The BWF Super Series Masters Finals at Kota Kinabalu was held on 18-21 December 2008.

Pic courtesy of Donald.

It’s been some time since a world-class badminton event was held in Sabah, and being a badminton fan, this was something I’d try my best not to miss.

Pic courtesy of Donald.

It was also a chance to observe how to organise a world-class event, something that’s being broadcast live worldwide: on TV and the internet.

I observed there were 8 videocameras, 6 next to the courts and 2 further away.

For the 2 scoreboards next to the courts, they used state government PCs (I thought they’d get brand new sponsored ones?!) and Samsung flat screens. They used a wired LAN setup, cables were hidden under the blue carpet.

I think they utilised the State Cultural Board’s sound system, technical personnel and cheerleaders. I must say they did a superb job. Everything was pin-point precise.

A popular 70s singer, perhaps most famous for the classic “Ingin Bersua“, was spotted at the VIP section:

Pic courtesy of Donald.

It was also a good idea to set up 2 warm up courts in the gymnasium next door. That way:
(i) the players could start warming up earlier, rather than having to do so on the match courts. This enabled matches to be started quicker, hence keeping the crowd’s enthusiasm going, as after the WWE-like introductions, complete with loud music, they could start the match straight away.
(ii) it enabled fans to watch the players from up close, literally only a few metres away! It was very exhilarating watching some of the very best badminton players in the world doing their jumping smashes, returns and drives at eye level.

The running of the event was very smooth, I didn’t notice any delays or technical glitches. Kudos to the organisers.

I guess this is where they catch the drugs cheats:

I spent two afternoons (+ night) at the venue, during the semis and the finals.

The atmosphere was electrifying, whom even the Indonesian players equated with the famed Istora Senayan match day roar. No quiet during play here, unlike in the west. It’s football stadium-like noisy!

Malaysia won all 3 events in which it made the finals, but for many, including myself, the enduring memory of that event would be Koo Kien Keat’s (KKK) triple smash seated return with the score at 19-16 when he and partner Tan Boon Heong played against the higher-ranked Koreans.

The Koreans were riding high on confidence, having beaten reigning World and Olympic champions and the world’s top ranked pair, Markis Kido and Hendra Setiawan the day before.

For those of you who missed it, user “badmintonluver1511″ has posted it on youtube. The action starts at 6:16 as KKK serves to Lee Yong-dae, who’ve been called “the new Park Joo-bong,” then denies Jung Jae-sung’s desperate attempts to kill the bird.

Incredible stuff. Even the two commentators were initially lost for words to describe what was unfolding.

I just missed the Chong Wei – Gade final match. I could hear almighty roars as I hurriedly made my way into the stadium and by the time I got in, the two were already shaking hands.

Then, at the end of the women’s doubles final match, one of the Indonesian ladies (I think it was Vita Marissa) threw her racket to the crowd, causing several men to behave like little children, fighting over it. It’s a wonder that the racket was not destroyed in the process!

One of the songs played between each set was Queen’s “We Will Rock You,” and in one particular interval, a mischievous member of the audience screamed “We Will F**k You” instead.

Afterwards, as Chong Wei, Kien Keat and Boon Heong hung around, they were surrounded by eager fans who clicked away. Attempting to pose for photographs with the superstars was an adventure in itself.

Some lucky ones managed to have one for the album, like this young lady who posed with Vita Marissa and Liliyana Natsir:

Pic courtesy of Donald.

… indeed events like this can only be good for Sabah in particular; so instead of Vegas vacations tourists will target Sabah instead …

Popularity: 1% [?]

Permalink | playing around, sabud |