PLEASANT WEEKEND

A pleasant long weekend it was. Starting with a Thaipusam Friday and a public holiday, Putrajaya BA held a friendly with a visit from Yap Brothers Academy from Muar, Johor. This academy amazingly boast the supply of the majority of Johor state players and understandably so since it is run by the brother of former national doubles specialist, Yap Kim Hock.

We witnessed the likes of Yap Roy King (13), Yap Sai Kuan (11) and Liew Xun (11) displayed their mesmerizing crafty skills against our young hopefuls. This is a prelude to what the boys will be facing against in Zone B of the coming National Junior Circuit in Feb.

Then on a more relaxed Saturday night, saw Arsenal cruise to a 2 – 0 win at home over Fulham which brought them back to the top of the EPL league. Thanks to a Santi Cazorla’s brace who is one of my favorite attacking midfielders which Wenger had the foresight to bring in.

Finally, on Sunday, where the Malaysian Open Super Series Premier final was held in Bt Jalil, our local hero Datuk Lee Chong Wei defended his crown and his 10^th home title with a straight set win over Tommy Sugiarto. The icing on the cake has been our men’s doubles whom unexpectedly snatched the crown in the finals with similar straight set win over young Chinese pair of  Chai Biao and Hong Wei.

After winning Chong Wei cradling his young son Kingston said this could have been his final Malaysia Open. 

“I haven’t decided. I have to see how my conditioning is at the end of the year. I am not sure if I will play till the Rio Olympics in 2016, but I hope to still be around until then. I have the support of my wife but since becoming a father last year, I have to think about my family too.”

So could this be a hint that the World No. 1 is finally feeling the strain of top flight badminton for 5 consecutive years? 

http://www.thestar.com.my/Sport/Badminton/2014/01/20/A-long-dry-spell-ahead-if-Chong-Wei-retires/

Like the saying goes, all good things must come to an end...

Lee Chong Wei and his son Kingston Lee