The Art Of Badminton
Field Tactics
Kevin - Marcus in this final will face Taiwan representatives who this year are onfire. The winning charts of this Taiwanese pair continue to rise. Several times Kevin-Marcus met with Taiwanese couple Lee Yang - Wang Chilin and head to head between them is still superior to the Indonesian couple. But at the last meeting of the Malaysia Open Tournament, Kevin - Marcus must be willing to be the runner up over this Taiwanese couple.
Many are worried that the Minions' achievements, which are the name for Kevin-Marcus, will decline this year. Not a few who judge that their slump is both caused by the age factor of Marcus who has stepped on the head of three. But Kevin's emotional factor is also in the spotlight because it is too easy to down when the pair is cornered.
One sports media mentions that Kevin could be in a condition where someone feels saturated. He no longer finds passion in his game. This may be triggered by various things. Chinese media said one of the Minions' slumps was just after China's number one men's doubles pair, which also ranked number two in the world just below the Minions, decided to take a break and gave no clarity to the media as to why they were do that thing.
It is known that the pair of Chinese Ganda son Li Junhui - Liu Yucen is Kevin - Marcus' arch-enemy. In badminton maybe the fight between them can be called El Clasico like Madrid and Barcelona.
Kevin served Lee Yang quickly and thinly. Lee Yang grabbed the ball and pointed it to Kevin's left. Kevin quickly reached out to the ball and returned it cross not far from the net lips, and almost escaped from the pursuit of Lee Yang. Lee Yang's return ball is not perfect because it hit the net and was immediately slashed by kevin mercilessly.
Everyone cheered for the first point of the Indonesian couple.
Marcus and Wang Chilin had not once received the ball.
Kevin back in service. This time Wang Chilin returned it with a rebound ball. Marcus who was ready at the back directly jumping smash and send the ball darted quickly to the Taiwanese couple's field. Lee Yang who was famous for his sturdy defense easily returned the ball. Kevin was about to take a rebound ball from Lee Yang but the ball was too high so the ball continued to advance into the back area, and Markus immediately launched a back attack. Markus' attack was again broken by Lee Yang and the ball this time did not soar, he intelligently directs the ball to the left side of the field with the aim that the Indonesian pair have doubts whether the ball goes in or not. But Kevin did not want to take the risk, he took the ball and turned it far behind the field. Lee Yang and Wang Chilin did not expect Kevin would give the ball flat away so they let go hoping the ball would go off the field. The audience cheered again, because it turned out that the ball was right to fall on the line of the field.
Score now Indonesian couple ahead 2 - 0. The ball belongs to Kevin. His eyes were sharp ready to pounce on the Taiwanese couple. Lee Yang grabbed the ball from Kevin and hit the net. The ball rolled into the Indonesian couple's field thinly. Kevin with a quick hand movement managed to take the ball even though imperfectly. Kevin's return ball soared, and Wang Chilin swiftly launched his attack by doing a smash. Markus, whose position is now aligned with Kevin, confronted the herdsman of Wang Chilin. The ball bounced back high and Wang Chillin returned to jumping smash. Markus again managed to return the ball with not too good control. The ball bounced back and made it easier for Wang Chilin to make another attack. Wang Chilin jumped very high, his racket was ready to grab the ball. The Indonesian pair are ready to receive a smash ball from the opponent, but unexpectedly Wang Chilin did a drop shot. Markus and Kevin who have done the horses for defense and footwork are not ready to step forward, must be willing to drop his body forward to take a drop shot ball from Wang Chilin. Markus fell down, his racket managed to reach a distant ball in front of him. But unfortunately the ball is returned with responsibility over the lips of the net. Lee Yang whose position was at the front immediately charged into the attack. The ball immediately shot to the top of Markus' head which is currently still sitting on the field and not ready to stand. But amazingly, Markus' hand quickly fluttered his racket overhead, and the ball flew back over the net towards the opponent's field. But Lee Yang did not want to stop. He returned to attack. This time he grabbed the ball and directed it to the right edge of the front which is very impossible to take Markus let alone Kevin who is now in his position on the left of the field. But once again Markus showed a high fighting power. He broke his body as if he knew the ball was going to be directed there. The ball went back over the opponent's net, and Markus had resigned because his position was now completely dead. He just hoped the ball was coming towards Kevin not on him.
Lee Yang confidently prepared to execute the ball of responsibility from Markus. But luck continues to take sides. Markus' responsibility ball could not be returned perfectly by Lee Yang. The ball hit the net and rolled down on its own field.
The audience cheered again. What a truly amazing match.
The first game show was absolutely amazing. The Taiwanese pair was far behind 11 - 6. But they managed to get closer to 17 - 15 and again had to fall behind until finally the game ended with a score of 21 - 16 for the excellence of the Indonesian pair.
I really enjoyed this match. It's a World-class match.
I saw Nay seem silent. From the look on his face I knew he was thinking something.
Nay is still drowning in his daydream. It seems he has no intention of responding to my statement.
"I'm worried...!" nay said slowly. His face hinted at worry.
"This match means? I think the Minions will finish him off in the second game." My words are full of confidence.
"I hope so ! Maybe I'm thinking too much." Nay tried to comfort himself, even though I knew he was hiding something.
*
Marcus is serving. Wang Chilin instantly grabbed onto Marcus's serve ball quickly. The ball shot to the left of Markus but Kevin had already moved and returned the ball crossed right in front of the net. Wang Chilin who was still in front easily picked up the ball and re-directed the ball towards Kevin. Kevin deflected the ball but it was not perfect so the return ball was immediately slashed by Wang Chilin and managed to produce points for the Taiwanese men's doubles pair.
Wang Chilin served and Kevin with his quick hands immediately grabbed the ball. Almost the couple from Taiwan died but Wang Chilin managed to return it in the front area of the field right in front of Markus. The ball flew back to the Taiwanese couple's back area, and Lee Yang immediately did a jumping smash directed at Kevin. Kevin returned the ball bounced back, Lee Yang again jumping smash towards Kevin, and Kevin again block the ball and produce the ball hull back which was immediately slashed back by Lee Yang. Do not want to lose Kevin returned the ball bounced back which immediately slashed Lee Yang.
"It's a danger !" Nay looked worried.
I also realized what Nay was worried about. Kevin's return ball is getting weaker and weaker. The ball is no longer high and far away. After Lee Yang did the fifth smash, finally the kevin return ball that was immediately slashed by Wang Chilin who did have a high stature and could easily reach the kevin rebound ball that was slowing down. Taiwanese men's doubles pair tos for getting points back.
A silent atmosphere suddenly rippled across the Stadium. The second-placed point is ahead of the Taiwanese pair 11 - 5. The trainers appear to be giving directions to both partners who look to be wiping sweat with their respective towels.
The game is back. Kevin and Marcus seem to be working very hard. Marcus dropped several times to take the ball, while Kevin was always attacked when the Taiwanese pair had the opportunity to do a smash. Points on the scoreboard indicate 15-10 for the Taiwanese pair's advantage. All the spectators looked silent and gloomy.
The ball again flies back and forth from one side of the field to the other. Kevin is still the target of Taiwanese couple Smash. Nay had expected that this Taiwanese couple would make Kevin's emotions waver. That way the Indonesian men's doubles pair will be unfocused and as if there is no more teamwork. The Taiwanese couple seems to know Kevin's current condition is indeed in an unstable emotion.
