Hafiz Hashim...

Our Hafiz Hashim seems to have a love affair with the second round (round of 1/16) ... Can he break the spell this Malaysian Open?

Spotlight on Pair: Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong

Winning the All England, Malaysian Open, Swiss Open, and Philippines Open titles in less than a year of formation is indeed impressive. Apart from that, after their finals performance in the Macau Open, they are the new world number 1. So what identifies this new pairing from others?
As always, successful badminton pairings have contrasting personalities: Rexy Mainaky was the explosive one. Ricky was the shyer one. Cai Yun is the confident one. Fu Haifeng is the more reserved of the pair.

Indeed, Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong do have contrasting personalities too: Kien Keat is the 'obnoxious' one on court while Boon Heong appears to be, in relation to Kien Keat, more reserved. When Kien Keat did his little jig when he got a matchpoint at the All England finals, this no doubt irked many badminton fans. Many accused Kien Keat of being unsportsmanlike and arrogant. Many despise his antics and label it as obnoxious stunts. So is Kien Keat really this obnoxious monster we know on court?

Kien Keat himself begs to differ. On his blog, he begs everyone to be aware that these are just badminton mind tactics employed by all top pairs. In real life, he claims, he is a nice and easy going guy. In a sense, I do agree with him. Mind games on the badminton court excite viewers; they are a indescribable aspect to this game. They give us the much needed drama on court... so whats wrong with it? Accept it people - mind games, including those little 'stunts' by Kien Keat bring the whole court to live.

Boon Heong on the other hand, earned him some Malaysian haters after their shock lost in the Quarter Finals of the World Championships. Missing an easy half court smash at match point, they went on to lose the game. After the matches, profanities were screamed and shrieked at Boon Heong, who sat by the court wiping his tears, immediately extending his apologies to Kien Keat. Since then, however, he has bounced back in the still ongoing Macau Open, scalping the highly regarded Korean pairing of Jung Jae Sung/Lee Yong Dae and exterminating the reigning world champions and world number 1 Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan. Hence, it appears that this pair is out of their slump, and are ready to achieve greater heights for Malaysia.

Another recent news regarding this relatively new pairing is the conflict between Kien Keat and Boon Heong. While conflicts between partners are not new news for Malaysian badminton fanatics, this still intrigues and fuels our interest. Since the days of the bickering pair of Cheah Soon Kit and Soo Beng Kiang, we have grown used to the fightings and the disagreements of our players. Still, these pair have always managed to deliver: Soon Kit and Beng Kiang delivered the winning point for our triumph in the 1992 Thomas Cup. It remains to been seen whether Kien Keat and Boon Heong can better Soon Kit and Beng Kiang's achievements and win the Thomas Cup for Malaysia again.

As always
MALAYSIA BOLEH

Spotlight on Player - Wong Choong Hann

this gallant Malaysian tiger has served Malaysia consistently through thick and thin

Wong Choong Hann. 2003 World Championship Silver Medalist. Former World Number 1. Simply put: Malaysian Legend.

Wong's illustrious career in badminton started in 1991, where he had to play in the qualifying stages of the Malaysian Open. Unfortunately, he failed to make an impact there, but this marked the start of more than 16 years of service to Malaysian badminton. He was the calm one. The mentally strong one. The one that could speak such good English that he could have easily pursued a career in linguistics, that being said, Malaysia would not have had such success in the Men's Single's badminton arena.

Aiding in Malaysia's near misses in the 1998 and 2002 Thomas Cup campaigns, he served as Malaysia's number 1 shuttler for more than 4 years. Not only that, he was frequently requested to play in the Men's Doubles disciplines, which ultimately highlighted his dedication to the sport, and his love of his country.

Funnily enough, despite his high world rankings in the late 1990s to the early 2000s, he did not win many titles. Still, whenever the occasion came, he delivered. Coming agonizingly close in defeating Xia Xuanze in Birmingham during the 2003 World Championships, Wong has always served as one of the 'rocks' of Malaysian badminton, even after he was overtaken by Lee Chong Wei as National number 1, serving as team captain in many BAM (Badminton Association of Malaysia) assignments.

Tragedy struck in 2006, where he ruptured his Achilles tendon during the Quarter Finals against Park Sung Hwan of Korea. I remember feeling afraid for the first time for Wong; Of all the matches I've seen of him, even if he was losing, I still had confidence in him, as he emanated such confident aura. However, for the first time, I was afraid for Wong. Nothing troubled Wong - except injury. Malaysia watched mournfully as Wong was given a standing ovation for his efforts as he exited the stadium.

Everyone dismissed Wong as a spent force after that. Everyone expected him to hang up his racquet, and retire from badminton. Everyone... that is, except Wong himself. When everyone didn't believe in him, he believed in himself. He bounced back strongly in the 2007 Malaysia Open, almost scalping then World Number 4 Chen Jin, and at that tournament, completing a full circle as he had to play in the qualifying stages of the tournament; the irony being his first tournament was during the qualifying stages of the Malaysian Open. He sent Chen Hong, then world number 2, and Bao Chunlai, then world number 3, packing in the China Open and Macau Open. When everyone dismissed him, he refused to dismiss himself. This is one trait Malaysian players should actively learn - to never give up. To never give up, and to believe in themselves. Wong Choong Hann is a fighter - and Malaysians should learn from him.

As he takes onto court today against Chen Jin, Malaysia will be watching him. Malaysia will be praying for him, and Malaysia will be behind him supporting him no matter what the result is. Win or lose, he is a true Malaysian hero, and he deserves every ounce of support from our country he so gallantly represents.

Wong Choong Hann - Malaysian Hero, now and forever.