Introduction
The Malaysian School Sports Council (MSSM) was established since 1958 under the Malaysian Ministry of Education to promote sports in schools through the organization of sports competitions and development programs. It oversee 24 sports at school level including badminton. The MSSM Level Tournament is only open to Malaysian students under the age of 18. It is organised in three stages :
Stage 1 : MSSD Daerah (Inter-School)
Stage 2 : MSSS Negeri (Inter-District)
Stage 3 : MSSM Kebangsaan (Inter-State)
This is one competition, Kiera could not get to MSSM stage 3 for three years in a row. Only the finalist (Champion & Runner-up) in each stage will qualify for the next higher stage, therefore the competition gets tougher as the stage progresses. This year, despite emerging Champions again for the MSSD Petaling Perdana district, having qualified for the MSSS, she suffered a first round defeat in the GSU15 category. Similarly in the GDU15 category, Kiera paired with Ho Wenjie only made it to the quarter finals in MSSS.
The prize for winning in the MSSM (Stage 3) is significant. In the past not only the top boy and girl in the U12 category will be selected for the Bukit Jalil Sports School (precursor to the National Junior squad. Now ABM) even the Singapore Sports School will poach them by offering full scholarship to study, train and play in Singapore. Those who excel in Education and Sports may be offered Singapore citizenship too. Such were the value of the top prize for MSSM.
In 2023 MSSS, at 13yo, Kiera made it to the semi-finals for both GSU15 and GDU15 categories which was close but not enough to qualify for MSSM.
In 2022 MSSS, at 12yo, she lost in the quarter finals in GSU12 but made it to the final in GDU12. However that year (post MCO) the Ministry of Education decided to exclude U12 doubles for MSSM presumably due to budget constraints. So there you go. This was one tournament that eluded her.
Over the many months of reflection, in my own post mortem as to why Kiera did not perform well in MSSS this year may be due to the following factors (although Kiera denied them) :
1) The week before MSSS, she received new Victor merchandize from Rexcool whom had sponsored Kiera for her badminton achievements. She may not be used to the new Victor racquet which was different from the usual Yonex racquets she has been using.
2) One week prior to the MSSS, the Petaling Perdana coaching team organised training sessions which was heavily weighted toward doubles. As the result of this, her lack of singles preparation may have been hampered by this factor.
3) The age category U15 may also be disadvantage for her having to compete with players a year senior to her in terms of strength and speed. Note the MSSS pool of players advancing to the later knockout stages were mostly SBA and Pjba players.
4) The coaching team (which comprises of school teachers) may be another factor but in my opinion this is not a significant factor for her poor performance.
Be that as it may, Kiera has another shot at the MSSM U15 category next year when she turn 15 years old. So lets see if she can break this jinx.
Friday, 20 September 2024
Saturday, 14 September 2024
THE ONE OPPORTUNITY SLIPPED BY
We spoke about many good progress Kiera has made in 2024. However, I like to touch on one major tournament that slipped out of her hands. Like all athletes, performances has ups and downs. Similarly for Kiera in this year’s JET finals.
She was drawn into a difficult preliminary group with Mirza Batrisya (BJSS, Pahang) and Dayana Farisha (Terengganu). Many eyebrows were raised because all three drawn into this group were top rank in their respective State BAs. Particularly Mirza who was arguably considered the TOP U14 girls in the country (in the absence of Low Zi Yu). However the draw here were based on points earned during JET 1 & JET 2 despite some inconsistencies in the draw. Kiera was distraught. We made all attempts to keep her motivated and approach the game positively but it was never easy convincing a growing up mind with a bundle of nerves. To make matters worse, on the night before her first match, she developed an abdominal discomfort likely from a bad Calpis cultured milk she had consumed after dinner. So severe was her discomfort that she could not sleep on the first night. We feared the worst as she may not be at her best due to insufficient sleep. The next day, fortunately, she won against Dayana but lost to Mirza. Mirza won both her games in the group. Only the leader in each group qualifies for the quarter finals. Thus Kiera’s quest for honours in the JET Finals ended in the preliminary round.
Similarly in the U14 doubles category, Kiera and Eva could not top their preliminary group after losing to the top ranking pairs of Putrajaya and Terengganu although they won the Johor pair. With two losses and only one win in their group, their doubles quest also came to an end.
The significance of the singles lost to Mirza was telling because had she beaten her and made it to the semi finals, she will automatically be invited to represent Malaysia to play in the Badminton Asia U17 & U15 Junior Championships 2024 in Chengdu, China. This year in particular, ABM do not have U14 players in their Academy. Therefore BAM selected top four finishes from the JET Finals to represent the country for U15 category in Chengdu. Thus the reason why a good opportunity awaits for those who made it to the semifinals as they get to play in this BWF international tournament automatically (with no selection process) and fully funded by BAM.
