Thomas Cup Prospects

One of the more important tournaments in badminton would be the Thomas Cup. The Men's team event where it provides the most excitement, joy and also heartbreak to many viewers around the world. When we won in 1992, where I was barely 9 years old. I remembered jumping for joy and screaming with so much sense of pride. We reached the final a couple more times later but the closest we came to winning was actually back in 2002 where Roslin lost to Hendrawan in the decider. We lost the tie 3-2.

Since the emergence of Kien Keat and Boon Heong, I am sure many Malaysian's have begun to take more interest in the sport once more. Finally, we have a pair who wins not a player who upsets a world class player and loses the next round. We ought to aim for more. I personally hate players who say that their aim is to reach the semi-finals or finals. If you don't feel that you have a chance of winning a tournament, please do not take part. Half the battle is won and lost in the head.

Anyway, let's take a look at the big 5 teams using the latest world rankings released yesterday. Let's make it easier with a team of 10 players comprising of 4 singles players and 3 doubles pairs.

China
Lin Dan- (1)
Bao Chunlai - (2)
Chen Jin - (3)
Chen Yu - (7)
Fu Haifeng/Cai Yun - (1)
Shen Ye/He Hanbin - (42)
Guo Zhengdong/Xie Zhongbo - (54)

Denmark
Peter Gade - (5)
Kenneth Jonassen - (8)
Joachim Persson - (17)
Kesper Oedum - (29)
Jens Eriksen/Martin Lundgaard - (2)
Lars Paaske/Jonas Rasmussen - (17)
Simon Mollyhus/Anders Kristiansen - (20)

South Korea
Park Sung-Hwan - (14)
Lee Cheol-Ho - (61)
Hwang Jung-Woon - (79)
Shon Sheong-Mo - (95)
Jung Jae-Sung/Lee Yong-Dae - (3)
Hwang Ji-Man/Lee Jae-Jin - (11)
Yoo Yeon-Seong/Han Sang-Hoon - (71)

Indonesia
Sony Dwi Kuncoro - (11)
Taufik Hidayat - (18)
Simon Santoso - (20)
Jeffer Rosobin - (57)
Markis Kido/Hendra Setiawan - (4)
Candra Wijaya/Tony Gunawan - (5)
Luluk Hadiyanto/Alven Yulianto - (8)

Malaysia
Lee Chong Wei - (4)
Hafiz Hashim - (9)
Roslin Hashim - (19)
Lee Tsuen Seng - (21)
Choong Tan Fook/Lee Wan Wah - (6)
Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong - (10)
Gan Teik Chai/Zakry Latif - (13)

With all this players lined up, let's do a simple calculation on who are the favourites based on their best average world ranking of 3 singles and 2 doubles. I am sure China will be the favourites already looking at the strength of their singles but let's have a little fun. The results are :-

China - 9.8
Denmark - 9.8
South Korea - 33.6
Indonesia - 11.6
Malaysia - 9.6

I did not expect this. Malaysia has the lowest average ranking if we take into account the best lineup possible. Would 2008 be our year of regaining the cup? China's strength in the singles may just pull them through but who knows? Another gem from Malaysia could emerge by then. Let's keep our fingers crossed. Malaysia Boleh!