Foul!

Beregu nombor satu negara, Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong terpaksa ‘berehat panjang’ apabila nama mereka tidak disenaraikan oleh Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM) untuk beraksi di Seluruh England yang berlangsung 4 Mac ini.  Berdasarkan senarai nama pemain dikeluarkan Persekutuan Badminton Dunia (BWF), hanya tiga beregu lelaki negara, Hoon Thien How-Tan Wee Kiong dan Goh V Shem-Lim Khim Wah selain pasangan profesional, Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif-Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari yang menggalas cabaran Malaysia di kejohanan berprestij berkenaan dan layak beraksi terus ke undian utama.   Berita terbaru itu sekali gus mengundang persoalan adakah BAM sebenarnya sudah membuat keputusan mengenai masa depan mereka dengan ia dijangka diumumkan selepas cuti perayaan Tahun Baru Cina.  Baca laporan penuh disini . HD says: About time?

Malaysia suffered a huge blow in their opening fixture of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Sudirman Cup, when men’s doubles pair Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong  (pic) lost in straight games 21-18, 21-18 to Taiwan’s Lee Shen Mu-Tsai Chia Hsin. “We thought we would be in control, but we were proven wrong. They (Sheng Mu – Chia Hsin) were clearly stronger in front court, and their attacking was better,” a disappointed Kien Keat said after the match. When questioned if they should play against Germany next, Boon Heong said “It depends on our coaches actually, I think the more confident pair should play. “As for me, I think my confidence has dropped a little after this defeat.” Read the full report here . Outplayed? Outclassed? Isn't it high time for the BA of Malaysia (BAM) to do something about the pair? Or should we still keep them? Is it true that even the coaching staff have given up on the world No 3 pair? HD says: Oh by the way, happy birthday to BAM...

Five of our national athletes received monetary funding of US$1,000 (RM3,055) a month since 2010 as they are recipients of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) scholarship . The five are shuttlers Lee Chong Wei, Koo Kien Keat, Tan Boon Heong, cyclist Azizulhasni Awang and middle distance runner P.Yuvaraj . Apparently there are talks that Yuvaraj has not been receiving his monthly funding. A quick check with Olympic Council of Malaysia secretary Sieh Kok Chi proved otherwise. "We have all the records and we have been paying to the associations and in Yuvaraj's case to the Malaysian Athletics Federation," stressed Kok Chi. Perhaps that would answer all doubts - or would it? HD says : Hmm....

It wasn't the start the national contingent had hoped for. Despite all the pomp and fare, national shooter Nur Suryani Taibi failed to qualify for the 10m women's air rifle event. But she treasures the experience as seen here . Mixed doubles pair Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying lost 12-21, 21-6, 15-21 to Taiwanese duo Chen HL-Cheng WH in their first group match. Earlier,  women's singles shuttler Tee Ying Ji put up a gritty display before losing 16-21, 21-15, 21-12 to South Korean Bae Yeon-Ju in a Group B match. The archery team failed to make the cut while national cyclists Amir Mustafa Rusli and Adiq Husainie Othman failed to complete (DNF) the men's road race event. On the bright side, men's doubles duo of Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong managed a 21-12, 21-14 win over Naoki Kawamae-Shoji Sato of Japan in a group match. That pretty much sums up Day 1 for the Malaysian contingent at the Summer Games. Here's hoping for good news in days to come. As for t...

It has been a rather interesting journey leading to the up-coming London Olympics. As our athletes leave the country in batches for the Summer Games, some of them could return as national heroes. However, it has been an interesting and painful journey for some of the athletes thus far. Top national shuttler Lee Chong Wei injured his ankle and has yet to fully recover but is still touted by officials as being the best bet to net the nation's elusive Olympic gold medal. Azizulhasni Awang is eager to steal the thunder in the cycling event, having laid rather low as he trained diligently in Melbourne . Then we have shooter Nur Suryani Mohamed Taibi who is already making headlines worldwide despite having yet to step foot in London as she is eight months pregnant. There are youngsters in the form of Pandelela Rinong who are eager to give it a shot while there are the "experienced few" including cyclist Josiah Ng and shuttlers Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong ...

Well national doubles coach Tan Kim Her believes so. "True champions will fight back when put in a corner and Kien Keat-Boon Heong are in that situation now. Kien Keat may not get another opportunity to play in the Olympics so London is where he must prove his credentials as a big match player again." Read KM Boopathy's full report in the NST . The pair have not been performing well since for the past couple of years. In fact, they put up a gritty performance in the 2010 World Championships in Paris but failed to shine after that. Even at the KLRC Gold for Gold programme recently, Kien Keat admitted they have an uphill battle to silence their critics. But they seem motivated to slug it out and give their best. Realistically speaking, many still argue that Lee Chong Wei remains as the nation's best bet - despite his ankle having yet to fully recover and his family issues - as they have given up on Kien Keat-Boon Heong for glory. However, Kien Keat and Bo...