MEMORIES OF … Thailand Open 2009

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It was Gerald’s first assignment for Badzine in the 2009 SGT Thailand Open. We have asked him to tell us what his impressions were. Here are his “memories of” this unique tournament in one of badminton's most vibrant locales.

Story and Photos: Gerald Jew, Badzine Special Thailand Correspondent

There’s always one thing you can count on when doing just about anything in Thailand, you know you going to have fun. The Thai people incorporate fun - or sanuk - into almost everything they do in life, whether it’s in the workplace, at home, or an event like the SCG Thailand Open.

Nevertheless, I was a bit apprehensive when I arrived on the first day of the tournament to apply for my press credential, not having covered the Thailand Open or any event for that matter, for Badzine before. My fears were quickly alleviated the moment I walked through the press room door and was greeted by five smiling young ladies and was asked how they could be of help. I then showed them my letter of credential and one of them immediately went to work preparing my press pass for me. I was the first member of the press to show up on that first day and the girls were more than happy to accommodate my request. Having gotten the formalities out of the way, it was time to go watch some badminton.

This year’s SCG Thailand Open lacked many of the big name stars from previous years and especially from last year’s tournament when China sent many of their top shuttlers to Bangkok as a warm up to the Olympics. This year’s tournament did provide quite a few star players, but also would provide an opportunity for many younger and less experienced players, the great majority from Thailand, to gain some valuable international major tournament experience.
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The first day’s play consisted of mostly women’s singles qualification rounds along with men’s doubles qualifying and first round men’s singles action. When I first entered the stadium and looked around at the many players warming up or sitting around waiting for their matches, one thing that struck me was how young many most of the players were. Some were barely into their teens and many looked younger as many Thais and Asians do, than their years. Once play began it became quite evident that in spite of their young ages, these kids can play. Unfortunately for the twenty or so Thai girls that were entered in the women’s qualifying, only one moved into the main draw. The other three spots were filled by a Korean and by the only two Chinese women entered in the qualifying, the two badminton powerhouses once again showing off their depth.

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I’ll always remember the sight of one of the younger Thai girls who was sitting in the player’s seating area crying almost uncontrollably after her close loss, being consoled by her mother. As I walked passed her during a break in play, she looked up at me and gave me the biggest smile she could manage. As I smiled back I thought to myself, “She’ll be back, that’s passion for the game.”

Speaking of smiling, China’s Wang Rong was a delight to watch, on and off the court. Her aggressive style of play made her stand out on the court and her almost continuous smile stood out off the court. Winning seven matches, including three in the qualifying rounds, would put a smile on most any player’s face, but the smile never went away even after she lost the final to countrywoman Liu Jian.

Nguyen Tien Minh, the diminutive Vietnamese shuttler from Ho Chi Minh City and the men’s singles winner, was probably the player that stood the tallest in this year’s Thailand Open. His play throughout the tournament and especially in the later rounds against tougher opponents was a joy to watch. He proved that his defeat of Lee Chong Wei a month ago in the Aviva Singapore Super Series event was no fluke. His speed, jumping ability and ultra quick hands were something to behold. I couldn’t help but think that with the speed of his hands he could have been a world champion boxer had he wanted to.

Nguyen and his small entourage that accompanied him from Vietnam also provided me a light-hearted moment. After the men’s singles awards memoriesthailand3ter

ceremony, I had the opportunity to speak with Nguyen and snap a few photos, after which he and his friends asked me if I would take some pictures of them using their cameras. More than happy to oblige, we were busy taking photos when all of a sudden we heard a voice, “Do you mind moving your celebration over a few feet, we’ve got a match going on over here,” the women’s doubles final had just begun. It was the tournament referee who had walked all the way from the opposite end of court to admonish us. “Uh-oh,” I first thought, but he understood the moment and he was fine with us moving a little further away from the court from where the match was being played.

Another player who made a big impression on me was Malaysia’s #1 seeded Wong Choong Hann. I was fortunate enough to have a couple of conversations with Wong. I know it’s impossible to get to know a person after spending just a few minutes with them, but I briefly talked to Wong after one of his early round wins and after his semi-final loss to Boonsak Ponsana. In both cases one couldn’t help but be impressed by what a genuinely nice guy he comes across as. It’s not hard to see why the Malaysians call him 'Uncle Wong'.

This year’s Thailand Open was supposed to showcase some of the young future stars of the game in the absence of many of the sport’s present top players. Although most of the final round matches were won by veteran players and pairs, many of the young shuttlers showed that they are forces to be reckoned not just in the future, but in the present as well. The exuberance and enthusiasm of the young Malaysian pair of Chan Peng Soon and Lim Khim Wah and their barely controllable jubilation when they won the men’s doubles, was a joy to watch.

I have to admit that I was slightly disappointed when I first saw the list of players who would be participating in this year’s Open. I couldn’t have been more wrong. This year’s Open provided all the excitement and great badminton of past years, and all the sanuk that is expected when playing in the Land of Smiles.

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