Malaysia eye title at the 2011 Badminton World Championships – Badminton News
Malaysia, one of the top badminton nations in the world, is looking for a title at the 2011 Badminton World Championships, which will start on August 8, at the Wembley Arena in London. The arena is a great historic venue for badminton, as it has been serving
the sport for almost 37 years from 1957 to 1994.
Malaysia has never won a Singles title at the World Championships in all categories of the sport including Men’s and Women’s Singles, Men’s and Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles.
However, this time, World Number One in Men’s Singles rankings, Lee Chong Wei and the World Number Four pair, Tan Boon Heong – Koo Kien Keat in Men’s Doubles, are Malaysia's hope to end the title draught by winning the crown in their respective categories
in London.
The Wembley arena, which has an accommodation of 12,500 seats, has introduced many champions including Zhao Jianhua, Eddy Choong, Rudy Hartono, Morten Frost, and Prakash Padukone.
While talking about the Wembley Arena, Rashid Sidek, coach of Malaysian national team said, “I remember my first outing in 1986. I did not even go through the qualifying rounds. But it was amazing just to be there. It has such a great history. Almost all
the greatest players have played and won there.”
He further added, “The World Championships started in 1977 but, before that, the winners at the Wembley Arena were considered as the best in the world. It will be a great honour if a Malaysian from this new era can win at this place.”
The coach also expressed his views that the Wembley Arena will also be the venue for the 2012 London Olympics and the upcoming World Championships will help the shuttlers and coaches to read the conditions of the hall.
During the World Championships, all eyes will be on Lee Chong Wei, who is in wonderful form to win the Men’s Singles title as he has been playing terrific badminton for the last six months. Expectations of the countless fans are high for Chong Wei to become
the first World Champion from Malaysia.
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