yowkee essential

I’ve been spending around 8 hours today (oops.. I mean Nov 5th) in front of TV, to watch the live cast of Hong Kong Badminton Open at ASTRO Channel 80. Well, on and off, I was either in the computer room for some works, or staring at the TV.

It’s the semi final matches of the tournament today. The organizer splitted the matches into 2 sessions, where afternoon session playing Men Single/Double, Women Single/Double, Mix Double; and the night session playing the other match of the 5 groups (MS/MD/WS/WD/XD). This seem to be the recent trend as a few tournaments practiced the same way lately, which in the old days they used to place 2 courts and playing 2 semi-final matches at the same time. This is good for the fans, you won’t miss any one of the matches (there is always only live cast on one court — so not covering the other court if two matches play at the same time).

However, it is really too exhausted to watch a tournament for such long hours. Badminton, due to its rules of play — player could only gain point/credit with their serve of the shuttle, has been claimed not “fit” for live casting and ads/commercial show in between the matches. The game used to be 15 points per match, 3 matches a game (except Women Single would be 11 points per match). Heard the IBF would experiment the style of 21 points per match — point gaining without serve soon.

Back to the tournament, I was so disappointed with Lee Chong Wei. He isn’t only lose to Lin Dan, he doesn’t even show he could play at the same level as Lin Dan — even though his world ranking is now world number 3rd. There used to have people calling Lee as “Champion Kampung” (Kampung is a Malay word which means villeage, local). I don’t think this is fair to him even though he has only showed he is unbeatable and strong in Malaysia. On the other hand, in most other tournaments with the strongest players anticipated, he always handled well and getting into Quarter Final or Semi Final. So he live up to his world ranking. But today he really not playing his usual level, can’t figure out why he always performed superb in one day and then looks totally lost confidence at the second day.

Game of the day goes to Men Double match between young Chinese pair Xie ZhongBo / Guo ZhenDong v.s. the veteran Jens Eriksen / Martin Lungaard Hansen. They deliver a fantastic game to the fans. The fast and agressive young Chinese pair lost at 12-15, 6-15. However, they shows a exciting style with their offensive skills. On the contrary, Erikson and Hansen was cool, their excellent control of mid-and-front court make the young guys running the court, and yet they get the rhythm of the game in their hand. My hat off to them.

There is only one bad thing, in the final tomorrow, there would have China v.s. China in Men/Women Single and Women Double, sure it isn’t a good news for the fans.

By the way, if you are a badminton fans like me, do drop by on Badminton Central. It’s a great forum for every thing about Badminton. :)