It’s time for others to take over mantle, says Choong Hann

Malaysia's Koo Kien Keat (Left) and Tan Boon Heong
File pix by S.S Kanesan/TheStar

By Starsport

MALAYSIA needs to pay more attention to grooming the next generation of singles players to take over from the old guards for the Thomas Cup 2010 campaign.

Malaysia’s skipper Wong Choong Hann said that the time had come for him and third singles player Mohd Hafiz Hashim to let the youngsters take over.

The veteran of six Thomas Cup campaigns admitted that Hafiz and him are past their prime and face difficulties in keeping up with some of the younger players in the world, especially the Chinese.

Choong Hann and Hafiz both lost their singles matches to Bao Chunlai and Chen Jin respectively in the 2-3 semi-final defeat to China on Friday.

Malaysia’s top singles player Lee Chong Wei defeated world number one Lin Dan for Malaysia’s solitary point from the singles

“Malaysia have a good succession plan in the doubles. Even when Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah retire, there are several young pairs who are already good enough to step in and take over

“But unfortunately, the same cannot be said about our junior singles players. They are still not able to compete at the highest level and need a lot of catching up to do. As I would not be around for the next Thomas Cup, the BAM (Badminton Association of Malaysia) need to work fast within the next two years to groom the young talents,” said Choong Hann yesterday.

Among the current batch of national back-up players currently under Rashid Sidek’s charge, Choong Hann picks Thomas Cup reserve Mohd Arif Abdul Latif, national championships runner-up Tan Chun Seang and Chong Wei Feng, who defeated Chen Jin at last month’s Indian Open, as his three likeliest candidates to make it to the senior squad.

Despite being disappointed at Malaysia’s exit in Jakarta, Choong Hann is now looking forward to playing at the Beijing Olympics in August.

Said Choong Hann: “Although I am sad at not being able to leave the Thomas Cup scene with a winners medal, I am proud of this team’s fighting spirit and commitment.

“Our performance in the Thomas Cup proved that the Malaysian players would be among the leading contenders for medals in Beijing.”

Choong Hann and Chong Wei are the two Malaysian men’s singles players who have qualified for the Olympics.

Malaysia lost to China in Thomas Cup semi-final

Run for the point...
File pix SS Kanesan/TheStar

It was sad to know that Malaysia lost to China in the Thomas Cup semi- final yesterday which was held in Indonesia by 3-2. Wong Chun Hann the most senior player had lost his power and stream and he was defeated. The other losers are double Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong and the third single Mohd Hafiz Hashim

MALAYSIA were the underdogs reported by the StarSport, knowing very well that they needed to win the two doubles matches to have a chance of beating China in the Thomas Cup semi-finals at the Istora Senayan in Jakarta yesterday.

They only managed to get one from the second doubles match after Lee Chong Wei had giving them a rousing start to raise hopes of an upset over the defending champions. And Malaysia ended up as 2-3 losers.

Much was expected of Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong to press on the advantage Chong Wei had given the team with a comfortable 21-12, 21-14 win over world number one Lin Dan. But the pair lost the first doubles match against Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng at 16-21, 17-21 defeat.Read More

Chong Wei sizzles but Hafiz fizzles out

The Champ is Ferrari Felipe Massa

Report by StarSports

STANBUL: Brazilian Felipe Massa swept to a hat-trick of Turkish Grand Prix victories from pole position yesterday with another domineering display for Ferrari at Istanbul Park.

The Latin American triumphed by 3.7 seconds ahead of McLaren’s British driver Lewis Hamilton with reigning champion Finn Kimi Raikkonen less than half-a-second behind in third place in the other Ferrari.

Hamilton pulled off the overtaking move of the race on Massa and denied Ferrari a likely one-two despite adopting a three-stop fuel strategy compared to his rival’s two-stopper.

But there was no stopping Massa who controlled the 58-lap race on the 5.338km track which he clearly loves.

Raikkonen’s lead in the championship was cut to seven points with Massa now second, on countback, from last year’s runner-up Hamilton.

