 where he and Yew Sin lost in the second round.

Ee Yi still recovering from knee injury but help from NSI brings relief

PETALING JAYA: The biggest challenge for Teo Ee Yi at the moment is to recover from his knee injury and the potential obstacles he is set to face at the World Championships in Copenhagen with his men’s doubles partner Ong Yew Sin in Copenhagen next week. Ee Yi suffered the right knee injury during the Australian...

Time to peak

PETALING JAYA: Focus and patience are the two areas Aaron Chia has repeatedly stressed on to his partner Soh Wooi Yik as they defend their world men’s doubles title in Copenhagen next week. Aaron-Wooi Yik (pic), the world No. 4, became Malaysia’s first world champions in badminton in Tokyo last year but they have not won...

Tat Meng wants Zii Jia to enjoy the game and not push for instant results

PETALING JAYA: Coach Wong Tat Meng doesn’t believe in miracles and he just wants independent singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia to enjoy playing rather than pushing for instant results at the World Championships in Copenhagen next week. Zii Jia, the world No. 13, is unseeded and is drawn to play fifth seed Jonatan Christie of Indonesia...

$e-young! An tops badminton money list ahead of Axelsen

PETALING JAYA: South Korean sensation An Se-young (pic) underlined her dominance by heading the money list in badminton this year. The 21-year-old women’s singles shuttler incredibly reached nine World Tour finals and captured seven titles so far in the year to pocket more than RM1mil. According to the Badminton World Federation (BWF), world No. 1 Se-young comfortably...

Double your efforts, girls!

PETALING JAYA: Rexy Mainaky wants more from Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah at the World Championships in Copenhagen from Aug 21-27. So far, the national women’s doubles pair have not managed to build on their brilliant run to the final of the Malaysian Masters at Axiata Arena in May. World No. 11 Pearly-Thinaah had to pull out of the...