Maldives Vacation

When I was in Maldives for holidays, I wasn’t shock by those beautiful beaches and ocean but I was shock that there were actually people playing badminton in Maldives.

Elsewhere, I posted that, in the Maldives, the locals don't play badminton. How wrong I was. I should have made it clear that the locals don't play badminton 'in the resorts'... and that's only because the few courts they have are reserved for the guests.

The Maldives has a small but active badminton community. This is centred on Male (maa-lay) - the capital island. There are no resorts on this island - and the resident population is almost fully Maldivian. To play here, you need to sign up for an annual membership. This costs two photographs (keep them handy) and MVR 650 (USD 51). This gets you a laminated photo-identity card but, well, it takes a few days. (Life in the Maldives is slow-paced... and such delays are normal). Meanwhile, you can gain entry by flashing your receipt at the gates.

Remember to bring (or buy) shuttles and your choice of drink.There are no vending machines around - and you'd have to walk some distance to get soft drinks or bottled water. The locals use 77 speed RSL shuttles - they are cheap and bad. It's very difficult to persuade them to use Yonex or ProAce or other brands. Just remember to hit your clears more gently - else, it's out every time!The national team trains here (they are now away at the ABC) and all the ex-national players who haven't yet migrated elsewhere play here in the evenings (except on Friday, which is the weekly holiday). A few of them are very very good - fast, sharp and powerful - and Moosa, their best player, is quite an exceptional player.

Around a dozen women too turn up regularly - although they usually play among themselves, a few are good enough to play a good game of mixed doubles

The Maldives has now in place a programme that aims to build quality teams in football, basketball (yes, they do have quite a few very tall players) and badminton. In fact, they beat India in the South Asian Federation Games recently. (Although Indian football is no big deal in global terms, it is big in the region.)

World Class Players in Sabah

First, let me just say the SUPER SERIES FINAL 2008 was a roaring success, not only because it was held in my home state of Sabah, the badminton was superb; a true showcase of terrific skills of power, speed and finesse.

The crowd of 5000 was fantastic because they supported and cheered for both sides. That helped bring out the best from the players.

This time because I finally wised up to the perks of staying in the official hotel, I had opportunities to meet and find out more about the players world.

Thomas Laybourn
Over breakfast, I asked him why Danes take so long to 'mature' and what his training schedule's like. He said except for Peter Gade and Tine Rasmussen who are both paid rather well by their clubs, other Danes have to have a day job.

Lay has his own business so he has flexibility with his badminton. Because of that, the Danes don't train fulltime like Asian players. He trains 4 hours a day; 2 before 'day job' and 2 after. Unlike Asians who probably put in 8 hours per day all in. Because skills take a threshold period to master, that's why Danes seem to take double the time.

Thus what takes at least 3 years for Asian players to show, it will take Danes 6 years, since they train at half the intensity. Thus Danes will 'mature' as champion material after the age of 25. But it also means they can last longer since they punish their body less over time. That’s why PG's equivalent age to an Asian player is probably 27 although he's 32.

Candra Wijaya
In the shuttle bus, he surprised me by thanking me for supporting him and Tony during their matches. I was so relentlessly vocal in cheering them after they lost their G1 to Hendra Setiawan & Makis Kido in a flash. Maybe that's why he could match the cheering voice to the speaking voice but wow, he's got good hearing sense. He said it helps fire them up when they have support from the crowd even if it's a lone voice.

Candra's a very busy man. He has his own business and also he's involved in the Japan league. He said there are hundreds of badminton clubs in Japan and for the league, there's no prize money for the champion but prestige and pride. I asked him about his fitness regime and that's when he sounded sheepish. Well, Candra works out once or twice in the gym for an hour or so,when he has the time. This means he probably doesn’t.

Datuk Lee Chong Wei
Queuing for the fried noodle, I mentioned that he should dump his habit of getting sidetracked by poor line calls. Line judges get so mesmerized by his badminton, they sometimes forget they have a job to do on the court that's why his matches usually have some line call problems, I suggested. He laughed at the rationale which is good because it'll help him remember. He has enough insurance for 2 or 3 poor calls if he stays focused but none if he wastes time and energy on this distraction.

