[arwebb]

England should be strong in the badminton competition. They head for Melbourne having beaten Denmark for the first time in a team match in 20 years. If Malaysia wants the team gold, they will have to earn it.

[theone]

arwebb, on Mar. 07 2006,14:52, said:

England should be strong in the badminton competition. They head for Melbourne having beaten Denmark for the first time in a team match in 20 years. If Malaysia wants the team gold, they will have to earn it.

IBF's Latest World Rankings

Men's Singles
Malaysia: Lee Chong Wei (2)
England: Aamir Ghaffar (35)

Men's Doubles
Malaysia: Chan Chong Ming - Kho Kien Keat (6)
England: Anthony Clark - Robert Blair (14)

Women's Singles
Malaysia: Wong Mew Choo (12)
England: Tracey Hallam (9)

Women's Doubles
Malaysia: Wong Pei Tty - Chin Eei Hui (4)
England: Gail Emms -Donna Kellog (5)

Mixed Doubles
Malaysia: Khoo Kien Keat - Wong Pei Tty (17)
England: Nathan Robertson - Gail Emms (1)

Still anybody's game. Point to note that the Malaysian mixed doubles players have beaten the English pair many times lately. If I'm not mistaken, Wong Mew Choo has also beaten Tracey Hallam in their last meeting. This is the first time ever in CWG that the Malaysian women's team has a decent world ranking in badminton.

[theone]

arwebb, on Mar. 08 2006,07:28, said:

It's on the day where we decide these hings, though, not based on world rankings.

True.

[Suit U Sir !!!]

Faster, on Mar. 09 2006,06:36, said:

Australia close to or over the 200 mark

Do you mean Gold medals or total number of medals won? Either is possible.........

:laughlong:  :laughlong:

[stevie]

I would be happy to see NZ place 5th or higher on the medal table but there is going to be a big battle between South Africa and New Zealand for that 5th place spot. Both countries have come out and said they want that placing on the final medal table.

[theone]

Siew Wei Warms Up With Win In Bendigo Meet

Quote

MELBOURNE, March 13 (Bernama) -- Hurdler Moh Siew Wei warmed up for the Commonwealth Games athletics programme, which starts on Sunday, by winning the 100m hurdles at a pre-Melbourne 2006 meet in Bendigo, about 180km from here.

Siew Wei, the Manila SEA Games gold medallist who has a personal best of 13.39s set in Manila, clocked 13.50 seconds to beat England's Julie Holeman (13.81s) and Joy Dicna of Nigeria (14.01s) who finished second and third respectively.

The meet, which saw eight countries -- England, Australia, Wales, Scotland, Nigeria, New Zealand, Malaysia and the Isle of Man. taking part, was held to help athletes tune up for the Commonwealth Games here.

Besides Siew Wei, three other athletes -- Roslinda Samsu (women's pole vault), Ahmad Najwan Aqra Hassan (men's high jump) and Robani Hassan (men's 100m) saw action in the meet.

In the pole vault, medal prospect and SEA Games record holder Roslinda finished second with a height of 3.80m, well below her personal best of 4.20m.

Australia's Hill Irie won the event with a height of 3.95m while another Australian, Justine Mcewan, finished third with 3.50m.

[theone]

Here are some from today's papers in Malaysia:

BADMINTON: Top billing for Malaysia

Quote

THE BA of Malaysia (BAM) may not be too optimistic of the national team’s chances in the mixed team event, but as far as the International Badminton Federation (IBF) is concerned, Malaysia are good enough to be seeded No 1 for the Commonwealth Games.

Malaysian shuttlers are expected to deliver at least four gold medals in Melbourne via the men’s singles and doubles, women’s doubles and either the women’s singles or the mixed team event.

However, BAM officials have stated that England will start as the favourites for the mixed team event.

But in yesterday’s draw for the team event in Melbourne, Malaysia were given top billing by the IBF.

GYMNASTICS: Poised for glory but Shu Wai needs to stay cool in Games

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From the results of the World Championships last year, Shu Wai is the top-ranked gymnast among the Commonwealth Games participants. But he said that the competition in Melbourne would be a new ball game.

TRACK CYCLING: Josiah eyeing Games glory

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PETALING JAYA: Heavy is the head that wears the crown. But Josiah Ng, the new overall winner in World Cup keirin, is confident that he will be able to handle the pressure to bring glory to the country in the Melbourne Commonwealth Games track cycling competitions.

Josiah’s stirring display in the final leg of the just concluded World Cup in Sydney has turned him into a genuine contender for the gold in not just his pet event, keirin, but also in the individual sprint.

Rhythmic gymnasts all set for a good show

Quote

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian rhythmic gymnastics’ team stole the show in the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games with a gold medal-winning performance.

Rhythmic gymnastics are in the Games programme for the second time in the series and Malaysia can expect another good showing from their team of Foong Seow Ting, Durratun Nashihin Rosli and Chrystal Lim in Melbourne.

Based on their performances in recent international tournaments, Malaysia are ranked second behind Canada.

And the Malaysian Gymnastics Federation (MGF) secretary, N. Shanmugarajah, believes that the team will deliver the goods in Melbourne.

“Our rhythmic team have been constantly showing improvements. If they managed well (in Melbourne), they will certainly be challenging for medals in most of the events.”

[theone]

SQUASH: Nicol better prepared for tough challenge

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WORLD No 1 Nicol David is ready to meet the challenge of playing in both the singles and mixed doubles in the Commonwealth Games.

Ambitious three-gold target for our lawn bowlers

Quote

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Lawn Bowls Federation (MLBF) have set an ambitious forecast of their team winning three gold, a silver and two bronze medals in the Commonwealth Games.

The MLBF president, Tan Sri Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid, said that they made their prediction based on the national team's well-planned programmes and strong performances in competitions and Test matches over the last four years.

He said that it was no secret that Malaysia had built a strong reputation in the sport after stamping a mark in the 1998 KL Commonwealth Games with a silver and two bronze medals.

Malaysia won a gold and a bronze at the last Games in Manchester 2002 and they are now ready to strike bigger goals.

LAWN BOWLS: Siti gets nod

Quote

PETALING JAYA: Newly-crowned world Under-25 women's singles champion Nur Iryani Azmi has a different role to play in the Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

The Malaysian Lawn Bowls Federation (MLBF) in a surprise move will not field the 20-year-old lass in her pet event, the singles. Instead Nur Iryani will team up with seasoned campaigners Norhashimah Ismail and Azlina Arshad for the challenge in the triples event.

The 2002 Manchester Games singles champion, Siti Zalina Ahmad, has been given the nod to defend the title.

[arwebb]

It's on the day where we decide these hings, though, not based on world rankings.

[Faster]

It should be about the same as last time

Australia close to or over the 200 mark
England - near the century and a half mark
Canada - just over the hundred
India - Around 70
New Zealand and South Africa with between 40 and 50

I am hoping that Canada (namely Mike Brown) can take a gold medal from the pool. Canada should get most of its medals in Aquatics, Athletics, Boxing, Shooting, and Weightlifting.

It will be interesting, to bad there is going to be much good coverage in Canada (about 7 hours per week)