BADMINTON PETRONAS MALAYSIA OPEN 2022 (on hold)

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PETRONAS MALAYSIA OPEN 2022

OverPMO 2022

PETRONAS and its subsidiary, PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad (PDB) signed a three-year sponsorship agreement with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), forming a partnership that is expected to further boost the performance of Malaysian badminton.

The Malaysia Open 2022 marked the start of this partnership with PETRONAS as the title sponsor. The event is officially named the PETRONAS Malaysia Open 2022.

Held on June 28 to July 3, it was more than a sporting event with added entertainment elements, photography exhibition and a carnival outside the arena to celebrate the return of this prestigious badminton tournament.

Here are moments captured over the 6 days of triumph and disbelieve, tears of joy and defeat, of competitive strength, camaraderie and friendship.

Organised by Title Sponsor

World Tour Title Sponsor

BAM Co-Sponsors

Supportead by

Sanction by

Norza with Malaysia’s legendary Lee Chong Wei.

Words from the President

Penning this foreword, is indeed a milestone for me, personally. I am privileged and honoured to call PETRONAS, our partner and steadfast supporter. It is a culmination of sorts, as my love for sports was a fire that ignited early. It is sports that bring us together, and it is through sports that the spirit of Keluarga Malaysia burns brightly.

Through the years, Malaysia has played host to numerous sporting events like the SEA Games, Thomas Cup, and the Merdeka Tournament. Throughout history, we have never needed any introduction to the beauty of sportsmanship and the noble struggle of competition. I was no exception to being influenced by these traits, and it was the Malaysia Open badminton tournament that changed my life in 1983.

The best players in the world had assembled right in our heartland, and I remember that incredible moment when the entire country was captivated by the tournament, the players, and patriotism. Malaysia at the time, without the aid of social media, had a sea of people waiting eagerly by the newspaper stands in the early mornings while the rest had their ears peeled to the radio - just so they could follow the outcome of matches between renowned players like Liem Swie King, Icuk Sugiarto, Christian Hadinata, Li Lingwei, Gillian Gowers and Gillian Clark, Zhao Jianhua and Yang Yang. These were only a few of the notable names in action back in the ‘80s.

Lest we forget, battling fiercely amongst these stars were our very own Sidek brothers; Datuk Misbun, Datuk Razif and Dato’ Sri Jalani. In the early ‘90s, we then saw the emergence of a new Malaysian star, Datuk Rashid Sidek who would sensationally wrest the singles title and kept the mantle for three years in succession. The ‘90s would also see the likes of doubles aces, Park Joo Bong-Kim Moon Soo, Rexy Mainaky-Ricky Subagja and Susi Susanti who went on to win multiple titles in Malaysia.

This particular tournament was rendered a favourite amongst local fans, eagerly filling stadiums each year as a show of support for our players - some of whom would go on to claim the top prizes. It was a glorious time for Malaysian fans, and they would continue celebrating well beyond the millennium.

But the best had yet to come.

The 2004 edition of the Malaysia Open, which is etched into my memory, would mark the start of Datuk Wira Lee Chong Wei’s illustrious career. He would dominate the Malaysia Open and claim a record of 12 titles. While he would go on to be the world

No. 1 and claim multiple more titles (including Olympic silver medals), his Malaysia Open titles will always remain remarkable and cherished by millions of badminton-crazy fans in the country.

We then come to the year 2022, marking the beginning of a new era for badminton in the country. BAM, which has contributed the highest number of Olympic medals for Malaysia, signed on with global oil and gas giant, PETRONAS as their Title Sponsor, a testament to their patriotism and BAM’s own accomplishments.

Aside from the substantial sponsorship, which fuels and accelerates the development of national badminton in the coming years, PETRONAS brings a breadth of knowledge and experience from their years as the Title and Technical Partner of the Mercedes AMG PETRONAS F1 Team into our partnership. The team had won the Constructors crown eight times while Lewis Hamilton accumulated seven successive world titles. There is no doubt we can tap into their vast experience in the world of competitive sports to assist us in our quest to be the best in the world.

The benefits of having a partner like them was evident at the PETRONAS Malaysia Open 2022. They knew exactly what needed to be done, and as a result of their promotion and invaluable support, we saw record-breaking crowds at the stadium. For the first time, we had a full house on the opening day, and this continued right to the very end. Fans queued up early in the mornings to attain the best seats in the house. Their presence and immense support created an unbeatable and electrifying atmosphere — it was truly an honour to witness and a sight to behold.

We thank PETRONAS for believing in us and our mission for the nation. With PETRONAS on board, I have every confidence that we will continue to progress and remain well on track to becoming a global powerhouse in badminton.

Our Chronicle

For over eight decades now, the world’s very best badminton players have converged in Malaysia as they attempt to wrest one of the most prized titles in the beautiful sport.

