Some have raised doubts that I have purchased tickets for the Malaysian Open.
So in order to satisfy them and help erase their doubts, I will attach a picture of the tickets I purchased to follow proceedings of the event.
I must reiterate that I did apply for accreditation, as a blogger but was told that it was declined. bviously I am targetted because the websites from Europe and even online journalists from local media have been given accreditation.
The funny thing is that for the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi and the World Champs in London, I was given accreditation even though I was a blogger. And my stories even made it to the BAM website, the same organisation that opts to deny me my rights to cover the Malaysian Open without fear or favour.
Guess BAM is trying to pull their weight and I wonder if they will resort to seeking an injunction to keep me away from any of their press conferences in the near future. Childish you may think but ooks like the man pulling the strings has made this personal.
Well as insignificant as they may want to label this blog, there is definitely a fear factor that causes then to prevent me from getting access to the event. Tell you what, you have my seat number as displayed, maybe you might want to make that chair disappear.
Note I purchased the tickets even though the bank that sponsored the event has been my preferred bank since 2001, guess membership has no privileges lah.
Meanwhile....
Indonesian shuttlers will continue their quest to end the title drought in badminton’s top tournaments.
No Indonesian shuttlers qualified for quarterfinals of the first tournament of the season, the Korea Open, last week in Seoul, which extended the country’s title drought to eight consecutive Super Series since mixed doubles pair Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir won the Singapore Open in June last year.
Doubles coach Aryono Miranat said on Tuesday that Indonesian shuttlers, especially men’s and women’s doubles, have a good chance of ending the slump in Kuala Lumpur.
“Several top Chinese men’s and women’s doubles are absent from this tournament. That will mean the titles are wide open to grab,” he said.
“[Without the Chinese players] it still won’t be an easy tournament because Japan and [South] Korea doubles are also hard to beat.
“But, if our shuttlers improve their games and work harder, they have a good chance of winning titles in Malaysia.”
Notable Chinese absentees in the women’s doubles are Korea Open winners Tian Qing and Zhao Yunlei, and world No. 1 pair Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang.
It’s been almost four years since an Indonesia won a Super Series women’s doubles title. The most recent was the 2008 Indonesia Open, when Vita Marissa and Liliyana prevailed at home.
There are three women’s doubles combinations that will try to end Indonesia’s drought at Putra Stadium, Kuala Lumpur.
Sixth-seeded Greysia Polii and Meiliana Jauhari will open against Eom Hye-won and Jang Ye-na of South Korea, while 2011 Southeast Asian Games champions Nitya Krishinda Maheswari and Anneke Feinya Agustine have a first round match against qualifiers.
Vita, who now pairs with Nadya Melati, will have a tough first round against No. 5 seeds Cheng Wen-hsing and Chien Yu-chin of Taiwan.
In the men’s doubles, the world’s top three — Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng (China), Lee Yong-dae and Jung Jae-sung (South Korea), and Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen (Denmark) — are also skipping the $400,000 tournament.
This would be a good opportunity for Indonesia’s top pair, Mohammad Ahsan and Bona Septano, to get their career first Super Series title.
The No. 5 seeds will play against qualifiers in the first round, but they were drawn in the same half as second-seeded Ko Sung-hyun and Yoo Yeon-seong of South Korea and host favorites Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong.
Last week in Seoul, Ahsan and Bona were ousted early, losing to unseeded Japan pair Naoki Kawamae and Shoji Sato in the first round.
“I know that we have a big chance to win the title here. But, after the poor result in Korea, we want to be realistic with our chances. I think a semifinal spot would be a good achievement for now,” Bona said.
Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan, who won the Malaysia Open in 2008, will start their campaign against Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif and Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari.
Meanwhile....
Indonesian shuttlers will continue their quest to end the title drought in badminton’s top tournaments.
No Indonesian shuttlers qualified for quarterfinals of the first tournament of the season, the Korea Open, last week in Seoul, which extended the country’s title drought to eight consecutive Super Series since mixed doubles pair Tontowi Ahmad and Liliyana Natsir won the Singapore Open in June last year.
Doubles coach Aryono Miranat said on Tuesday that Indonesian shuttlers, especially men’s and women’s doubles, have a good chance of ending the slump in Kuala Lumpur.
“Several top Chinese men’s and women’s doubles are absent from this tournament. That will mean the titles are wide open to grab,” he said.
“[Without the Chinese players] it still won’t be an easy tournament because Japan and [South] Korea doubles are also hard to beat.
“But, if our shuttlers improve their games and work harder, they have a good chance of winning titles in Malaysia.”
Notable Chinese absentees in the women’s doubles are Korea Open winners Tian Qing and Zhao Yunlei, and world No. 1 pair Wang Xiaoli and Yu Yang.
It’s been almost four years since an Indonesia won a Super Series women’s doubles title. The most recent was the 2008 Indonesia Open, when Vita Marissa and Liliyana prevailed at home.
There are three women’s doubles combinations that will try to end Indonesia’s drought at Putra Stadium, Kuala Lumpur.
Sixth-seeded Greysia Polii and Meiliana Jauhari will open against Eom Hye-won and Jang Ye-na of South Korea, while 2011 Southeast Asian Games champions Nitya Krishinda Maheswari and Anneke Feinya Agustine have a first round match against qualifiers.
Vita, who now pairs with Nadya Melati, will have a tough first round against No. 5 seeds Cheng Wen-hsing and Chien Yu-chin of Taiwan.
In the men’s doubles, the world’s top three — Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng (China), Lee Yong-dae and Jung Jae-sung (South Korea), and Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen (Denmark) — are also skipping the $400,000 tournament.
This would be a good opportunity for Indonesia’s top pair, Mohammad Ahsan and Bona Septano, to get their career first Super Series title.
The No. 5 seeds will play against qualifiers in the first round, but they were drawn in the same half as second-seeded Ko Sung-hyun and Yoo Yeon-seong of South Korea and host favorites Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong.
Last week in Seoul, Ahsan and Bona were ousted early, losing to unseeded Japan pair Naoki Kawamae and Shoji Sato in the first round.
“I know that we have a big chance to win the title here. But, after the poor result in Korea, we want to be realistic with our chances. I think a semifinal spot would be a good achievement for now,” Bona said.
Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan, who won the Malaysia Open in 2008, will start their campaign against Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif and Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari.
