Birdievents.com

Losing back to back to China is causing panic already to BAM?  It is probably "YES".

The Chief of BAM, Kenny Goh, is waiting for Lee Chong Wei's opinion, if he prefers to be trained again by his mentor, Misbun Sidek.  At this moment, Morten Frost Hansen is set as an alternative, assuming Misbun Sidek declines the offers.  Misbun Sidek had worked for eight years under BAM.  He resigned last year on December 31 due to personal reason.  Currently, Lee Chong Wei is under coach Tey Siu Bock assisted by Rashid Sidek and Hendrawan.

According to Goh, BAM is always looking for better alternatives to help players.  However, BAM will not make abrasive decision.  "We have to listen directly from Datuk Chong Wei, if he prefers to be trained by Misbun for his preparation to this coming Summer Olympics.  As of now, we have not meet with Datuk Chong Wei, therefore we cannot confirm the plans."

While the choice is on his hand, Chong Wei still could not give details of his decision.  "Even if I wanted, I cannot make a decision because I am under BAM (Badminton Association of Malaysia). BAM has a manager, an officer, who makes the decisions. I just follow."

Chong Wei also said that one of his most disappointing moments of his illustrious career was losing the World Championship title in London last August.

"The World Championships loss was the most painful and it still hurts. I still feel 'down' until now. But with the new year coming, I want to forget everything and start afresh," said Chong Wei who will be competing in the Korean Open early next year and the Malaysian Open from Jan 10-15.

Chong Wei is a defending champion of Malaysia Open.  If he failed to secure his championship, BAM may have to take whatever it takes to save this player.

It started in Hong Kong then followed in China Opens, Datuk Lee Chong Wei was not the usual champion of badminton world anymore. He missed back to back finals of the prestige events and worst was the lost to Chen Long in the Super Series semi finals last week.

BAM scrambled to find the answers and rumors flew around if Datuk Lee Chong Wei would get a third coach to enhance Datuk's psychology barriers.  The strong contender for this coaching position is Morten Frost Hansen.

Morten had coached in Malaysia.  He knows the system and probably he will blend well with the staffs and BAM's culture.  Unfortunately, if the tasks of Morten is only on the psychology aspects of Chong Wei's games, it may not show any impacts.  The reason is Morten is not a doctor or a person with such deep knowledge of human mentality.  He is merely a retired badminton player with previously championship titles in the old era. The game in that time is different.  A player must have strong physical endurance which a simple match could last an hour or more.  Now, the game is different.  A simple serving mistake will cost a point.  When there are five points separation, the psychology impacts to the players is different, compare to old time because there is no assurance of stopping points accumulation to the opponents.  In addition,player is demanded to play with precision and tactical ability, instead of merely stamina and muscles.

The good news is the current threat of Chong Wei supremacy is only from two players - Lin Dan and Chen Long.  Also, whenever Chong Wei played these two players, they mostly have to play in 3 sets and especially with Chen Long, the winning points on the third set were not too far a part.  In other words, the chance is still 50-50.  The most concern is whenever Chong Wei plays to Lin Dan.

BAM honorary-secretary Ng Chin Chai said its coaches and the National Sports Institute were constantly playing "war games" in trying to get the upper-hand against the Chinese "soldiers".

"And just when Chong Wei improves on his shortcomings against the top Chinese players, they (Chinese) come out with new strategies to beat Chong Wei. It is a cat and mouse game," he told Bernama here Monday.

Well aware of the formidable challenges that lie ahead, Ng said BAM was formulating new strategies, as the ultimate objective of the "war" was for Chong Wei to bring back the men's singles gold from next year's London Olympics.

Malaysia are banking on him to win Malaysia's first ever gold medal in the Olympics.

"Though it will not be an easy task, we will not give up and do whatever it takes to help Chong Wei secure the Olympic gold," added Ng.

Assuming the result of this coming summer Olympics is worst than finals, who is to blame in BAM?

REXY Mainaky is unfazed by the National Sports Council's call to slash his salary.

But the Indonesian coach, who is a former Olympic champion, hopes the BA of Malaysia (BAM) will judge him on his performance as the women's doubles and mixed doubles chief coach before taking any action.

Given the task of ensuring that wome's doubles Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui and mixed doubles Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying qualify for next year's London Olympics, Rexy only started his new duties three weeks ago.

Although Rexy agreed that the Olympic expectations on Pei Tty-Eei Hui and Peng Soon-Liu Ying are not as high as compared to Lee Chong Wei or Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, he feels that there is always the pressure to make players perform in the Olympics.

"All I can say at the moment is give me time until the London Olympics and judge me on the performances of my charges in the major event," said Rexy.

"Women's doubles and mixed doubles are not as high profile as men's singles and doubles but my responsibility to make Pei Tty-Eei Hui perform in the Olympics is the same.

"Jeremy Gan will be guiding the mixed doubles but I have to take responsibility on the overall performance and must make sure they, too, qualify.

"We are not just looking at qualifying but also at playing well and fighting for a medal. There is an outside chance and with a bit of luck, we may able to do it. That is going to be my battle.

"It is also good if BAM includes performance-based increment or reduction in the coaches' contracts as we can now see the consequences early."

BAM secretary Ng Chin Chai had stated that a reduction of Rexy's salary is unlikely at the moment. 

Rexy's main task is to get Pei Tty-Eei Hui ready for the Denmark Open on Oct 18-23 where they will face Japan's Mizuki Fujii-Reika Kakiiwa in the first round and also help Woon Khe Wei-Vivian Hoo continue their progress and do well in the Europe. 

"Pei Tty-Eei Hui have been training hard and I am expecting them to overcome the Japanese pair after losing to them in the World Championships in three games. 

"They need to do well and earn more world ranking points as they are currently 25th while Khe Wei-Vivian also have a good chance to survive the qualifiers and go as far as the last eight."

They will also play in the French Open in Paris which begins on Oct 25.