KUALA LUMPUR: If there's one man who can epitomise the saying "been there, done that", it would definitely be Malaysia's ageing shuttler Wong Choong Hann.

The city-born, who celebrates his 33rd birthday on Feb 17, has been a familiar face in the international circuit for 13 years.

KUALA LUMPUR: There will not be any communication breakdown from now on as World No 1 Lee Chong Wei and coach Misbun Sidek signed a sponsorship deal with telecommunication giants Maxis for the year at a leading hotel in Bukit Bintang this morning.

KUALA LUMPUR: A TV station wanted to get footage of Lee Chong Wei’s Chinese New Year greetings yesterday but the tired Penangite politely turned them down by saying "let’s do it tomorrow (today)".

Such is the confidence of the world No 1 who has set his eyes on winning his sixth Malaysian Open title at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Sunday.

KUALA LUMPUR: National doubles coach Rexy Mainaky is not shy in expressing his true self. Having spent much time with his shuttlers during training, it is only human for the Indonesian to get emotional as he watches his players in action from the sidelines.

KUALA LUMPUR: It has been long since Wong Mew Choo made an impact in the international scene. The last time the she won a title was at the 2007 China Open.

Since then, Mew Choo had struggled - losing in early rounds. Some attributed her downturn to her knee injury, while others argue she has lost the plot.

KUALA LUMPUR: National player Wong Choong Hann is keen to play for the nation in the Thomas Cup when Malaysia host the prestigious event from May 9-16 next year.

Ranked 14th in the world, Choong Hann would love to play in a big championship like the Thomas Cup in front of the home crowd before hanging up his racket.

He represented Malaysia in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and this year’s world championship in India. Based on his recent performances, he looks a good bet to book one of the three Malaysian singles slots.

JOHOR BARU: NATIONAL No 1 pair Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong suffered a rude shock when they were smashed 21-15, 21-17 by teammates Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari and Zakry Abdul Latif in the curtain-raiser of the Group A men’s doubles of the World Super Series Masters Final this morning.

In another exciting battle, Bao Chunlai of China managed to overcome former Olympic gold medallist Taufik Hidayat 21-18, 26-24 in the first Group A men’s singles match. The tournament sees a round robin format with the top two advancing to play in the cross-over semifinals.

NATIONAL singles coach Misbun Sidek has given his thumbs up over Lee Chong Wei’s possible decision to play in China’s Professional League. Misbun agreed his prodigy is in need of a good challenge and that the revived league would provide a perfect avenue for Chong Wei to further sharpen his skills.

IT WAS a match that could have gone either way. Yet national singles coach Misbun Sidek believes Hafi z Hashim still has what it takes to be among the elite – with the right mentality. This was seen as Hafi z slugged it out with Vietnam’s dark horse Nguyen Tien Minh to win 20- 22, 21-19, 21-19 in the second round of the Hong Kong Open Super Series yesterday.

IT IS no secret that Malaysia’s top women’s badminton player — Wong Mew Choo — had several times contemplated quitting but was convinced otherwise by coach Misbun Sidek.

Misbun feels the KL lass will be at her best till the Asian Games in China next year. Mew Choo could very well hang up her racket for good after that.

MALAYSIA once again showed their supremacy in the boys’ doubles when Chooi Kah Ming-Ow Yao Han, seeded 3/4, beat Indonesians Berry Anggriawan-Muhammad Ulinnuha 19-21, 21-12, 23-21.

In a 55 minute battle at the Sultan Abdul Halim Indoor Stadium, the Malaysians once again came back from a set down to land the title in this year’s Yonex-Sunrise BWF World Junior Championships in Alor Star.

With the win, Malaysia retained their boys’ doubles title which they won in Pune, India last year through Mak Hee Chun-Teo Kok Siang. This is the fifth time Malaysia have the title.

MOHD SYAWAL ISMAIL is disappointed that he was not able to deliver a point in Malaysia's 3-0 defeat to defending champions China in the mixed team final in the BWF World Junior Championships in Alor Star on Monday.

“If I had won, that point could have been crucial for Malaysia in the remaining matches. But I was not able to do that. It is disappointing. I feel sad,” said Syawal.

A ‘PUMPED-UP’ Tee Jing Yi was again heroic to clinch Malaysia’s winning point but it was Choo Kah Ming who was the star as the homesters marched into their fi rst-ever mixed team fi nal in the in the World Junior Championships.

In the fi nal today, Malaysia will take on defending champions China, whom they beat 3-1 in the Asian Junior C h a m p i o n - ships mixed team fi nal in Kuala Lumpur in July.

AFTER a disappointing outing in the world championships in India, the national shuttlers found some favour at the Macau Grand Prix Gold yesterday.

In an all-Malaysian affair, world No 1 Lee Chong Wei managed a 21-15, 21-19 win over seasoned player Wong Choong Hann. Choong Hann showed some resistance in the second game but failed to stop the Penangite from clinching the win.

STRICTER monitoring of coaches and players will be implemented as the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) strive to keep their 2012 London Olympics gold medal target alive.

BAM president Datuk Nadzmi Salleh admitted the premature exit of the national shuttlers at the justconcluded World Championships in Hyderabad, India was disappointing and that there was a need to choose their battles.

“We’re still one of the top teams in the world. Sadly we’re not achieving the desired results at major tournaments and it is becoming a problem,” said Nadzmi.

THERE was a sense of fear in Lee Chong Wei’s voice. The World No 1 tries to remain polite to the organisers of the on-going World Championship in Hyderabad, India.

Yet, he was a little worried over the uncertain scenario enveloping the Gachibwoli Stadium. Security in and around the courts heightened after a terrorist group threatened to cause harm.

Days later, national mixed doubles coach Jeremy Gan and two Thai players were warded for observation in a local hospital after showing symtoms of swine flu.

THE top national shuttlers got off to a good start in the world championships amid the tight security at the Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad, India yesterday.

RIGHT after his win over Hafiz Hashim (21- 17, 21-10) in the final of the Mini Olympics at Stadium Juara yesterday, Lee Chong Wei quickly warmed down before being given a good massage. The Penangite changed his shirt as he politely obliged to have his pictures taken with several spectators.

IT LOOKS like the national shuttlers will face an uphill battle when they take on some of the world’s finest at the World Championship next month.

The world meet, staged for the first time in New Delhi from Aug 10-16, could see the nation’s best bet world No 1 Lee Chong Wei taking on China’s ace Lin Dan in the semifinals.