I spoke to coach Teh on this for double effect. Chong Wei only needs to correct 1 or 2 of his non-badminton aspects and he will be unbeatable. All these problems are within his control so it's easy to solve. There is another aspect which I will not mention here which LCW rectified and I was amazed how that little change can make such a big difference in his matches against Taufik and Peter Gade.(Please note I'm not trying to claim credit here)

Saina Nehwal
Saina's so articulate she should be the spokesperson for badminton players. I mentioned that she came across faster and more powerful compared to when I first saw her play. How did she do it?

'Well, first I lost weight by working out in the gym. I do a lot of running because Women Single is a lot of running. ‘Losing weight means energy is fully used for badminton and none wasted lugging excess luggage around. Something for Chin Eei Hui to think about?
No wonder I thought she has also grown taller. Not only that, with each tournament, she surprises with distinct progress. She said her coach would work with her on her weakness revealed in each tournament so that it's fixed before the next one.

Saina's gonna be the most dangerous Women Single because her opponents won't know what else she has packed until they meet her in court.

DATUK LEE BOLEH!!!

Chong Wei, in a telephone interview from Tokyo, said his preparations for the tournament wasn't good enough and that he was not fully fit. "The amount of training I had for the tournament was not sufficient. Also, the celebrations and special functions (after his silver medal in Beijing) disrupted my preparations," said Chong Wei, who added that he also lost a few days of training as he was down with a fever.

"I was struggling in this tournament and today (yesterday) Sony pushed me against the wall. I was tired and couldn't recover after several long rallies.

Errrr, is it only me, or there are really some 'voices' that attribute Sony's victory more to Chong Wei's injury rather than his hard effort?

If I remember correctly, it's stated that his hand is just slightly injured / painful.

Its normal things that when Malaysia player went down, sure got a lot of excuses.

Datuk Lee again performs ''superbly'' in the final. The result showing No.1 World Ranking Player's standard?

Or Datuk Lee is only capable to perform well until semi-final?

I can say that the result produced is lousy, as same in the Beijing Olympic Game.

**Or Datuk Lee dont want the title ''Tun''? (He might be conferred the title ''Tun'' if he win the Japan Open - Gold medalist)

Because of that he simply play?

21-12 21-8

Lin Dan won because he got a custom made racquet from Yonex!

Armotech700 Lin Dan limited Edition!

This is not a fair treatment from Yonex, as Chong Wei & Lin Dan are also sponsor by Yonex. why only Lin Dan has a custom made racquet?

Why Malaysia Badders Failed to Win Gold in Olympic?

Lee Chong Wei after playing doubles with Ling Hee Liong aka Ling Liong Shit's son before General Election 2008! Promote badminton kononnya...

Koo Kien Kiat, Tan Boon Heong, Choon Tan fook & Lee Wan wah *promoting* Badminton during Machang by-election! Just after Boon Heong & Kien Kiat won All England...

THEY LOSE BECAUSE THEY BOARD A SINKING SHIP! BARISAN NASIONAL!

Why only Wong & Wong can win the elusive GOLD for Msia!

Can u imagine Astor Malaysia not showing live badminton!

Why nobody complaint Astor, I try to call cant get the officer to talk about this matter.

Stupid astro, I called but nobody pick up the phone. For what we pay, even Singapore show live.

We are paying Astor lotta money and yet they are showing games that concern Malaysia.

Even Bill Gates went to watch badminton.

The Microsoft founder took a seat with wife Melinda in the VIP box to see men’s singles third seed Bao Chunlai of China down Guatemala’s Kevin Cordon 21-17, 21-16.

Uncle Wong Choong Hann ended Indonesian Taufik Hidayat's reign as the Olympic champion with a superb 21-19, 21-16 win in a second round match.

It was a good day for Malaysian singles players, with top medal hope Lee Chong Wei and Wong Mew Choo clearing their respective hurdles with relative ease.

Uncle Wong is the only Male player that hasn’t done a Blow Job for BN!

Curse of BN! Who ever support them will fail miserably…

Chong Wei partner Ling Liong Shit’s son during the General Election 2008.

Uncle Choon Tan Fook & Uncle Lee Wan Wan played a exhibition game against Koo kien Kiat & Tan Boon Heong during Machang by election.

5ive of them are doom to fail!

Two Gold for Malaysia…

Men single – Wong Choon Han
Women Single – Wong Mew Choo

They two are clean!