NOT LOOKING GOOD FOR
Failures at worlds and Sea Games do not bode well for Malaysia
FABIAN PETER fabian.mark@nst.com.my good tournaments for our shuttlers, especially the men.
“Chances to win the Thomas Cup, definitely do not look good now but it is still not impossible,” said the Dane.
At the world meet, former men’s singles World No 1 Lee Chong Wei was shockingly sent packing in the opening round while men’s doubles Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong and Chooi Kah Ming-Low Juan Shen failed to get past the second round.
Mixed doubles Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing were the only ones to make it to the third round before crashing out, ending Malaysia’s interest in the competition.
And at the Sea Games, the men’s team had to settle for silver after losing 3-0 to Indonesia in the final.
In the individual event, only Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi made it to the last stage, apart from women’s singles Goh Jin Wei, Soniia Cheah and mixed doubles’ Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie.
“It definitely looks difficult to win the
The 19-year-old Melaka-born sprinter sped to the finish line in a time of 10.38s, ahead of favourite Eric Cray of the Philippines who clocked 10.43s for the silver and Thailand’s Kritsada Namsuwun who took bronze with 10.43s. .
The same venue was also where Poad’s star disciple broke the 49-year-old 200m national record during the Malaysia Open Athletics Championship on July 18. Khairul Hafiz rewrote the national record with a time of 20.90s, 0.02s faster than the previous record set by legendary former sprinter Tan Sri Dr. M. Jegathesan during the 1968 Mexico Olympics.
Poad has two other charges who have a bright future in athletics in Norris Foo and Mohd Saiful Safwan Sofian who represent the country in the women’s 4x100m and men’s 4x400m respectively apart from Muhammad Aiedel Saadon who is also making a name for himself.
Poad, who holds a bachelor’s degree in physical education from the Open University of Malaysia, should be appreciated for his sacrifices in leaving his family behind in Bandar Penawar, Johor for the sake of serving the country in the field of athletics by training and nurturing local sprinters. Mohd Khairie Khalid