New Straits Times
K.M. Boopathy
Jan 22:
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MALAYSIA had a confirmed grip on one and a firm grip on another but it was left to the veteran pair of Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah to march into the final of the All-England badminton championships at Birmingham’s national Indoor Arena yesterday.
Tan Fook-Wan Wah defeated compatriots Lin Woon Fui-Fairuzizuan Tazari 15-8, 15-7 in 33 minutes to book a berth in the doubles final for the second time in three years.
However, third-seeded Chong Wei appeared to be on the way to an upset victory over favourite and World No 1 Lin Dan of China but inexplicably allowed him to snatch a 9-15, 15-10, 17-14 win in the men’s singles semi-finals.
Chong Wei led 8-1 and 14-13 in the deciding game but just lacked the killer instinct to register a rare victory over Lin Dan.
It will also be a crucial mission for Tan Fook-Wan Wah as they earned the chance to slay the demons of 2004.
Then, Tan Fook-Wan Wah (left) looked set to end a 22-year wait for the men’s doubles title when they led Danish pair Jens Eriksen-Martin Lundgaard Hansen 15-9, 12-5 only to lose 15-9, 13-15, 3-15.
And tonight they face the very same opponents who vanquished them two years.
Giant-killers Zakry Latif and Gan Teik Chai gave early promise of an all-Malaysian doubles final when they took a 14-5 lead against Eriksen-Lundgaard Hansen but succumbed to pressure and went down 17-14, 15-9 in the other semi-final.
Tan Fook-Wan Wah had struggled to recover fully from the setback two years ago and a series of injuries over the last 18 months almost put an end to their careers.
However, thanks to chief coach Yap Kim Hock and the arrival of Indonesian coach Rexy Mainaky, Tan Fook-Wan Wah have made their way to the top and earned the chance to heal the wound that has hurt them the most, the defeat to Eriksen-Lundgaard Hansen at the same venue in 2004.
Razif and Jalani Sidek were the last Malaysian doubles pair to win the All-England title in 1982 and based on their current run in the tournament, Tan Fook-Wan Wah have what it takes to finally land the title.
Tan Fook-Wan Wah were hardly given any chance when they were pitted against World No 1 Candra Wijaya-Sigit Budiarto of Indonesia in the second round but they shocked the former world champions in style.
That was the major breakthrough Tan Fook-Wan Wah needed and they have improved by every match and appear to be in prime form.
Lin Dan will be meeting South Korean Lee Hyun Il, who sent defeated former champion Peter Gade of Denmark to a 3-15, 15-8, 15-1, defeat, for the title today.
As for And Chong Wei, he has to wait for another year for a shot at the title. But the memory of yesterday’s heart-breaking loss will linger for a long time.
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* I watched the match between Chong Wei and Lin Dan, the starting wasn't good for Chong Wei, but as he got to accumulate more points in the second game, I had more hope. Unfortunately although he was ahead of Lin Dan by 8 points in the beginning, Lin Dan gradually picked up his pace and finally won the match. A prove that he is the No.1 player. In the end Lin Dan was the Champion of All-England Championship 2006. Hmmm... good looks, good play. *
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