Badminton Tournament - Macau Open

choking of the great tiger - will history repeat itself?

Nowadays, Malaysian players have always been dubbed and branded as mentally weak, with little mental strength to deliver at crucial points. Today, badminton fanatics all around the world will witness whether the great tiger will deliver - or choke miserably.

Thomas Cup finals 2002. Having gallantly upset Taufik, Lee Tsuen Seng won a crucial 'unwinnable' point. However, in the next doubles match, Choong Tan Fook and Lee Wan Wah broke the hearts of many Malaysian viewers around the world, me included, by throwing away the game against Sigit and Candra. They had the oppotunity. They lost it.

Sudirman cup relegation playoffs 2001 - Our brave underdog women's shuttlers Chin Eei Hui and Wong Pei Tty gallantly won an 'unwinnable' point against the more experienced and skilled Japanese shuttlers. But just as it seems that Malaysia is finally out of hot water, Choong Tan Fook and Lee Wan Wah throw away their game against lesser opponents. Choked under pressure. Malaysia got humiliatingly relegated to group 2.

Now with the pressure on Choong and Lee to deliver another upset against world number 2 and former world champions Cai Yun/Fu Haifeng, it seems that if history were to repeat itself, Choong and Lee would lose. Would they lose, or would they prevail in this mouth watering epic battle? Cai and Fu are trying to gain revenge on this pair - will they prevail, or will they be beaten again?

Poker faced Wong Choong Hann is playing all out. He almost beat two time world junior champion Chen Jin in the Malaysian Open, coming agonizingly close but ultimately losing the match. Now, can he avenge the defeat, or is he destined to be a victim of the alleged Chinese foul play (Chen Hong gave a controversial walkover to Chen Jin, while Choong Hann was stretched to an energy sapping three games)?

Koo Kien Keat, Tan Boon Heong... the world's biggest piece of badminton news. Are they really back, or was their punishing victory against the respected Jung and Lee from Korea just a fluke? Will Kien Keat and Boon Heong deliver against the new and upcoming Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan, who are trying to prove to the world that they are the best Men's Double's pair and at the same time trying to consolidate their newly aquired number 1 world ranking? Will their partnership hold, or will the blame game be played again?

Today will be a stiff test for Malaysian badminton. Will they pass or flunk it? Will this signal brighter days for Malaysia badminton, or will this just reaffirm the notion that Malaysia badminton is inconsistent? Find out today, at day 5 of the Macau Open.

As always,
MALAYSIA BOLEH!