China Wins Uber and Thomas Cups 2008 Editions

The second doubles for the Thomas Cup Finals has just concluded. China won...I think this is the 7th time they have won the Thomas Cup and 11th time for the Uber Cup. Still the Chinese dominate. China was hardly ruffled in this time around except by the Malaysian team but on paper, they had the edge anyway.

The Malaysian men's team had their good runs in Chong Wei and Zakry/Mohd Fairuzizuan. But we can see that this will probably be the last Thomas Cup for Choong Han and perhaps Hafiz. Choong Han has been a good inspiration, having been written off after his injury in the last Thomas Cup but still crawling his way back into qualifying for the 2008 Olympics. You can only feel affection for a sportsman like him, who soldiers on, even with all the creaky joints and vulnerability that is more pronounced for an athlete his age. Hafiz is way too inconsistent, like a yo-yo. His days are probably numbered but the problem is we don't have any junior players worthy of replacing him...well, at least not yet.

It always is so disappointing to see the way our players handle their success... KKK/TBH are one classic example. At the start of their partnership, they were almost unbeatable and a sheer joy to watch. Their game was refreshing and exciting. Now, they're almost predictable...and their relationship isn't exactly on the best of terms now, so the media reports. When I look at them, I am sometimes reminded of our footballers... Success=Fast cars, life on the fast lane, partying, etc... It seems very difficult for them to remain level headed...somehow when discipline is eroded, success will come by more difficult.

As for the women's team, there's only Mew Choo to depend on but that's about it. Our other women players have not been making very much headway.

In the earlier days of badminton, players had so little incentive. Yet so many of them went on to dominate...Wong Peng Soon, Rosalind Singha Ang, Yeoh Teik Chye, Chan Kon Leong and so many more. These days the ahtletes are well rewarded but they don't last long...sigh!