BIRMINGHAM: It was a brave effort from Malaysia’s Muhammad Hafiz Hashim but it was still not enough as the Kelantanese lose 14-21, 18-21 to China’s “super” Lin Dan, the titleholder and Olympic champion in the All-England Championships.

It meant that China finished the day with three players in the quarterfinals of the men’s singles — all in the bottom half — and five in the women’s, one of them representing Hong Kong.

BIRMINGHAM: Top woman shuttler Wong Mew Choo needs to get out of the "emotional trap" fast to rebuild
her badminton career before the Asian Badminton Championships and the Uber Cup Finals.

The Malaysian saw only 30 minutes of action in the All England Championships before bowing out tamely to
third seed Jiang Yanjiao of China 21-18, 21-9 in a first round match.

Mew Choo was left pondering what was affecting her career.

"I have to give the matter a serious thought...the time has come for me to take stock of my career. I am really baffled.

BIRMINGHAM: A cold and chilly Birmingham, with temperatures fluctuating between one and five degrees, did not help as singles players Lydia Cheah and Chong Wei Feng were bundled out of the All England Super  Series — which is also the 100th All England Championships.

KUALA LUMPUR: Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek made time to have lunch with the national players at the Juara Stadium in Bukit Kiara yesterday. Nevertheless, the man who hogged the limelight was none other than national singles coach Rashid Sidek.

The former international has hit the headlines for "attacking" the BA of Malaysia (BAM). Rashid was said to be unhappy with the unnecessary burden placed on the coaches by the national body to win the Thomas Cup scheduled in May.

KUALA LUMPUR: It is seen as a new generation disease which could invariably cripple the standard of sports in the country. Some tennis players opt out from strenuous training and instead resort to training two hours daily. Footballers believe in training for a couple of hours a day, disregarding the fitness element.

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.