Some insight on Badminton Asia U17 & U15 Junior Championships :
1. This tournament is organised Badminton Asia Confederation (BAC) under the flag of BWF. Established in 1959, BAC has been the nursery of Champions in Asian Badminton and used as a springboard for the preparation of World Junior Championship which will be held towards the end of each year.
2. U15 internationally is interpreted as below 15 yo which means 14yo. ABM youngest intake was15 yo. Therefore, this year ABM had to take non-ABM players to represent the Country. The JET Finals is the platform which they select from.
3. This is an annual tournament participated by 10 Asian countries. Each country will have up to a maximum of 4 participants in each category. We can conclude that the four representatives can be considered among the best U14 players in their respective countries.
4. Selected players will be fully funded by BAM and coached by BAM coaches.
5. The four U14 singles selected were, Chong Wan Xin 13yo (Pahang), Siti Nuramina 13yo (Selangor), Mirza Batrisya 14yo (BJSS-Pahang) and Wang Zi Qin 14yo (Kuala Lumpur).
6. Girls doubles were represented by Chloe Leong/Mahalakshmi (Putrajaya), Lau Xin En/Teoh Min Yi (Kedah) and Chong Wan Xin/Mirza Batrisya (Pahang).
7. Mixed doubles selected were Muhd Noor Hanafi/Lau Xin En (Kuala Lumpur/Kedah), Hans Wong/Chloe Leong (Kuala Lumpur/Putrajaya) and Hakim Saufi Fakhrul/Mahalakshmi (Kelantan/Putrajaya).
8. The Champion of GSU15 in this tournament is fast rising Indian junior, Tanvi Patri who beat Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen from Vietnam in the final.
For the record, Kiera did not qualify for the JET finals in 2023 when she was 13yo. However she did qualify in the 2022 JET Finals for GSU12 with Nur Sofia Aliyah but only played in the preliminary rounds.
She was drawn into a difficult preliminary group with Mirza Batrisya (BJSS, Pahang) and Dayana Farisha (Terengganu). Many eyebrows were raised because all three drawn into this group were top rank in their respective State BAs. Particularly Mirza who was arguably considered the TOP U14 girls in the country (in the absence of Low Zi Yu). However the draw here were based on points earned during JET 1 & JET 2 despite some inconsistencies in the draw. Kiera was distraught. We made all attempts to keep her motivated and approach the game positively but it was never easy convincing a growing up mind with a bundle of nerves. To make matters worse, on the night before her first match, she developed an abdominal discomfort likely from a bad Calpis cultured milk she had consumed after dinner. So severe was her discomfort that she could not sleep on the first night. We feared the worst as she may not be at her best due to insufficient sleep. The next day, fortunately, she won against Dayana but lost to Mirza. Mirza won both her games in the group. Only the leader in each group qualifies for the quarter finals. Thus Kiera’s quest for honours in the JET Finals ended in the preliminary round.
Similarly in the U14 doubles category, Kiera and Eva could not top their preliminary group after losing to the top ranking pairs of Putrajaya and Terengganu although they won the Johor pair. With two losses and only one win in their group, their doubles quest also came to an end.
The significance of the singles lost to Mirza was telling because had she beaten her and made it to the semi finals, she will automatically be invited to represent Malaysia to play in the Badminton Asia U17 & U15 Junior Championships 2024 in Chengdu, China. This year in particular, ABM do not have U14 players in their Academy. Therefore BAM selected top four finishes from the JET Finals to represent the country for U15 category in Chengdu. Thus the reason why a good opportunity awaits for those who made it to the semifinals as they get to play in this BWF international tournament automatically (with no selection process) and fully funded by BAM.
Some insight on Badminton Asia U17 & U15 Junior Championships :
1. This tournament is organised Badminton Asia Confederation (BAC) under the flag of BWF. Established in 1959, BAC has been the nursery of Champions in Asian Badminton and used as a springboard for the preparation of World Junior Championship which will be held towards the end of each year.
2. U15 internationally is interpreted as below 15 yo which means 14yo. ABM youngest intake was15 yo. Therefore, this year ABM had to take non-ABM players to represent the Country. The JET Finals is the platform which they select from.
3. This is an annual tournament participated by 10 Asian countries. Each country will have up to a maximum of 4 participants in each category. We can conclude that the four representatives can be considered among the best U14 players in their respective countries.
4. Selected players will be fully funded by BAM and coached by BAM coaches.
5. The four U14 singles selected were, Chong Wan Xin 13yo (Pahang), Siti Nuramina 13yo (Selangor), Mirza Batrisya 14yo (BJSS-Pahang) and Wang Zi Qin 14yo (Kuala Lumpur).
6. Girls doubles were represented by Chloe Leong/Mahalakshmi (Putrajaya), Lau Xin En/Teoh Min Yi (Kedah) and Chong Wan Xin/Mirza Batrisya (Pahang).
