Malaysia wary of Korea in Thomas Cup opener<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (Agencies): Malaysia's Thomas Cup coach Kwan Yoke Meng
\nwarned his shuttlers about South Korea as they would meet in the
\nopening round-robin match of blue group at the Thomas Cup and
\nUber Cup championships in Kuala Lumpur starting on May 11.<\/p>\n
\"They have two strong pairs which are almost certain to
\ndeliver them two points, so what they need is only to steal a
\npoint from any three singles, which is not impossible for them,\"
\nhe said, as quoted by Bernama news agency.<\/p>\n
Malaysia's first doubles Choong Tan Fook and Lee Wan Wah are
\nlikely to challenge South Korea's doubles Kim Dong-moon and Ha
\nTae-kwon in their match on May 12 at the Putra Stadium in Bukit
\nJalil.<\/p>\n
\"Tan Fook and Wan Wah have defeated the South Koreans in the
\nlast two meetings,\" Kwan said.<\/p>\n
But another Malaysian pair of Cheah Soon Kit and Chan Choong
\nMing are no contest for Lee Dong-soo and Yoo Yong-sung.<\/p>\n
\"Our advantage in the doubles lies with scratch pair Soon Kit
\nand Chong Ming,\" the coach said.<\/p>\n
The injury of Yap Kim Hock, formerly Cheah's partner, upset
\nMalaysia's preparation.<\/p>\n
Yap injured his left calf last month, and before he managed to
\nrecover, he was slightly injured during training on Friday.<\/p>\n
\"His first injury is healed. Last night he was given medical
\ntreatment for his new injury, which is in the same spot as the
\nold one,\" coach Park Joo-bong was quoted by Utusan Malaysia as
\nsaying.<\/p>\n
Kwan said Malaysian shuttlers must be able to win all three
\nsingles matches against Korea if they want to win.<\/p>\n
Malaysia's first singles Wong Choon Han will likely face old
\nhand Ahn Jae-chang, while second singles Ong Ewe Hock is
\nscheduled to meet Park Tae-sang, and third singles Roslin Hashim
\nis likely to take on Lee Hyun-il.<\/p>\n
Veteran Rashid Sidek urged teammates to avoid succumbing to
\npressure which could affect the squad preparation.<\/p>\n
\"We have to make all the preparations, hence we should not
\nexert undue pressure on ourselves as this will affect our mental
\nstrength.\"<\/p>\n
Malaysian Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Hishammuddin Tun
\nHussein expressed hope that the shuttlers would give their full
\nconcentration to wrest back the trophy they won in 1992.<\/p>\n
\"It is now up to the players to do it for the country. There's
\nnothing else I can ask of them,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Malaysia is in the same group with Korea, Denmark and India.
\nIn the yellow group, defending champion Indonesia will face
\nChina, Sweden and England.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile the Netherlands became the first team to arrive in
\nKuala Lumpur on Thursday for the championships.<\/p>\n
Head coach Martyn van Dooremolen did not express high
\nexpectations in the Uber Cup match as singles Brenda Beenhakker
\nand doubles Erica van Denheuvel were injured and failed to join
\nthe team.<\/p>\n
\"Brenda fractured her leg three weeks ago and Erica was
\ninjured during the semifinals in the just-ended European
\nChampionships.\"<\/p>\n
The Netherlands is in the purple group with defending champion
\nChina, South Korea and Sweden. In the pink group, runner-up
\nIndonesia will face Denmark, Japan and Malaysia.<\/p>\n
With the absence of the two shuttlers, Dooremolen said the
\nteam needed to revise its strategy. He also said that his team
\narrived quickly so it could rest before facing South Korea in
\ntheir first match on May 12.<\/p>\n
The Netherlands lost 1-3 in a friendly match against host
\nMalaysia on Friday.<\/p>\n
Ng Mee Fen lost 3-11, 3-11 to Judith Meulendijks but Wong Miew
\nKheng tied 1-1 after beating Karina de Wit 11-9, 5-11, 11-7.
\nJoanna Quay and Lim Pek Siah beat Carolien Glebbeek and Nicole
\nVan Hooren 15-9, 17-14. Chor Hooi Yee and Ang Li Peng defeated
\nLotte Jonathans and Betty Krab 15-1, 15-3. (yan)<\/p>",
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