Misbun, Rexy believe their charges will deliver

NATIONAL coaches Misbun Sidek and Rexy Mainaky wore big smiles upon their arrival in Guangzhou yesterday.

And it was certainly not because of the warm welcome and excellent service provided by the hundreds of volunteers for the Asian Games here.

Both high-profile coaches are quietly confident that their charges – world No. 1s Lee Chong Wei and Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong – will come good in the men’s singles and doubles events respectively.

Misbun said that Chong Wei was all prepared to end the country’s 30-year drought in the men’s singles.

“He is calm and collected despite the huge task ahead of him. It is not easy to be so relaxed after what he has had to go through,” said Misbun after arriving here yesterday.

All-England champion Chong Wei is struggling to hit top form following a series of injuries.

His hopes of winning the world title went up in smoke after he lost to Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia in the quarter-finals due to a back injury.

And then, after sensationally defending his title at the New Delhi Commonwealth Games, Chong Wei had to take it easy because of a foot injury.

“He has put in a lot of effort to get back into top form now. He is looking in better shape now,” said Misbun.

“I believe he has a good chance (to win the gold medal in the Asian Games).

“It is all about getting it right on match day. I feel good in my heart because I know he has worked very hard.”

Top seed Chong Wei’s major stumbling block is his nemesis Lin Dan of China.

Although they are both expected to clash in the final, Chong Wei would do well to cast a wary eye on another Chinese shuttler, Chen Jin, should they meet in the last four.

Rexy, meanwhile, was also pleased with the aura of confidence exuded by Kien Keat-Boon Heong, who did the country proud by winning a gold at the last Asiad in Doha.

“I am happy to hear from my players that they are ready. Both of them expressed their hunger to win and I like this new attitude in them,” said Rexy.

“Their preparations have been good.

“It is more pleasing to know that they are feeling good about themselves. They are looking at winning their first major title this year and I hope they can pull it off.”

Kien Keat-Boon Heong have been quite consistent in the second half of the year, having reached the final of the World Championships in Paris and the Japan Open.

They lost to China’s Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng on both occasions.

Kien Keat-Boon Heong will have South Korea’s Ko Sung-hyun-Yoo Yeon-seong and China’s Guo Zhengdong-Xu Chen for company in their half.

It will be tougher for Cai Yun-Haifeng in the lower half of the draw as they have been lumped with South Koreans Lee Yong-dae-Jung Jae-sung and Indonesians Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan.

All the shuttlers attended their first training session yesterday after checking into the impressive-looking Games Village.

 

Star