7. Mixed doubles selected were Muhd Noor Hanafi/Lau Xin En (Kuala Lumpur/Kedah), Hans Wong/Chloe Leong (Kuala Lumpur/Putrajaya) and Hakim Saufi Fakhrul/Mahalakshmi (Kelantan/Putrajaya).
8. The Champion of GSU15 in this tournament is fast rising Indian junior, Tanvi Patri who beat Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen from Vietnam in the final.
For the record, Kiera did not qualify for the JET finals in 2023 when she was 13yo. However she did qualify in the 2022 JET Finals for GSU12 with Nur Sofia Aliyah but only played in the preliminary rounds.
Sunday, 8 September 2024
TRANSFORMATION Part 3
2. Robust Badminton Ecosystem
When I see a player stands out more from the rest, he or she will in all likelihood has the benefit of a robust support from the badminton ecosystem surrounding the player.
High up on the list will be Kiera’s immediate family’s involvement and support in her badminton journey. Kiera’s mom is the pillar in her pursuit of badminton. Being a NS state player in her junior days, she is passionate about the game and will have lots of say in Kiera’s matches, training arrangements, preparations etc. Both her older brothers Ryan and Aaron were former state players, make good sparring partners for Kiera. Therefore, in our family, badminton is a subject we talk-about daily. I can say that it has been more of a journey of discovery, through her ups and downs, learning new things together, sharing insights and observations of all things badminton.
Second on the list will be non other than her club and state coaches. They play a pivotal role in shaping Kiera’s badminton game, mind and attitude – more so now as she matures into a teenager with a mind of her own. The player-coaches chemistry and regular parent-coaches interaction is the key to her badminton progress. The challenge for coaches and parents is working together motivating her to get to the next level. I think lots of mind work to be done here.
Next on the list are teachers, friends, parents, enthusiasts, kakis etc. As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together. Through close interaction with this group of community, we get support, information and updates about what is happening in the badminton fraternity. We get sharings about MSSD/S/M, local and international tournaments availabilities, trending news about ABM, BAM and at international scene etc. Some discerning parents like KJ Lim (through his Youtube channel), uncle Wilson (armchair critique), cikgu Zaidi (father/coach/enthusiast) and parents whose children are in ABM, do have many valuable insights about their badminton experiences through their own journey with their own children pursuing competitive badminton.
Not forgetting Kiera's doubles partners (not limited to her regular doubles or mixed-doubles partner), the comadarie arising from joint training endeavours has also enriched Kiera's ecosystem. We get introduced to her partner's training clubs, coaches and other badminton contacts - and vice versa which are often overlooked.
Last but not least in the list are what I call beneficiaries. These include sponsors, well being supporters and followers whom play a motivating role to encourage Kiera to pursue her badminton endeavours through thick and thin… she knows she is not alone in this journey. Thank you all. Your kind generosity will not be forgotten.
Coming up : 3) Performance Knowledge
When I see a player stands out more from the rest, he or she will in all likelihood has the benefit of a robust support from the badminton ecosystem surrounding the player.
High up on the list will be Kiera’s immediate family’s involvement and support in her badminton journey. Kiera’s mom is the pillar in her pursuit of badminton. Being a NS state player in her junior days, she is passionate about the game and will have lots of say in Kiera’s matches, training arrangements, preparations etc. Both her older brothers Ryan and Aaron were former state players, make good sparring partners for Kiera. Therefore, in our family, badminton is a subject we talk-about daily. I can say that it has been more of a journey of discovery, through her ups and downs, learning new things together, sharing insights and observations of all things badminton.
Second on the list will be non other than her club and state coaches. They play a pivotal role in shaping Kiera’s badminton game, mind and attitude – more so now as she matures into a teenager with a mind of her own. The player-coaches chemistry and regular parent-coaches interaction is the key to her badminton progress. The challenge for coaches and parents is working together motivating her to get to the next level. I think lots of mind work to be done here.
Next on the list are teachers, friends, parents, enthusiasts, kakis etc. As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together. Through close interaction with this group of community, we get support, information and updates about what is happening in the badminton fraternity. We get sharings about MSSD/S/M, local and international tournaments availabilities, trending news about ABM, BAM and at international scene etc. Some discerning parents like KJ Lim (through his Youtube channel), uncle Wilson (armchair critique), cikgu Zaidi (father/coach/enthusiast) and parents whose children are in ABM, do have many valuable insights about their badminton experiences through their own journey with their own children pursuing competitive badminton.
Not forgetting Kiera's doubles partners (not limited to her regular doubles or mixed-doubles partner), the comadarie arising from joint training endeavours has also enriched Kiera's ecosystem. We get introduced to her partner's training clubs, coaches and other badminton contacts - and vice versa which are often overlooked.
Last but not least in the list are what I call beneficiaries. These include sponsors, well being supporters and followers whom play a motivating role to encourage Kiera to pursue her badminton endeavours through thick and thin… she knows she is not alone in this journey. Thank you all. Your kind generosity will not be forgotten.
