KEJOHANAN BADMINTON REMAJA HKC SPORTS 2013

Lithe Ryan enroute to third round

Mid year school holidays are here. There are a series of club tournaments coming our way and I thought these would be good opportunities to break away from their training routine and also to bench mark the boys against external competition. 

Beginning with HKC Sports, a private sports equipment outfit organized a junior tournament held in DBKL Badminton Hall, Kampung Baru Cheras. They contested only two categories, boys under 12 and boys under 16.

Although Aaron being 10 was disadvantaged by the age gap but we wanted to develop his competition experience. Sadly, he was taken down on the first round by a crafty Amirul Arazi 20 - 30. He was let down again by his unsteady nerves when Amirul pressed him back to the baseline and countered by deft nets.

Ryan had a bit of a good run up to third round but he was dismantled by the hard smashing Radin Muhd 24 – 30 despite soldiering for 24 consolation points. Ryan’s footwork improved visibly albeit a painfully slow process. His nightly foot exercises caused some slight aches on his calf muscles but after a few days rest, he should be able to resume the exercises.

Next will be the SP Setia 6th Annual Badminton Tournament. Stay tuned.

Boys Singles Under 12 Years Old

1^st Round   :       Aaron Wong vs Amirul Arazi                   20 - 30             

Boys Singles Under 12 Years Old

1^st Round  :        Ryan Wong vs Lai Meng Hui                   30 - 10 

2^nd Round :        Ryan Wong vs Tan Khai Jie                    30 - 18

3^rd Round  :        Ryan Wong vs Radin Muhd                    24 - 30

SCHOOL CHAMPIONS 2013

On 11^th May 2013, the boys participated in their annual school tournament and for the first time tasted success with both bagging their titles in their age groups respectively. However, their victory was somewhat hollow because both the school’s No.1 player, Ooi Zhin Yang (12) and No. 2 player, Lee Jia Quan (11) did not participate. It was like a BWF Super Series without Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan and the boys knew it.

The results of this tournament albeit much of a breeze for the boys, cement their positions as top 3 singles in their school team. Defending champion, Ooi Zhin Yang will not feature in the Harcroft school team anymore as he will eventually move to Secondary School next year.  

Until the next MSSD in 2014, Jia Quan is still at the helm while both brothers play second fiddle to him unless either one of the brothers can turn the cards on him in the coming months. In 2015, with Ryan and Jia Quan moving on the secondary school, Aaron remains firm favourite to lead the school team unless a worthy challenger emerge. 

Since Aaron has still a good two years ahead of him, we continue to prepare him for the state level. But first, he needs to build his resume by bagging more titles in the coming tournaments and we are all excited for him.

Boys Singles Under 10 Years Old

1^st Round   :      Aaron Wong (4K) vs Bye                       

2^nd Round  :      Aaron Wong (4K) vs Lew Seng Hee (4K)             21 - 2

Quarter Final :   Aaron Wong (4K) vs Tan Chen Hang (4U)            21 - 2

Semi Final    :   Aaron Wong (4K) vs Ryan Lim (4G)                    21 - 3

Final             :   Aaron Wong (4K) vs Tan Jae Yang (4P)              21 - 11

Boys Singles Under 11 Years Old

1^st Round  :       Ryan Wong (5G) vs bye

2^nd Round :       Ryan Wong (5G) vs Ng Yu Xuan (5H)                   21 - 0

3^rd Round  :       Ryan Wong (5G) vs Albert Lee (5P)                     21 - 5

Quarter Final :   Ryan Wong (5G) vs Ding Koon Yeat (5G)             21 - 3

Semi Final    :   Ryan Wong (5G) vs Owen Lee (5K)                      21 - 4

Final             :   Ryan Wong (5G) vs Wong Yen Chik (5E)             21 - 11

GUIDELINES FOR TOURNAMENTS PART 2

We compiled some guidelines with key words to aid the boys in a series of mid year tournaments coming their way. This time we dwell more into the arts and science of the game and to rehearse these key points mentally :

1)                 Prepare your match mentally by visualizing all the good shots you have done before.Carry this good feeling with you into the match.

2)                 Don’t rush your serves. Take your time. Plan your next shot when your opponent returns your serve.

3)                 Think about your footwork. Are you doing little bounce in your steps so as you can change direction faster?

4)                 Play different shots to surprise your opponent.

(a)  Long Serves (80%) and Short Serves (20%).

(b)  Fast Power Drives (FLAT) and Placing Shots (6 corners).

(c)  Net Tumble Drops and Baseline Shots.

(d)  Cross Chops and Smashes.

(e)  Trick Shots (double wrist action).

5)                 When you make too many errors, take a break. Breath slowly to calm yourself down and control your emotions. Then go back step 2.

6)                 Remember the basics :

(a)  Remember to attack his back hand.

(b)  Control your strength depending on the speed of the shuttle.

(c)  No short and high half-court serves.

(d)  Avoid back hand shots by using overhead shots.
(e)  Always play low net drops with your back hand.

7)                 Play smoothly with nice flow and rhythm like a beautiful music to get into the “zone”.

 

8)                 Say a prayer and enjoy your game.

THE NUT HAS FINALLY CRACKED!

Last Monday 6^th May 2013, will be remembered not because of a hasten public holiday declared by the state of Selangor in the aftermath of GE13.

It was because Aaron has for the first time beaten Darren Tan (11), last year’s Inter-MBA Intermediate Level Champion in three sets during their routine training. The match was so heated that they drew some players off from training to watch the battle. This came as a surprise to me somewhat because Aaron has just beaten Chai Chun Hong a week earlier and for him to achieve this feat in a short time, he must be in great form all week long.

The extra attention given by the coaches has really paid off. Aaron has been sparring with the advance players 3 to 4 years his senior such as Daniel Tiong, Siaw Kai Horng, Wong Gai Ven and others. These have raised his game rapidly in a few short months.

As Aaron has proven, this small victory has given him and other intermediate players more belief now that it is possible to break mental barriers through sheer hard work.

I now will have to raise his bench mark to a higher level and nothing is more befitting than to take his School No. 1 and Putra Jaya state player, Ooi Zhin Yang as the next man to beat. If fate has it in him, they will meet for the second time this year during the SKC Ladang Harcroft annual tournament this coming Saturday 11^th May 2013.

Aaron has not beaten Zhin Yang before. The last encounter was during their school’s selection in March 2013 where Aaron succumbed 14 – 30.