ALL ENGLAND Badminton C'ships 2009

Last Sunday night, 2 days ago, I had front row seat to the ALL ENGLAND OPEN BADMINTON Championships which was aired "Live" on our TV channel. Yes...my front row seat right in front of my beautiful Toshiba 42 inch TV screen. If there is anything that can dislodge my regular soccer dates with the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea or Arsenal, not forgetting Barcelona and Real Madrid or even Inter Milan and Juventus...well this is the thing... the ALL ENGLAND !
I have followed the ALL ENGLAND faithfully for as long as I can remember.

The prestigious ALL ENGLAND is the BIG ONE that all the top-notch ranked players would never want to miss.
And unk Dicko is included. No, I'm not a top rank player. I mean I will not want to miss catching all the Super-duper action from the word, " Love-all. Play! " And there are golden nuggets of tidbits and information from the live commentary as well as the post-game interviews with the players.

The mighty Chinese team swept all 5 titles at stake in impressive fashion. The last time this happened was in 1948 by Denmark with their famed super stars then.
In 1987, China took all 5 titles on homesoil.,,so that was different.
After the 2008 Olympics where they clinched 3 Golds out of 5, losing out the men's doubles and the mixed doubles, CHINA went into reinforced training, avoiding participation in the last Super series. They were criticised by the World body but I think to them the ALL ENGLAND is the right time and moment to banish the ghost of Beijing Olympics....especially for their top-rated doubles pair of Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng.

The historic win started out with He Hanbin and Yu Yang taking the Mixed Doubles title. Next up was probably what the whole world was waiting for...Lin Dan vs Lee Chong Wei, a rematch of their Beijing Olympics Final where the former made mincemeat of the latter. In the months since then, Chong Wei had won several Open titles and was ranked # 1 in the world. I saw him in action and he was in superb form. On the other hand, no one had any clear idea about Lin Dan...post-Olympic. It was to be a most entertaining match when the 2 adversaries strode onto the court to begin battle for the unofficial world Champ status. In 9 previous meetings between the two, Lee had lost 8 times! So that must be a very big psychological barrier to overcome. And that was how it turned out to be. Lin Dan was able to pull out " the hidden aces" when it mattered and in a flash, the 1st game was over at 21-19. The 2nd game was taken at 21-12. There was simply no answer by Lee. Most of the points he gained were from Lin's own errors. So Lin Dan collected his Trophy...for the 4th time.


The Women's Doubles were an all China affair with Zhang Yawen and Zhao Ting clinching it.
Then came the Ladies Singles event. Tine Rasmussen of Denmark, who holds the title, versus Wang Yihan the 21 year old from Shanghai. Tine, with her muscular frame and even hotter performance, has set the Badminton world on fire since last year. But no one can be blamed if they had asked "Wang ? Wang who?" about her opponent. She is the world Junior Champion and is ranked # 8 in world rankings. However, after the way she beat T Rasmussen and clinch the title at only her 2nd attempt, no one would again ask "Wang who?" Wang Yihan may turn out to be the new darling of China's Badminton. She won in 3 games with scores of 21-19, 21-23, 21-11. Her easy and relaxed movements on court, deadly accuracy with pin-point cross-court drops and sideline smashes, her retrieval ability...were magic to the eyes. So up to that point...it was CHINA 4-0 up.
The last match of the evening was the Men's Doubles between Cai Yun and Fu Haifeng vs the Korean pair of Han and Hwang. I had watched Cai and Fu a long time ago. On their day, no one could touch them. But losing that Olympic Final on home soil was a really hard act to swallow.
Since then, they have remained "hidden" in reinforced training. No idea how good they still are.The Korean pair is also new...but has slaughtered a few top-notch pairs enroute.
So...what a tremendous battle it turned out to be.
Unk Dicko has never seen Cai and Fu play any better than that game.
And I'm a doubles specialist myself !
They hammered the Koreans 21-17 and 21-15.
CHINA 5, the rest 0.!!!

Other posts: Read about the day I played against Zhao Jianhua, former World Badminton Champion....here : http://uncledicko.blogspot.com/search/label/Zhao%20jianhua

At Kg Kembangan...a Surprise !

This is the 3rd time I have appeared as guest ukulele and guitar musician for the Kembangan Singers at their usual Friday Singalong session. Other than Grand senior Tan Thoo Yang and myself, all the others are "Roses"!
Which obviously begs the question," whatever happened to all the senior menfolk?" I have not the faintest idea why there are no other "thorns" around. Could it be they consider it too much of a hassle...to get up, dress up and make their way to the CC for a Singalong? Or what?