Coming up : 3) Performance Knowledge
9 Musings about Stringing Racquets
1) It is equally time consuming to turn grommets to the uncut side or replace with new grommets before stringing. This is important to ensure longevity of the strings by ensuring the new string sits cushioned on uncut side of the grommets.
2) I find that Yonex brand has better quality grommets generally. Whenever I find unwanted broken racquets, I normally will reuse the grommets or keep them as spares.
3) The waxing on your string bed will also give longevity to your strings.
4) Contrary to some people say Tai Tsu Ying skipped string in her racquet is not just for aesthetics. There is a reason why her racquet has skipped string on the 10th hole. It is to balance both ends of the racquet with equal tension by pulling two more horizontal weave at the bottom of the racquet and finish with a knot away from the left end. This way, her racquet stays in shape. I have adopted TTY stringing pattern for Kiera’s racquets because I prefer to do 2 knots instead of 4 knots. The lesser the knots, the lesser the slacks.
5) For Kiera’s racquets 25 Lbs, I normally start vertical from the middle 3 or 4 weaves to the left and to the right +1 Lbs. When it comes to horizontal weave, after the shared grommets from the bottom, I will add +1 Lbs all the way to the top. I find this is her preferred tension combo.
6) From my experience, the best way to choose a racquet is not by studying and matching the specifications for a player. Let the player try playing with various racquets models. Unfortunately, it is not always practical to find racquets this way.
7) For me the most expensive element in badminton game is not shuttle cost. If shuttle can be shared then its not so bad. Replacing strings is the costliest in badminton game.
8) Interestingly, Victor’s new racquet range which comes with PP handle actually makes the racquet more flexible (despite with stiffer shaft) compared to wooded handle.
9) I repair shuttles by replacing broken feathers. Just need a blade, sharp nose plier and rubber glue will get it done. I believe quality shuttles = quality trainings.
2) I find that Yonex brand has better quality grommets generally. Whenever I find unwanted broken racquets, I normally will reuse the grommets or keep them as spares.
3) The waxing on your string bed will also give longevity to your strings.
4) Contrary to some people say Tai Tsu Ying skipped string in her racquet is not just for aesthetics. There is a reason why her racquet has skipped string on the 10th hole. It is to balance both ends of the racquet with equal tension by pulling two more horizontal weave at the bottom of the racquet and finish with a knot away from the left end. This way, her racquet stays in shape. I have adopted TTY stringing pattern for Kiera’s racquets because I prefer to do 2 knots instead of 4 knots. The lesser the knots, the lesser the slacks.
5) For Kiera’s racquets 25 Lbs, I normally start vertical from the middle 3 or 4 weaves to the left and to the right +1 Lbs. When it comes to horizontal weave, after the shared grommets from the bottom, I will add +1 Lbs all the way to the top. I find this is her preferred tension combo.
6) From my experience, the best way to choose a racquet is not by studying and matching the specifications for a player. Let the player try playing with various racquets models. Unfortunately, it is not always practical to find racquets this way.
7) For me the most expensive element in badminton game is not shuttle cost. If shuttle can be shared then its not so bad. Replacing strings is the costliest in badminton game.
8) Interestingly, Victor’s new racquet range which comes with PP handle actually makes the racquet more flexible (despite with stiffer shaft) compared to wooded handle.
9) I repair shuttles by replacing broken feathers. Just need a blade, sharp nose plier and rubber glue will get it done. I believe quality shuttles = quality trainings.
Victor by Rexcool
July 2024 Kiera was sponsored by Victor Rexcool. A new milestone for her achievements. Many thanks to coach Junior and all Artsport coaches for putting this together. Special thanks to Mr Lim of Riff Raff Pain Cast Sdn Bhd, uncle Gavin and uncle Chew for their support and encouragement as well. We will be forever be grateful to your kind generosity.
Saturday, 7 September 2024
The First Time
On August 2024, Kiera participated in a local tournament called Four Season International Badminton Championship 2024 organised by Philip Teh. Historically, his tournaments were notoriously known for delays. It was for this reason we did not pay any heed to it initially.
However just after the closing date, during her routine training in LJYBA, she was asked to partner Wong Wen Khang in the mix doubles open category. This was her maiden pairing for mix doubles in a competition. They were very much a scratch pair with no training time as they submitted their names at the eleventh hour. Simultaneously, her doubles partner, Eva Tham also asked her to join the U18 doubles category. To top it off, she also signed up for the U16 singles category for a good measure. Just like that she participated in three categories for the first time!
We were also worried about the gruelling schedules of her draws, whether she could last all three different categories despite playing the 30 points system. Indeed this tournament recorded many first time for her. The competition carried on for two days consecutively. In the end, very much to our surprise, not only did she survive the tournament without cramps nor injuries, she also came out Champion beating all her opponents in all three categories.
