Malaysians in a dilemma over what to do against Thais

THOMAS-UBER CUP FINALS: JAKARTA, INDONESIA 

MALAYSIA, as expected, got off to a flying start in the Thomas Cup Finals with a 5-0 win over South Africa in the opening Group C tie at the Senayan Indoor Stadium here yesterday. 

But their thoughts were elsewhere – on the second and final Group C tie against Thailand tomorrow. 

The Malaysian coaches Misbun Sidek and Yap Kim Hock are caught in a Shakespearean dilemma – to win or not to win. 

Victory over Thailand, which should be a formalilty, would see them topping Group C and facing a potential quarter-final clash with top seeds China or hosts Indonesia. 

If they lose to the Thais – something that can be engineered – they will play South Korea in the quarter-finals.  

South Korea stayed on track to emerge as the Group B champions after a 5-0 win against New Zealand yesterday. 

Misbun said that he would apply the right strategy in their fight to keep Malaysia's flag flying high in the Finals. 

“We have to use the best possible methods to stay alive in the Thomas Cup. This is like a war and we have to get our strategies right,” said Misbun, the singles coach. 

“Having said that, I just do not want to get it wrong. Even if we avoid one (opponent), there is no guarantee we are going to win against the other.  

“But we certainly have a better chance against South Korea than against China or Indonesia. 

“We also do not know what Thailand have in mind. They, too, may want to play South Korea. 

“A lot of thinking needs to be done. I will talk with Kim Hock. I will talk with the players. And we will decide on the best way,” he added. 

Doubles coach Kim Hock, however, was more inclined towards strategising rather than playing at full strength. 

“We may be called cowards if we try to run away from meeting the top guns in the early round (last eight). But if we can keep our challenge going here, isn't it better to look at that possibility?” said Kim Hock. 

With the Koreans’ doubles strength diluted following the withdrawal of Ha Tae-kwon, Kim Hock believes the Malaysian doubles have a better chance of winning the points. 

On the players' performances against South Africa yesterday, Misbun said he was satisfied that they did not let nerves get the better of them. 

“The players played to my expectations. They did not put unnecessary pressure on themselves.  

“They seem to be very calm and collected. This is a good sign,” said Misbun. 

With South Africa having only five players in their squad, all three singles were played first and Wong Choong Hann blasted past Chris Dednam 15-1, 15-4.  

Debutant Lee Chong Wei showed no signs of first-time jitters as he cruised past Dean Potgieter 15-1, 15-1 while Mohd Hafiz Hashim handed Wiaan Viljoen a duck 15-0, 15-0 to clinch the winning point. 

In the last two matches, which were of academic interest, Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah defeated Chris Dednam-Roelof Dednam 15-5, 15-3 while the scratch pair of Chew Choon Eng and Koo Kien Keat won 15-3, 15-1 against James Dorian-Viljoen. 

Said Kim Hock: “Tan Fook-Wan Wah played a good attacking game but they must improve their defence too. Kien Keat did well for a first-timer and he can be counted on in all the other Malaysian ties.”