In any case, the number has increased to 14 or 15 on Friday. Among those who turned up were 2 unexpected but most pleasant surprise for me...2 longtime close friends of D2 and myself..... Janet and B Hon! Both retired nurses who are family friends for more than 30 odd years.

We first met when we were members of COMEX Singapore Adventure Club in the 70's...and travelled together on many trips.

Over the years, together with a few others, we have remained a special close-knit group. So it was indeed a re-union of sorts for the 3 of us.

Photo:

Seated... B Hon and Janet are 2nd and third from the right. It was Irene, seated next to Janet, who told them about " a new musician named Mr Yip who can play the ukulele and guitar ..has come to entertain us."

Their curiosity were aroused as they both knew my background from those early days. They thought it might be me! And so it was! It is always wonderful to meet up with friends whom we've not seen for some time. D2 was as excited as I was when I told her later.

In the 2nd half of the session, I taught them a couple of "new" songs ( songs no one were familiar with ).

One was "Ah Chong Sok " which I had played and sung over radio and another was " Negro Spiritual".

I ended with " 2nd Storey Window".. another humourous one which drew much laughter!

Motorcycles, Scooters and Smart AGEING!

Motorcycles help keep you young.

Mental condition can be improved by using motorbikes to commute, says software expert.
Thu, Mar 05, 2009AFP
TOKYO

Riding motorcycles helps keep drivers young by invigorating their brains, the scientist behind popular "Brain Training" computer software said Wednesday, citing a new scientific study.
"The driver's brain gets activated by riding motorbikes" in part because it requires heightened alertness, Ryuta Kawashima said after his research team and Yamaha Motor conducted a string of experiments involving middle-aged men.
"In a convenient and easy environment, the human mind and body get used to setting the hurdle low," he warned. "Our final conclusion is that riding motorcycles can lead to smart ageing."
Kawashima is the designer of "Brain Training" software, which incorporates quizzes and other games and is available on the Nintendo DS game console under the name "Brain Age" in North America.
A self-professed motorcycle fan, 49-year-old Kawashima cited a new study conducted jointly by Yamaha and Tohoku University, for which he works.
One experiment involved 22 men, all in their 40s and 50s, who held motorcycle licences but had not taken a ride for at least a decade.
They were randomly split into two groups -- one asked to resume riding motorcycles in everyday life for two months, and another that kept using bicycles or cars.
"The group that rode motorbikes posted higher marks in cognitive function tests," Kawashima said.
In one test, which required the men to remember a set of numbers in reverse order, the riders' scores jumped by more than 50 percent in two months, while the non-riders' marks deteriorated slightly, he said.
The riders also said they made fewer mistakes at work and felt happier.
"Mental care is a very big issue in modern society," said Kawashima. "I think we made an interesting stir here as data showed you can improve your mental condition simply by using motorbikes to commute

What does unk Dicko think ?

I have been riding motorcycles and scooters since the mid 60's...till even now.

Photo above shows my present bike...a Vespa 150 cc scooter which I enjoy using and nipping

around in very much. Almost all of my good ole friends around my age group who once used to ride have either given up riding or "forced" into giving up by their spouses...donkey years ago.

I am in full agreement with the reasearch findings as articulated.

My mental alertness is as sharp as can be. Mobility and dexterity is still excellent. Vision almost perfect. Never panics under any circumstances ( it is no joke ). And more plusses!

So ...I think the findings confirm what I already knew. Cheers!

Views from Top of Library

This photo shows the length of North Bridge Road running towards the heart of our city. Time was about 11 am plus.




















This next photo shows Middle Road running towards Selegie Road at the top of the picture.

And the surrounding houses, shops and highrise buildings around the National Library and Rochore area.

What building is this?

What are those further back?

Anyone care to help identify?

National Library...Spectacular views.

These are snapshots which I captured from the top floor of our National Library last week.

Can anyone identify any of the bulidings? I am not certain so can't name them.

Here is an interesting view of the "Durian" as it looks from the top of the Library.

What are the other buildings in this photo? Anyone knows?

A zoomed in look of the same scene which shows the other side of the Singapore River.

What are those 2 tall buildings in the background?


Part of the setup for the photoshoot mentioned in my previous post. The way this floor was constructed allows unimpeded spectacular views of the city skyline.

