Chong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah advanced into the final today with beating compatriot Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Lin Woon Fui 15-8, 15-7. While in other court, the agressive attacking pair Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif-Gan Teik Chai was down 14-17, 9-15. They’ve been leading with 14-5 in the 1st game with Zakry’s lots of tricky shots. However, it could be anxious to end the game, or their brain just went blank — lost focus, the inexperienced pair allowed their opponent to come back from 9-points gap. And they didn’t ever request to take a break in this period! Anyway, it then replicated the 2004 final of Tan Fook-Wan Wah versus Jens Eriksen-Martin Lundgaard Hansen. Tan Fook-Wan Wah would have the chance to revenge on their lost on 2004.

The amazing Eriksen, he is already 36 and can still play such an intense game in the competetive All England. That probably would never occurred in Men Single as MS surely required tougher stamina. Peter Gade is an good example, he was surely out of stream in his 2nd/3rd game with Lee Hyun Il, which Lee has an easy win with 3-15, 15-8 15-1. I was really hoping to see Peter’s challanging the title again. But what could you expect? When a player was so exhausted and the normal rhythm was gone, age count!

Lee Chong Wei, yet again can’t beat Lin Dan outside of Malaysia courts. But it was so close this round! In the first game, Chong Wei was playing like his game with Lin Dan at World Championship last year — no confidence, slow foot work, weak smash. I was then feeling like argh…gonna lost again. And then the real Chong Wei was back. Starting from 2-8 in the 2nd game, he morphed into a different person — patient set up, speed running, smooth cross-court net play and smash. The fast and furious play getting him the 2nd game (15-10), then all the way leading to 13-6 in the third game. There’s no happy-ending for M’sian fans, Lin Dan’s switching gear and boost up to come back from 6-13 to 13-13, 14-14; and eventually took the match, to storm into final.

What a pity! Lee CW was called as Kampung Champion (could only win title in Malaysia) by some of badminton fans. But I bet to differ, to really look at his result at various open tournament. He used to live up to his world ranking. That he mostly only lost to top ranking players (e.g. Lin Dan, Taufik). Without his stable performance, his world ranking won’t climb up to the top three.

While IBF (International Badminton Federation) is going to change to 21-points (credit without serving) format around March this year. God seem wanted to shows why 15-points (credit only with serve) game was fun to watch: the ability of coming back from big points-gap and creating drama of the game. There seem to have happened a lots in All England 2006: Eriksen-Lundgaard’s game from 5-14 to 17-15, Lin Dan’s 6-13 to 17-14, Chong Wei’s back from 10-14 to 17-14 in 2nd game with Chen Hong in QF….etc. Those were the holding-breath moments, you wouldn’t forget when you’re following it — and then you’d love the game!

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. :)

Off-topic: It is difficult to get permenant link on tradictional news site. I can't easily find a permalink to Rookie of year 2003 in www.nba.com. This is really different than blog convention. High end media should learn and copy from Blog.

I do play badminton once a week. The game is pretty tense, it helps a lot to burn calorie. But not the storable fat. Thus I guess it's time again to get back to swim. Swimming is nice, you got a feel that you are JUST belong to yourself while you swim. Nothing could distract you and swim, there is only thing happen at the time. That's great. I really like it (though I got lazy to drive through the massive traffic jam, in order to reach the swimming pool).