The one that we never thought they could go all the way to win was her mix doubles open category. Despite never played with Wen Khang before, they combined very naturally and her defensive play was like never before. The highlight was the semi-finals match vs the favorite pair. Kiera and Wen Khang came back from behind 12 – 24 and ended up winning 30 - 27. What a match this was. (Video highlights below).
The take away from here was, this tournament has given me a new perspective about mix doubles pairing (which was overlooked before). It became a revelation that could possibly elevate her doubles training hereon. Reasons as follows :
1. The strength and speed of a boy partner pushes the girl to match the tempo of the game;
2. The opponent especially the boy targets the opposing girl mostly. Therefore, the girl partner has to be solid defensively and will bring out the best in her game.
Summary of First Time
1. Mix Doubles in a competition;
2. Three categories in a competition;
3. Champions in all three categories : Mix Doubles Open, Girls Doubles U18, Girls Singles U16
However just after the closing date, during her routine training in LJYBA, she was asked to partner Wong Wen Khang in the mix doubles open category. This was her maiden pairing for mix doubles in a competition. They were very much a scratch pair with no training time as they submitted their names at the eleventh hour. Simultaneously, her doubles partner, Eva Tham also asked her to join the U18 doubles category. To top it off, she also signed up for the U16 singles category for a good measure. Just like that she participated in three categories for the first time!
We were also worried about the gruelling schedules of her draws, whether she could last all three different categories despite playing the 30 points system. Indeed this tournament recorded many first time for her. The competition carried on for two days consecutively. In the end, very much to our surprise, not only did she survive the tournament without cramps nor injuries, she also came out Champion beating all her opponents in all three categories.
The one that we never thought they could go all the way to win was her mix doubles open category. Despite never played with Wen Khang before, they combined very naturally and her defensive play was like never before. The highlight was the semi-finals match vs the favorite pair. Kiera and Wen Khang came back from behind 12 – 24 and ended up winning 30 - 27. What a match this was. (Video highlights below).
The take away from here was, this tournament has given me a new perspective about mix doubles pairing (which was overlooked before). It became a revelation that could possibly elevate her doubles training hereon. Reasons as follows :
1. The strength and speed of a boy partner pushes the girl to match the tempo of the game;
2. The opponent especially the boy targets the opposing girl mostly. Therefore, the girl partner has to be solid defensively and will bring out the best in her game.
Summary of First Time
1. Mix Doubles in a competition;
2. Three categories in a competition;
3. Champions in all three categories : Mix Doubles Open, Girls Doubles U18, Girls Singles U16
Sunday, 5 May 2024
TRANSFORMATION Part 2
1. Diversity in Training Programs
The best way to illustrate diversity is from this analogy. Most players want to be comfortable naturally. Take driving a car for example. Initially it is challenging. After 50 hours or so, it becomes automatic. After that, more time spent driving doesn’t improve performance. If you want to keep improving, you have to keep driving in challenging situations like new terrain, higher speeds or in difficult weather. Therefore, in order to improve, a player has to be pushed beyond their comfort zone. Explore a number of badminton academies. Different academies and coaches provide different ideas, approaches and training programs. Also watch the chemistry between the coaches and the players. If the child is unhappy or bored, it is probably time to find another club.
Ever since Kiera started swinging her racquet, she has had base training with me and my wife and assisted occasionally by her two older brothers whom were former Pjba state players. Whenever we had time or during holidays when clubs and academies were closed, we would take her to court to train and spent game time with her.
When Kiera was 10yo, she started training with an external coach arranged by her primary school. Gradually through recommendations, she switched school and joined Artsport. Later, we managed to get her in the Selangor Badminton Association to train with the state team. As she was progressing, we decided to supplement her with another academy ie. Sports Arena in Cheras Mahkota where they had a group of KLba and SBA players training there. Artsport later decided to form a separate group for the Elite players which later attracted some Pjba, KLba and SBA players. The group grew steadily and Kiera was one of the remaining pioneers there until today.
In mid 2022, at 12yo, I foresaw it will be difficult for her to get a place in the U14 category because SBA had a strong girls team in that category. There is a possibility she may not be eligible to play for 2023 JET. Therefore I decided to buy insurance and pursue the doubles category instead. Doubles require 8 players (away to non-host venues) and up to 12 players (if SBA host JET) - in the hope that she will have better opportunity to be in the doubles team in case she cannot get into singles. We decided to pair Kiera up with Felicia Ho who was then training with LJYBA. Therefore, Kiera joined LJYBA for this purpose and had to split her training days equally between Artsport and LJYBA while still attended SBA trainings.
The other reason why we went with LJYBA was because coach Lee Jian Yi was also in the panel of voluntary coaches for SBA. Obviously, by being in his academy, we belief Kiera's interest will be looked after as well. If at all.
