World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei’s speed and deception led Malaysia into the badminton quarter-finals of the Commonwealth Games team championship on Wednesday as his side clinched its fourth clean-sweep success.
Lee looked every skilful flick and push the world’s No. 1 ranked player as he started his team down the road to a 5-0 victory over Australia with a 21-17, 21-8 win over Nick Kidd.
Kidd, twice a former English national champion, certainly had his moments though, as did the whole Australian team, about whom Koo Kien Keat, one half of the world’s No. 1 men’s doubles pair, had some praising words.
“They played better than we thought they would,” Koo said after he and Tan Boon Heong had guaranteed a winning lead for Malaysia with a 21-17, 21-14 victory over Ross Smith and Glenn Wharfe.
“We were surprised because they had prepared very well. We didn’t underestimate them but we didn’t expect this,” Koo said.
Earlier Australia’s former Taiwanese international Huang Chia-chi led Wong Mew Choo, the 2006 Commonwealth silver medalist, by 14-10 and 16-13 before losing the best women’s singles match of the tournament so far 21-17, 21-17, and the final encounter, the mixed doubles went to three entertaining games.
However, it was Kidd, once an itinerant player but now a part-timer who works as executive officer of the Badminton Association of Western Australia, who impressed with deeds and words.
“I’ve wanted to play him for a long time,” said Kidd, who was born in Papua New Guinea, based himself in Avon while representing England 15 times, then moved to Malaysia, and is now Australian national champion.
“Lee was steady and tricky today. You can’t get a rhythm playing against him,” he said. “But I was fine with the fitness — in a big match like that you get a rush of adrenaline.”
“But it’s difficult in Australia since there are so few players. We’ve got big money riding on sports like cycling and swimming. It’s all about developing the sport there,” Kidd said.
? WEIGHTLIFTING
AFP, NEW DELHI
Pint-sized Yukio Peter gave the tiny Pacific island of Nauru their first gold medal of the Commonwealth Games yesterday when he clinched a confident men’s weightlifting 77kg victory.
The 26-year-old lifted a Games record of 333kg to follow in the footsteps of Marcus Stephens, the current president of the tiny republic, who collected Commonwealth titles in 1994 and 1998.
Peter, standing at 1.6m, had plenty to prove having flopped in Melbourne four years ago when he cramped in his first attempt in the snatch and crashed out.
He was second on bodyweight after the snatch yesterday having lifted 148kg, the same as the lighter Nigerian Felix Ekpo.
Who’s saying what at the 2010 Commonwealth Games
“It’s meant to make it a bit more of a darker routine.” — -Australian synchronized swimmer Sarah Bombell on her unusual choice of music — a cover of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony by heavy metal band Metallica.
“Track and field is not just sport, it’s entertainment.” — Jamaican sprinter Ramone McKenzie after running in the 100m wearing a Batman mask.
“We got here today and went straight from the bus to the bathroom.” — Australian swimmer Geoff Huegill on the stomach illness which has struck more than 50 swimmers, that officials think may be linked to one of the practice pools.
“They had to call the ambulance themselves.” — Ugandan minister counselor Dora Kutesa after three Ugandan officials were injured when a security barrier malfunctioned and smashed into their car.
“There are buses for the athletes, but she decided to go off with her parents and gave no information to anybody.” — Games secretary-general Lalit Bhanot after India’s gold medalist was forced to travel back to the athletes’ village in a tuk-tuk.
“This shows that athletes are being responsible and are promoting safe sex. It’s a positive news story.”— Commonwealth Games Federation president Mike Fennell, responding to reports that thousands of condoms were clogging up toilets at the athletes’ village.
SOURCE:AFP
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