National Library 16th Floor...PHOTOSHOOT

Last Friday, I went up to this place for the very first time. It is the top most floor of the National Library located along North Bridge Road, near Bugis Junction. It is not opened to the public or to normal visitors. Access is via a private room and the lift there. I had arrived at about 9.55 am and went to the reception counter in the main lobby. There were 2 Indian ladies who spoke with me. I told them I have an appointment at the top floor room. One replied," oh, you can't go there. It's a private area." I said I had an official appointment with the P R firm Ogilvy. " oh, we have no idea. You wait ah...ah what's your name btw?" Then they looked through a clipboard looking none the wiser. Suddenly, another lady seated by the computer terminal spoke, " Sir, are you here for the photoshoot?" Me..."yes". "So you must be Mr Yip". Me..."Yes, I certainly am". " Ok....you can go to that private entrance there"..she pointed.

I was escorted up to the 16th floor, the top most floor. C3A staff were there and so were Ogilvy too. The others were from the Professional Studio doing the filming.

In all, there were about ten persons plus the equipment needed for the shoot.

The director for the photo session was "Olivier" a Frenchman. He looks like an expert. The rest were doing various things. I was given a set of clothes to try, a touch of makeup and some guidance about what they were hoping to achieve...the outcomes.

The setting was perfect for what they hoped to project...a technological and digital age/background.
I thought so too, having looked around at the ambience and especially the architecture and structures within.

I won't divulge the details of the shoot yet or what it is meant for except to say I had been surprised the session ended ahead of time scheduled for it.

When I asked Olivier how it turned out..he said it was "perfect, very good."



I had a glimpse of some of the shots taken of me from various angles and in different postures. I was the only subject that morning.

Well....?

Like he said " Perfect! "

The images were truly excellent. But I don't have a single one to show....sigh!

The view from this huge 16th floor recess is spectacular in its own way.

You can see some pics I captured in my next 2 posts.

REDSPORTS Founder Wins Award !

Redsports founder

wins inaugural Everyday Champions award.

Feb. 27
Story by Dawn Yip.
Photos by Lai Jun Wei.

Red Sports founder Leslie Tan with his award. (Photo 1 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
St Regis, Thursday, February 26, 2009 - Leslie Tan, founder and editor of Red Sports, was named as one of the winners of the first-ever POSB Everyday Champions awards. The awards are the nation’s top accolade honouring sports advocates whose contributions have enlivened Singapore sports and inspired others to a sporting way of life.

The idea for Red Sports came to Leslie when he observed the millions of dollars spent on sponsorship of overseas sports. “What about our sports, our schools, our youth?” he said. “So much happens at the school and national level but we don’t get to see, hear or read about it enough. The general sporting public knows more about foreign sports than local sports.”In 2007, Red Sports was born, with the mission of telling the Singapore sports story. “My desire is to bring the passionate, vibrant world of Singapore sports to light. On the site, I hope athletes can find their home on the web, and I hope to fan the flames of a national sporting culture.”
In a sign of the traction Red Sports has had, Leslie received multiple nominations from both friends and strangers. He was chosen by a selection panel as a winner in the Individuals Category, together with 14 others. The category recognises “individuals who possess a burning passion and have a love for their sport”, according to the Singapore Sports Council.
One of the people who nominated Leslie was Ian Chew, a regular contributor to Red Sports. Asked why he did it, Ian explained, “His vision and commitment to the viability of this website is quite inspiring. And I’ve learnt a lot from him about creating and managing a website well.”
Said Laura Reid, another nominator, “Les is one of the unsung heroes of Singapore’s sporting community. He is everything a great sports fan should be: a critic, a cheerleader, an advocate and, yes sometimes, a grump—but always a loyalist. He puts his own time and money into getting Singapore’s sports stories into the virtual world where everybody can read about them…. Nominating Les was the easiest decision I ever made.”
Leslie found out that he had won the award via an email from the Singapore Sports Council. “I was pleasantly surprised,” he said. “This site is a labour of love of many hands - people who believe passionately in the Singapore sports story. I’m grateful for all their support.”
“When people ask me who pays for this site, they list the usual suspects - SSC, MCYS, MOE. I tell them, no, it’s POSB - my own bank account!” quipped Leslie, in a nod to the title sponsor of the award.



Above...President Nathan graciously autographs a Red Teeshirt while Leslie and D3 look on.

Laura Reid and Ian Chew who nominated Leslie for the Award.
(This article and the photos come from Redsports website.)Unk Dicko was very much a part of Redsports initial set up in January 2007.As a matter of fact the very 1st story we did was covering the soccer game between Serangoon Sec and Deyi Sec. I made all the arrangements for access and contacts. Leslie did all the pro shooting and I wrote my 1st article for Redsports.That seems ages ago compared to what Leslie and Redsports has achieved today.The beginning story of the struggles we went through is worth telling one day.

Unk Dicko