Boonsak wins Singapore Open for second time

Thai ace Boonsak Ponsana claimed his second Singapore Open men's singles title on Sunday after beating China's Wang Zhengming in a hard-fought final.

Photo: Kennee Wong

The 30-year-old, whose world ranking has fallen from fourth in November 2010 to 32nd, beat Wang 21-18, 21-19 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, in a boost for the Thai ahead of the London Olympics.

Boonsak made a sluggish start and trailed former World Junior champion Wang 10-5 early on but he came back to win 10 of the next 12 points and claim the opening game in 25 minutes.


The second game was tight and Wang appeared to have the edge after taking a 19-18 lead.

However, Boonsak fought back and secured the title when Wang smashed wide on match point. The Thai first won the Singapore Open in 2007.

Malaysia : Put the athletes first

Two promising shuttlers quit BJSS to pursue their badminton dream. What a needless decision – if only the powers that be think of the athletes’ interests rather than self glory.

IT was a sad day when young Soong Joo Vern and Darren Isaac Devadass packed their bags and left the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) to pursue their badminton ambitions.

Did we miss something here? Isn’t the BJSS supposedly the custodian of aspiring sportsmen and sportswomen? There to provide talented students with the best of both worlds – excellence in studies and sports. So what went wrong?

Joo Ven and Darren walk out of BJSS to pursue badminton career

By RAJES PAUL

The Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) should be the platform for youngsters to fulfil their sporting ambitions but for two promising shuttlers – Soong Joo Ven and Darren Isaac Devadass – it was not the case.

Photo : Alex van Zaanen

Instead, the two walked out of BJSS, just months before their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exams, because they want to pursue their badminton careers.

The school wanted the two boys to compete in the Asean Schools Championships from June 28-July 6 in Indonesia instead of the more important Asian Junior Championships from June 30-July 7 in South Korea.

As the tournament dates clash, the boys asked the school, through the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), permission to play in the Asian Junior meet. But BJSS, which come under the jurisdiction of the Education Ministry’s sports department, told the duo that they must play in the Asean meet.

Time running out for doubles pair Kien Keat-Boon Heong

By KNG ZHENG GUAN

Beleaguered men’s doubles pair Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong failed their test at the Indonesian Open last week and time is now running out for the pair ahead of the London Olympics.

Photo : Kennee Wong

Kien Keat-Boon Heong, who have been touted as medal hopefuls, have had a terrible run of form, losing to lower ranked pairs and crashing out in the early rounds of the Korean Open, Malaysian Open and the All-England this year.

They made it to the last four in Jakarta but apart from a tricky opening game against Indonesian youngsters Angga Pratama-Ryan Agung Saputra, the pair were barely tested in the second round and quarter-finals.

Chong Wei admits concern over slow recovery process

By S. RAMAGURU


He is the nation’s great hope for a first ever Olympic gold medal but life has not been the same for badminton champion Lee Chong Wei since the unfortunate ankle injury he sustained at the Thomas Cup Finals in China last month.

Photo : Yonex

But Chong Wei is not one to throw in the towel without a fight. And, for the first time since the injury, he has spoken about his determination to prevail despite the pain and uncertainty he faces in the weeks ahead of the London Games. He said the first task was to get back on his feet and start the rigorous training. But he admitted that the slow pace of the recovery is causing him endless worries.

Joo Ven and Yin Fun are tops

SELANGOR'S Soong Joo Ven and Lim Yin Fun of Kuala Lumpur justified their seeding and secured the boys' and girls' Under-18 titles respectively in the 100PLUS National Junior Badminton Grand Finals at Juara Stadium yesterday.

Joo Ven (left) & Teck Zhi. Photo : Alex van Zaanen

Joo Ven, who beat Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) rival Soo Teck Zhi 27-25, 15-21, 21-13, will also be vying for honours in the Asian Junior Championships in Gimcheon, South Korea (June 30-July 7) and the Malaysia Games (July 7-16) in Kuantan.

"I now have one title in the bag and I hope to win two more by the middle of July," said a delighted Joo Ven.

Joo Ven is also eligible to play in the Asian Juniors next year but the bigger goal would be to go for the World Junior title in the next two years before he breaks into the senior scene.

Soong and Soo aiming to leave their mark at international junior meets

Promising youngsters Soong Joo Ven and Soo Teck Zhi are having grand dreams of making their mark on the international badminton stage next month.

Photo : Kennee Wong

The Selangor duo are overwhelming favourites to reach the boys’ Under-18 final in the 100Plus National Junior Circuit GP Finals.

Both were selected to represent Malaysia in the Asian Junior Championship and the Asean Schools Championship.


But it is Joo Ven who will head to the Asian Juniors while Teck Zhi will compete in the Asean Schools meet because both tournaments run simultaneously from June 30-July 7.