Axiata Cup semi-finals: Tough Task for Malaysia Tigers in absence of Chong Wei
The Malaysia Tigers are subjected to a tough trial as they will not have the support of the maestro Lee Chong Wei in the first leg of Axiata Cup semi-finals on March 30, 2012.
The semi-final round is going to be played on home and away basis and the prime team of Malaysia is up against a strong contender Indonesia Garuda at Britama Mall Sports Arena in Jakarta.
World Number one shuttler Chong Wei will not be able to shoulder his responsibility as he did not get a go-ahead call from his doctors who advised him to keep his arms at rest for at least five weeks.
National singles coach, Tey Seu Bock is not ready to force the badminton ace to swing his arms in the first leg but he hopes that Chong Wei will join the team at home ground in second leg of the semi-final at Cheras Badminton Stadium Kuala Lumpur.
He said, "We have decided that Chong Wei will not play in Jakarta as he was advised to undergo treatment for the injured shoulder for three to five weeks."
The prime Malaysian shuttlers World Number 28 Daren Liew and veteran player Hafiz Hashim have a huge task of beating the top Indonesian singles shuttlers like former World and Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat, World Number nine Simon Santoso and the young
shuttler Sony Dwi Kuncoro.
The coach gave his vote of confidence to Daren and Hafiz and hoped they will put a good show against their higher ranked opponents.
Seu Bock said, "It will be tough in the first singles as Taufik is difficult to beat but Daren should try to drag the match into three games while Hafiz has an even chance to beat Sony."
Meanwhile, the doubles experts of Malaysia Tigers Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong may not be in action and replaced by Goh V. Shem-Lim Khim Wah against the World Number six Indonesian duo Mohammad Ahsan-Bona Septano or reigning Olympic champion pair Markis
Kido-Hendra Setiawan.
The second leg of the Axiata Cup semi-finals will be in full swing from April 1, 2012.
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