Sometime in the 3rd Qtr or 2023, we added additional gym (coach Rosli) and physical training sessions (LJY on Sunday sessions) for fitness, agility and strength building into her training program. Therefore, I belief her progress would have, in all likelihood came from the diversity in her training programmes over the past 2 to 3 years. You can see it depicted in the colored bar chart below, a summary of her training hours (by months).
The best way to illustrate diversity is from this analogy. Most players want to be comfortable naturally. Take driving a car for example. Initially it is challenging. After 50 hours or so, it becomes automatic. After that, more time spent driving doesn’t improve performance. If you want to keep improving, you have to keep driving in challenging situations like new terrain, higher speeds or in difficult weather. Therefore, in order to improve, a player has to be pushed beyond their comfort zone. Explore a number of badminton academies. Different academies and coaches provide different ideas, approaches and training programs. Also watch the chemistry between the coaches and the players. If the child is unhappy or bored, it is probably time to find another club.
Ever since Kiera started swinging her racquet, she has had base training with me and my wife and assisted occasionally by her two older brothers whom were former Pjba state players. Whenever we had time or during holidays when clubs and academies were closed, we would take her to court to train and spent game time with her.
When Kiera was 10yo, she started training with an external coach arranged by her primary school. Gradually through recommendations, she switched school and joined Artsport. Later, we managed to get her in the Selangor Badminton Association to train with the state team. As she was progressing, we decided to supplement her with another academy ie. Sports Arena in Cheras Mahkota where they had a group of KLba and SBA players training there. Artsport later decided to form a separate group for the Elite players which later attracted some Pjba, KLba and SBA players. The group grew steadily and Kiera was one of the remaining pioneers there until today.
In mid 2022, at 12yo, I foresaw it will be difficult for her to get a place in the U14 category because SBA had a strong girls team in that category. There is a possibility she may not be eligible to play for 2023 JET. Therefore I decided to buy insurance and pursue the doubles category instead. Doubles require 8 players (away to non-host venues) and up to 12 players (if SBA host JET) - in the hope that she will have better opportunity to be in the doubles team in case she cannot get into singles. We decided to pair Kiera up with Felicia Ho who was then training with LJYBA. Therefore, Kiera joined LJYBA for this purpose and had to split her training days equally between Artsport and LJYBA while still attended SBA trainings.
The other reason why we went with LJYBA was because coach Lee Jian Yi was also in the panel of voluntary coaches for SBA. Obviously, by being in his academy, we belief Kiera's interest will be looked after as well. If at all.
Sometime in the 3rd Qtr or 2023, we added additional gym (coach Rosli) and physical training sessions (LJY on Sunday sessions) for fitness, agility and strength building into her training program. Therefore, I belief her progress would have, in all likelihood came from the diversity in her training programmes over the past 2 to 3 years. You can see it depicted in the colored bar chart below, a summary of her training hours (by months).
Friday, 3 May 2024
TRANSFORMATION PART 1
In 2023, a 13yo Kiera was rank 6 in GSU14 category despite showing glimpses of her potential by being the only one upsetting SBA top rank Lim Yew Ern during SBA ranking. (Lim Yew Ern remained unbeaten throughout the ranking matches.) However Kiera was still besieged by inconsistencies in the first half of 2023 and fared poorly in JET1 & JET2 although she was a year junior than her U14 opponents she lost to. However, she underwent a metamorphosis starting mid 2023 when she began to get the better of her peers in various private tournaments, MSSD and MSSS. Her results were posted prior to this. By end of 2023, she was already matching the levels of Chanice Tan. Her breakthrough came when she became the first in her batch to break Siti Nuramina’s 3 year unbeaten record during Selangor Closed which then shot her up as rank 1 in SBA GSU14 category. By Feb 2024, in JET1 Group B, she was runners up in GSU14 and won the GDU14 title with Eva Tham. In Apr 2024 JET 2 Kelantan, she bettered her record by emerging champions in both GSU14 and GDU14. We were pleasantly surprised as well. How did Kiera do it coming from rank-6 to rank-1 in a mere six months? I was mulling over this for some time to search for answers as well. After some months, I came to the conclusion that her transformation was not something that happened during this period but over a longer period and contributed by combination of factors which I will share more in coming posts.
