Fever

I was so excited that the Thomas Cup finals were about to start. As mentioned in the mass media, it's been 18 long years since we last won the Cup. And that too on homeground. Since the finals this year is once again on homeground, expectations were high. After all, there has been so much talk that we've the best preparations, the best team, the best everything.

And so the finals begun. We got off to a great start having been given a walkover by Nigeria; not that we'd have lost. Hearts all over Malaysia nearly suffered a heart attack when we lost to Japan. So close was the fight and yet, we lost. Hearts that nearly stopped beating, starting racing again when we gallantly fought and won against Denmark. What a match it was against the Danes. I was literally on my feet, pacing and there was a point when Choong Hann was playing that I actually had to leave the room, for fear that I would throw up my dinner due to the excitement!!

But alas...our joy over the hard fought victory over the Danes to enter the semi-finals was short-lived. We lost tamely to the Chinese. No excuses there. Was China the better team? Well...in my opinion, Malaysia too had a good team. But apparently, the Malaysians looked and proved that no matter how good we were against the other teams, we were intimidated by the Chinese. Chong Wei is one good example. He was superb against Hato and Gade but against Lin Dan, he was a mouse! I doubt that he would have won the All-England had Lin Dan been his opponent in that final.

And so...our wait for the Thomas Cup continues. Having watched Chong Wei lose to Lin Dan, the only "fever" I experienced is from the incredibly hot sun that has been bearing down on us these past few days.