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.

Nathan Robertson Retires

NATHAN ROBERTSON, one of the elite group of England players to make more than 100 international appearances, today brought the curtain down on his glittering badminton career.

The 2006 world mixed doubles champion and 2004 Olympic silver medallist has finally decided to retire just two weeks after winning his 114th England cap at the Thomas Cup Finals in China.

Robertson, who was 35 on May 30, made his first England appearance aged 18 in 1995 and that was the launch pad to a career which brought success at every level. Even in the last weeks of his career he and his mixed doubles partner, Jenny Wallwork had climbed to No. 17 in the world, coming so close to selection for London 2012.

His senior successes include:

World badminton ditches controversial women's skirts ruling ahead of London Olympics

By Rod Gilmour

The Badminton World Federation's new dress code was due to come into effect last April, requiring all female players to wear skirts or dresses "to ensure attractive presentation".

Eriko Hirose. Photo : Steve Cubbins

The move sparked uproar and the world governing body was forced to pospone the move. Imogen Bankier, one of Scotland's leading mixed doubles, told Telegraph Sport at the time that attempts to make skirts mandatory were both "dated and sexist".

However, deputy president Paisan Rangsikitpho finally put the issue to bed at the weekend after admitting that the skirts rule - which was criticised by China, Indonesia and India, and Malaysia's main Muslim party - had finally been scrapped to avoid controversy ahead of London 2012.