Ferrari extended their lead in the Constructors’ championship to 19 points over BMW with McLaren two points further back after Finland’s Heikki Kovalainen paid for an early pit-stop to finish 12th having started second. Read More

Massa sets his sights on Turkish hat-trick

FERRARI’S Felipe Massa set his sights on a Turkish Grand Prix hat-trick after taking pole position for the third year in a row yesterday.

The Brazilian, winner in 2006 and 2007 at the anti-clockwise Istanbul Park circuit, will have Heikki Kovalainen's McLaren alongside him on the front row today with the Finn coming back strongly from a heavy crash in Spain.

“I think I put together a very good lap,” said Massa of his 12th pole in Formula One, second of the season and Ferrari's 198th since 1950.

“I'm just so happy to come here for the third time with Ferrari and be on pole for the third time. It would be fantastic to repeat that (win) tomorrow.

“I'm looking forward to try and have the best race possible. It won't be easy, we know our competitors are quite strong but close,” added the Brazilian, whose team are chasing their fourth successive win.

Every Turkish Grand Prix so far has been won from pole position.Read More

On the grid: Ferrari look untouchable despite the sport's air of instability

THE anti-clockwise running of the Turkish Grand Prix at the Istanbul Park Circuit today will provide some added pressure to drivers, but Ferrari look likely to remain fast.

But of more concern to me is the pressure brought about by this air of instability that surrounds global motor-sport in general this year. It is a funny, uncertain feeling.

Last Monday the Super Aguri F1 team announced their closure, leaving Formula One with 20 cars starting the Turkish Grand Prix. It is the first time since 2005 that 20 cars will start.

The grapevine also has it that the Scuderia Toro Rosso team are also up for sale and Williams could be under pressure too.

I wouldn't like to see Formula One with just 18 cars or less, not when the overall investment in the sport is sky-rocketing.

More and more countries are building circuits and are willing to invest in the globalisation of motor-sport, but not just in F1 are teams suffering. Read More

Can Lewis Hamilton win in Turkish Grand Prix ?

StarSports

LEWIS Hamilton admitted on Thursday that he misses the feeling of winning races and intends to return to the top of the podium by triumphing in tomorrow's Turkish Grand Prix.

The 23-year-old Briton said he hopes to end Ferrari's run of success with a McLaren win at the Istanbul Park circuit.

“Obviously, this weekend I want to score a load of points, but more than anything else I want to win,” he said. “I miss that feeling, I miss winning. So that is my plan. Simple as that.”

Hamilton won the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, but has since been unable to stop the Ferrari steamroller from taking charge with three successive victories including two one-two finishes.

“I never approach a race thinking I am the favourite,” said Hamilton, when it was pointed out to him that Ferrari have won the last two Turkish Grands Prix.

“That doesn't make any difference. Felipe has won here the last two years, but we are here to put an end to that I guess. It is the same every weekend. – AFP

They were in KLCC Malaysia?

This picture was taken few years ago when the Brazil fooball team who were in Malaysia for their final lap of preparations for the World Cup Final in Japan and Korea. The Brazil team will play their last friendly match against Malaysia at National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

Despite the busy schedule, the Brazilian players ( from left) Anderson Polga, Ronaldinho, Lucio and Admilson took time to visit The KLCC Twin Tower. I went there and found them shopping. They were happy to post a picture in front of the tallest building KLCC twin tower.

Read More on the final day in Korea, click here

Raikkonen leads Ferrari to win in Spanish GP

BARCELONA: Defending drivers world champion Kimi Raikkonen extended his lead in this year's title race to nine points yesterday when he drove to a comfortable victory in an incident-filled Spanish Grand Prix.

The Finn, driving a Ferrari, led from start to finish, bar the pit stops, to dominate the contest and consolidate his and his team's position as the in-form outfit after four races this season.

Raikkonen's win was his 17th in a career often beset by bad luck in earlier times and endorsed the wideheld feeling that he has happier at Ferrari and in the form of his life.

His Ferrari team-mate Brazilian Felipe Massa drove a solid race to finish second, after starting third on the grid, ahead of Briton Lewis Hamilton in a McLaren-Mercedes. Read More