Malaysia sustains national ranking in Thomas Cup<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Malaysia is going to stick to its national
\nrankings instead of the rankings issued by the International
\nBadminton Federation (IBF) when it sets its team's lineup for the
\nupcoming Thomas Cup finals here.<\/p>\n
Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) secretary, Punch
\nGunalan, said yesterday that Rashid Sidek, Ong Ewe Hock and Foo
\nKok Keong would play first, second and third singles respectively
\nin the May 10-21 event.<\/p>\n
Asian champion Foo, whose world ranking of 11 outclasses those
\nof his teammates, should be the first singles player, followed by
\nRashid and Ong.<\/p>\n
Gunalan, however, said Malaysia was willing to discuss the
\ndispute over the team's lineup during an IBF meeting. He added
\nthat Malaysia would bow to any decision declared by the
\ninternational badminton body. IBF has issued list of shuttlers
\neligible for the finals, but has yet to come to the final word
\nover the dispute.<\/p>\n
Malaysia also named Cheah Soon Kit, Soo Beng Kiang, Rashid's
\nelder brothers Razif and Jalani, Tan Kim Her and Yap Kim Hock to
\nform the doubles teams.<\/p>\n
BAM president Abdullah Fadzil Che Wan said fielding six
\ndoubles specialists was a part of Malaysia's strategy to retain
\nits title. Usually a team registers five doubles and four singles
\nfor the finals.<\/p>\n
Malaysia recaptured the symbol of men's-team badminton
\nsupremacy for the first time in 25 years by nipping the
\nIndonesian, Ardy Wiranata-led squad 3-2 at Stadium Negara, Kuala
\nLumpur.<\/p>\n
Gunalan also indicated that his side would bank on the team
\nwork which had led them to triumph two years ago in their title
\ndefense attempts next week.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia is undoubtedly the strongest team on paper, having
\nthe world's three best singles and two pairs,\" Gunalan was quoted
\nby Antara news agency as saying. \"But remember that a team event
\nis completely different from an individual event,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Former Malaysian Thomas Cup hero Gunalan, referring to
\nveterans Foo, Razif and Jalani, admitted some of his players had
\nsuffered setbacks in performance due to their age.<\/p>\n
\"We have no other choices but fielding aging shuttlers in the
\nfinals,\" said Gunalan, using a weak regeneration system as the
\nscapegoat for Malaysia's declining prowess.<\/p>\n
Gunalan was also curious to know whether Indonesian crowds
\nwould wreak havoc on his squad's title defense attempt. The
\nfanatic home fans cost host Indonesia an upset defeat to Malaysia
\nin 1967.<\/p>\n
In '67, an IBF honorary referee Hubert Scheele interrupted the
\nThomas Cup finals because of the raging crowds and ruled a
\nresumption of the matches in a neutral country. IBF declared
\nMalaysia the champion after Indonesia opted not to abide by IBF
\nruling.<\/p>\n
The committee chairman of this year's finals, Titus Kurniadi,
\nhad earlier warned Indonesian fans not to overact during the 11-
\nday competition. \"Furious crowds may lead IBF honorary referees
\nto either put a stop to a match or disqualify a team,\" Titus
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The organizers have allotted approximately 100 of the 7,500
\nseats in the Senayan indoor stadium for Malaysian supporters each
\nday during the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup finals.<\/p>\n
Teams from Denmark, considered to be Indonesia's real menace
\nin Thomas Cup, Japan and China will be the first contingents to
\narrive. All the players and officials of the participating teams
\nwill be billeted at Jakarta Hilton International hotel during
\ntheir stay here. (amd)<\/p>",
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