Pearly-Thinaah only fell short on strength and stamina against Koreans, says Rexy

SHUTTLERS Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah have to improve on their strength and stamina to consistently match the world’s top pairs in the women’s doubles. This was national coaching director Rexy Mainaky’s assessment after the duo went down 21-15, 11-21, 7-21 to South Korea’s world No. 2 Baek Ha-na-Lee So-hee in the quarter-finals of the Asian Games in...

Tan serves a much needed Boon to Zii Jia

FORMER doubles ace Tan Boon Heong knows how to inspire a dejected Lee Zii Jia. World No. 16 Zii Jia was left frustrated after squandering two match points before going down 16-21, 23-21, 20-22 to H.S. Prannoy of India in the men’s singles quarter-finals in the Hangzhou Asian Games on Thursday. “It was a very exciting men’s...

Badminton: Aaron-Wooi Yik bag bronze in Asian Games

HANGZHOU: It's game over for Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik as their campaign in the Asian Games badminton competition ended with a 17-21, 12-21 defeat to India's world No. 3 Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty in the men's doubles semi-finals on Friday (Oct 6). The hard smashing Indian pair took the first game 21-17 and continued their relentless assault...

In a first, our shuttlers outdo archrivals Indonesia

FOR once, Malaysia have done better than their archrivals Indonesia in badminton. While Malaysia were assured of a medal with Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik reaching the men’s doubles semi-finals on Thursday, Indonesia suffered their worst ever showing in the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, by firing blanks. It’s the first time in history that they have failed...

Zii Jia and Co face huge Thailand hurdle

MALAYSIAN shuttlers will be out to avoid a Thai wipeout in the early rounds of the Asian Games. Almost all the representatives - Ng Tze Yong, Lee Zii Jia (men’s singles), Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik (men’s doubles), Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah (women’s doubles) and Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie (mixed doubles) will be facing opponents from Thailand...

Hopes high on top pair Aaron-Wooi Yik to fight for medal despite tough draw

THEY have a proven record in major events and this will still make men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik as Malaysia’s best bets for a medal in the Asian Games although they have a testing draw in the individual events starting today at the Binjiang Gymnasium today. Aaron-Wooi Yik, the world No. 5, will play...

Time and patience needed to lift standard of shuttlers

THERE’s no magic wand to be waved to transform the standard of Malaysian men’s singles shuttlers. It will take a lot of hard work. Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) secretary Datuk Kenny Goh acknowledges that the men’s singles department is struggling but promised that work has already started to add depth in coaching and training. On Thursday,...

Shuttlers lose to China in World Junior Championships mixed team semi-finals

PETALING JAYA: The shuttlers settled for bronze in the World Junior Championships mixed team event after going down 0-3 to China in the semi-finals in Spokane, the United States on Friday (Sept 29). In the opening match, mixed doubles pair Low Han Chen-Chan Wen Tse lost out 11-21, 16-21 to Liao Pinyi-Zhang Jiahan. Eogene Ewe tried to...

Japanese women’s team gold defence left shaky after Yamaguchi’s withdrawal

JAPAN’s bid to defend the women’s team gold in the Asian Games was dealt a cruel blow after top singles shuttler Akane Yamaguchi was struck down by injury. World No. 2 Yamaguchi was forced to withdraw from her match against Taiwan’s Tai Tzu-ying in the quarter-finals between the two countries with the scores at 14-21, 7-5...

Koo-Tan: Nothing is impossible for doubles to win at Asiad again

WINNING gold in the 2006 Asian Games in Doha was an unforgettable moment for former shuttler Tan Boon Heong. Boon Heong was only 19 when he combined with then 21-yearold Koo Kien Keat in the men’s doubles to end Malaysia’s 36-year wait for a gold in the Asiad in stunning fashion after beating Indonesians Luluk Hadiyanto-Alvent...