1. Diversity in Training Program
2. Robust Badminton Ecosystem
3. Performance Knowledge
1. Diversity in Training Program
2. Robust Badminton Ecosystem
3. Performance Knowledge
TOURNAMENT RESULTS JUNE 2023 - APR 2024
Apr 2024
Affin 100Plus Junior Elite Tour (Leg 2 Kelantan) Group B
GSU14 – Champion
GDU14 – Champion (Kiera/Eva)
Mar 2024 Affin 100Plus Junior Elite Tour (Leg
1 Selangor) Group B
GSU14 – Runners Up
GDU14 – Champion (Kiera/Eva)
Mar 2024 NCT Junior Badminton Championship
(Qualifying Round 3)
GDU15 – Champion (Kiera Sba/Chloe Pjba)
Mar 2024
Four Season Badminton Championship (3rd Round)
Women Singles Open – Semi Finalist
Feb 2024 MAXXIMA Junior Challenge Badminton
Championship
GSU14 – Semi Finalist
GDU16 – Semi Finalist (Kiera/Eva - Injured)
Jan 2024 ICE Badminton Open
GSU13 – Runners Up
Dec 2023
Selangor Closed
GSU13 – Champion
GDU13 – Champion (Kiera/Eva)
Dec 2023 MSSD Olimpik Muda
GSU13 – Champion
GDU13 – Runners up
Nov 2023 SSA Badminton Circuit Grand Finals
GSU13 – Champion
GSU15 – Champion
Nov 2023 Allianz Junior Badminton
Championship Grand Finals
GSU13 – Semi Finalist
GDU13 – Semi Finalist (Kiera/Eva)
Oct 2023
Tops Arena Empire Badminton Junior Championship
GSU13 – Champion
GDU13 – Champion (Kiera/Eva)
July 2023
MSSS – Klang
GSU15 – Semi Finalist
GDU15 – Semi Finalist (Kiera/Felicia)
July 2023 MSSD – Puchong
GSU15 – Champion
GDU15 – Runners up (Kiera/Sudikhsha)
July 2023 Shuttle Flash Badminton Junior
International Championship
GSU13 – Semi Finalist
July 2023 SSA Badminton Circuit 5th
Round
GSU13 – Runners up
GSU15 – Champion
June 2023 Skyworth Badminton Championship
GSU14 – Champion
Saturday, 17 February 2024
Performance Progression of a Player
I spoke to one parent in a recent tournament Kiera had participated
in. We shared various topics including club trainings which he emphasised to
explore various academies instead of reliant on one. The old adage came to mind,
“familiarity breeds contempt…” I had been an advocate of this since my boys were
playing competitively in their junior days. I try to observe that they dont fall too deep in their comfort zone. To give them fresh perspective in
training, they always have training diversity with variety of coaches at different
academies.
He continued to share, as a player develops further to
higher levels, trainings should be complimented with regular sparring and
competitions to actualise what they have trained. Some don’t see it that way
but he seemed to be a firm believer of this and opined that the mentality of a player
during training is different than when they are in a match with a stake at
hand. When there is a small wager to spice up the match and usually this will bring
up the intensity and quality of the match than they normally would during
training. Tournaments with cash winnings often spur players into competitive
mentality and precisely the reason why I wanted Kiera to participate in private
tournaments periodically.
Its not so much for the cash winnings although it is nice to have, instead it
is part of her training process or a check point if you will, to gauge where about
she has progressed in the field of competition. Whenever there is a good
challenge (win or lose), I would record it on video and analyse it. Her
shortcomings will be highlighted and brought to the attention of her coaches to
address specific areas in her game that needed correction and improvements.
Secondly, the private tournaments were intended as a
precursor, preparation and readiness before a major tournament. It is akin to a
trial exam as it were, a rehearsal and familiarization of the actual tournament. This run-in was intended to get her used to competition mode. Its a mental thingy to build her confidence and hopefully assist to overcome her anxieties, fears and doubts as the
tournament days draws near.
Therefore, the result of these private tournaments may be
secondary. Instead, the focus is to build up her form and peak her at the right
time, or at least an attempt to this effect. Therefore, at times she has to
learn to accept her losses first so as this could induce her to reset herself
in the next coming tournament psychologically and make a comeback. What we
certainly do not want is to peak too early and her form goes downhill from here.
For the third part, I have conceptualize a typical players’
performance progression in a graph below.
There is a possibility of overlap in each range of performance too, but for illustration purposes here, a player with a distinct level of performance should not deviate too much from the respective rectangular boxes. It is therefore imperative for a player/coach/manager to understand how to manage a player’s form within the respective rectangle and to work the player close to the blue line if not higher during tournament periods.
The other part which is equally important succeeding to this
is to plan a players’s yearly calendar using the concept of periodization. That
will be in another article (if I can find the time to write again.)
Saturday, 3 February 2024
Afraid of your own shadow
When I saw her name in the draw, I was frozen. My mind went
blank momentarily. I read the draw again to see if my eyes were playing tricks
on me. They were not… it was indeed her that I will be playing against in the
second round. As reality sat in, I felt like crying. “Why oh why do I have to
play against her of all people?
She had beaten me once before, 8 months ago. Although we
were younger then but her height towers over me like David and the Goliath. She
not only has the height but her body size was imposing and struck me as a
fearsome opponent. My knees turned vegetable standing side by side with her. I
cant help it. That was how phobia I was playing against a large opponent.
