Malaysia open 2008: Lydia struggling to blossom (pic)

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Badminton News from BadmintonPlanet.com

LYDIA Cheah, once considered the future of Malaysia's women's badminton, has hit a slump after failing to make any impact on senior tournaments. Lydia Cheah admits she still has a long way to go. The player freely admits that her two main problems are inconsistency and the inability to read her opponent's game. "I hope to be an Olympic champion one day but the way I'm playing now I have a serious doubt," said the 19-year-old silver medallist in the Asian Junior Championships two years ago. "At my age, I should have won several second-tier international tournaments but I have not done so. I always do well in training but somehow I always fail in tournaments." However, Lydia is satisfied with her coach (Teh Sew Bok) who has been giving her his undivided attention during training. "He has been very forgiving whenever I lose easy matches but I know his patience will wear off if I continue at this rate" she said. Lydia competed in nine senior tournaments last year and her best result was reaching the quarter-finals of the Malaysia International Challenge. In last year's World Junior Championships in New Zealand, she helped Malaysia claim the bronze in the mixed-team event. She also competed in the Korat Sea Games and returned with a bronze in the women's team event. The former Bukit Jalil Sports School student was promoted to the national back-up squad early this January.

 

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