DESERVING: Malaysia stun Indonesia to enter first final in 12 years
MALAYSIA played to the beat of bangra drums at Siri Fort Indoor Arena yesterday as the team, initially deemed no hopers, ended the nation’s 12-year wait to reach the final of the Thomas Cup in New Delhi.
World 1 Lee Chong Wei worked his magic but the heroes of the day were scratch pair Tan Boon Heong-Hoon Thien How and Chong Wei Feng as Malaysia thrashed Indonesia 3-0 to set a date with first time finalists Japan in tomorrow’s final.
It will be Malaysia’s 14th appearance in the final but the first since the 3-2 defeat to Indonesia in the 2002 edition in Guangzhou.
Wei Feng played like a man possessed as the World No 27 outclassed the 19th-ranked Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka 21-10, 21-17 to clinch Malaysia’s most meaningful winning point ever in recent years.
“I told myself in the second game ‘jangan ragu-ragu’ and also to take my chances against Dionysius when he caught up and forced me into difficult situations.
“It is my most meaningful career victory because we have entered the final after 12 years but it will be sweeter if I contribute a point in the final,” said Wei Feng.
Chong Wei, as expected, delivered the first point by subduing Tommy Sugiarto 21-19, 21-13 but it was Boon Heong-Thien How who created the biggest upset of the semi-final.
Boon Hoon-Thien How bounced back from two straight defeats to edge World No 1 Hendra Setiawan-Mohammad Ahsan 21-19, 8-21, 23-21 to give Malaysia a 2-0 lead.
However, the Malaysians almost muffed an 18-15 lead in the third game as Hendra-Ahsan caught up and even held match point.
Boon Heong was in his element as the experienced shuttler retrieved the shuttle between his legs to force deuce before unleashing his powerful smash in their second match-point opportunity to seal victory.
“We had nothing to lose as the pressure was on the world champions. Unlike the previous matches, we took our chances. I think my near-impossible retrieve (of the shuttle) at match point turned the tide to our side,” said Boon Heong yesterday.
“Hendra and Ahsan were under tremendous pressure, especially the latter. I told Thien How to pressure Ahsan. I trained hard for so long for this moment..”
Chong Wei battled a tough first game before giving Malaysia the lead but the three-time All England champion admitted that he was under slight pressure to perform.
“We have gone one better than the target set by the BA of Malaysia (BAM). Many did not expect us to go this far but we, as a team, defied the odds to beat some of the best teams to reach the final.
“I do not want to talk about Japan but it is good for badminton that they are making their first Thomas Cup final appearance. We will prepare for this tie comprehensively,” said Chong Wei.
Meanwhile, Chong Wei picked up the BWF Player of the Year award yesterday.