In December 2021, Selangor Badminton Association has organised
a closed tournament to select a team of players to represent Selangor State
Team for 2022 in the girls under 12 year old category. All I had to do was to reach
the Quarters final to be admitted into the team. But she was in the way. She was
my biggest stumbling block. If I falter again, I will be out of the team and
had to wait for another year to attend the selection process again.
My dad tried to talk some sense into me that my game has
improved very much since the MCO as I was diligently doing physical exercises
during those months when we were locked in at home. My dad even drew a
badminton court next to our home on an alley complete with a net. We trained
daily in this makeshift court.
Be that as it may, I just could not get this fear out of my
mind. You are afraid of your own shadow, he would say. You have already admitted
defeat even before the game begun. I knew my mind set was not right but I
needed a big mental overhaul. My dad constantly send positive messages into my
head. He played you tubes of her game for me to study her strengths and
weaknesses in her previous matches. Gradually I noticed she too had ups and
downs in her game too. I gradually could see some optimism.
As I underwent my routine trainings, my mind never left to
rest on this coming match. I trained hard like a girl on a mission. I did all
the physical exercises, shuttle feeds the coach has given me. Yet I could not
delay this match anymore as the days drew near. I had to face the music no
matter what. My coaches gave me a great boost saying that I could beat her this
time. That really helped my confidence. Thank you so much Jia Qi. She is like a
big sister to me.
On the match day, my mom and dad took me early to the club
for a 30 minutes court warm up. This has helped me calm my nerves as I could feel
my rhythm. Our names were called and this is it! It was a 30 point match. The
match started well for me as I led. I was calm and my nets were tight followed
by couple of lobs back to her court. Her returns were untidy and awarded me
points. After a healthy lead into the final third, she upped her game. She
started to pressure me and forced me to commit some unforced errors. She caught
up to level with me. I had to quickly do something different. I changed and
played some net shots caught her off guard and I managed to finish the game
with her closely behind by a few points. I was relieved and elated I have
finally avenged my defeat 8 months ago. My parents and my team mates
congratulated me. I could not belief it that I have finally beaten the player I
dreaded most.
This was my most satisfying win not because I was a good
player but I had overcome my mental frailties and self fear. Its in the mind as
they say. How true it is. This has helped me in my future matches as well. I
will always remember what my dad told me, you were only afraid of your own
shadows. Go get her!
Thursday, 25 January 2024
History of BSU12 National Junior Circuit
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/Sx1NMyRs8i7W61CY/?mibextid=xfxF2i
Wednesday, 24 January 2024
The Rally Point System Musings
The badminton 21x3 point format is also known as the rally
point system introduced by BWF in 2006. It is interesting to note how badminton
players are trained and attuned to this format which have been adopted in
almost every major badminton game and tournament globally for 18 years.
2. The player who can adjust to the environment and
conditions quicker, be it shuttle speed, court draft, crowd distraction and
opponent's game style will have the advantage. As there is a break at 11
points, coaches are allowed to offer suggestions, tips and tactics to the
player. The player who has the ability to adjust and adapt to the situation in
the remaining 11 points will likely have the game in his/her favour.
3. Experienced players who have gone through the path of
least resistance so to speak, the one who can read and avoid playing to
opponent's game strength, who knows how to keep opponent guessing, make own's
game unpredictable, knows the tricks to break and distract opponents rhythm
etc. will likely have the upper hand.
As the rally format is played over the best of 3 sets, the
second set now gives the losing player an opportunity to reflect back and
regather or reset his game plans and tactics. By now the player would have an
idea what went wrong in the first set and to avoid the pattern of play that
will give the opponent the upper hand. The
player who can adapt to changing situations on court and adjust ones game
accordingly shows ones maturity in his game to be adaptive. Not all games are
won with their best playing style. Some games are won by preventing opponent
from playing their preferred way of playing. Seasoned and experienced players
even know how to anticipate the opponents' next move by committing early to get
the better of the opponent.
As the name implies, the rally format of 21 point system gives
opportunity for players to make a
comeback with minor tweaks and adjustments in their game. In a close
game point for point contest, the decider will likely go down to the wire in
the last 2 to 3 points especially in the 3rd set and how the player sets up the
game to finish strongly. Many say this may be a game of chance and likely it
is. Still a discerning player who has gone through similar nail biting
situations before knows how to avoid to be too eager and how to be patient and
wait for the right time.
I've seen games won and lost at close 3 set contest in
deuce... sometimes the margins are extremely small in deciding who takes the
glory of gold and who takes the silver of despair. Put aside the champagne for
celebrations. The losing player will be more determined to come back for a win
in the next encounter for a sweet revenge. Rankings and seedings don’t fully
guarantee a player anything. To see who gets the better of who over time, they
are measured through head to head statistics to decide their bragging rights. Consistency,
discipline and self-determination are traits that comes to mind synonymous with
the top players who have been through it all.
Happy New Year 2024.
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