The Malaysia Open, with its history dating back to its inception in 1937, had a humble start but it steadily developed over the years into a major annual competition. It presently ranks among the most prestigious and popular badminton tournaments in the world.

In the early years before the war, players from Malaya and Singapore dominated and claimed the spoils, among them the inaugural men’s singles winner A.S. Samuel, who also went on to claim the men’s doubles title the same year. Then there was the legendary Wong Peng Soon who claimed back-to-back singles victories in 1940 and 1941 in addition to winning three mixed doubles gold medals.

The post-war era through to the late 60’s were truly exciting times for this tournament, thanks to the country’s dominant position in world badminton. The nation’s players were winning top titles and sensationally claimed the first three Thomas Cup crowns in succession, in 1949, 1952 and 1955. Not surprisingly, fans back then would leap at the opportunity to watch their heroes battle for honours in locally held competitions, especially the predecessor of the Malaysia Open.

When the tournament resumed in 1947, Peng Soon emerged the winner, picking up from where he left off before the break. He would remarkably reel in five successive men’s singles titles (1949-1953) for a total of eight singles crowns. Another awesome player who was a favourite with the fans was the incredible Dato’ Eddy Choong, a two-time singles champ.

Then there was Cecilia Samuel, who delivered a stunning performance in 1947, winning the women’s singles, doubles and mixed doubles. She would go on to claim many more singles titles, six of them in succession. She was also triumphant in other categories and won the women’s doubles gold medal a record nine times, making her the biggest combined categories winner to date.

Fans were privileged to have the honour of watching so many world-class players sealing their legacy as multiple winners, they include renowned stars like Tan Aik Huang, Ong Poh Lin, Ismail Marjan, Chan Kong Leong, Amy Choong, Teh Kew San, Tan Gaik Bee, Lim Kit Lin, Phua Yoke Chin, Ng Mei Ling, Lim Say Hup and Rosalind Singha Ang.

The fans also loved the smashing duo of Ng Boon Bee and Tan Yee Khan who were considered the best pair in the world then. They snatched their first doubles crown in 1961, followed up with three successive titles from 1963 to 1965 before adding two more in 1967 and 1968. Had it not been for the second break in the tournament from 1969, the duo would likely have claimed a few more.

In 1955, Ferry Sonneville surprised the home fans when he emerged victorious, becoming the first non-Malaya or Singapore player to bag the Malayan title. In later years, another Indonesian, Minarmi claimed three women’s singles crowns while Thailand’s Charoen Wattanasin etched his name on the trophy twice in the men’s singles.

In the new era of the Malaysian Open, when it resumed after a 14-year lapse between 1969 and 1982, the tournament had taken on a whole new outlook. There was a strong foreign line-up featuring the world’s best players and exceptionally competitive matches. It simply blew the fans away. It was only in 1985 when Malaysia made it to the top of the podium, thanks to the Sidek brothers. Datuk Misbun Sidek would bag the singles while his brothers, Datuk Razif and Datuk Seri Jalani would win the first of three successive doubles titles that year.

It would take another Sidek brother to end a two-year wait for another winner. Datuk Rashid Sidek would dominate the singles for three straight years starting in 1990. At around the same time, an exciting pair in the form of Park Joo Bong and Kim Moon Soo would be champions for three years. Many others would secure multiple titles. The notable ones include Guan Weizhen-Lin Yin, Xiong Guobao, Rexy Mainaky-Ricky Subagja, Susi Susanti, Mohamad Ahsan-Hendra Setiawan, Zheng Siwei-Huang Yaqiong, Zhang Ning and Tai Tzu Ying.

Through the 90’s and into the new millennium, the competition was immensely tough, yet our players overcame their rivals to claim the honours, they include Cheah Soon Kit-Soo Beng Kiang, Ong Ewe Hock, Soon Kit-Yap Kim Hock, James Chua, Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah, Chan Chong Ming-Koo Kien Keat, Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong and Goh V Shem-Lim Khim Wah.

The greatest and most prominent Malaysian to dominate this era was Datuk Wira Lee Chong Wei who would create such a lasting impact that his legacy will surely live on for decades. Chong Wei captivated audiences across the country with his remarkable performances. His three straight wins from 2004 to 2006 would be followed by seven consecutive titles beginning in 2008, a feat that will be enormously difficult to surpass. In total, he would amass 12 Malaysian Open trophies in a span of 15 years. Chong Wei ’s dominance was extraordinary and resulted in record-breaking attendances.

In 2022, with PETRONAS on board as the title sponsor, the attendances skyrocketed and tickets for the PETRONAS Malaysia Open were in high demand. In never-before-seen scenes, fans began queueing up for tickets from as early as 4am, with lines stretching over hundreds of metres. And for the first time, the Axiata Arena was jam-packed from day one of the competition.

In just a few months after signing on with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) as the main partner, PETRONAS had performed wonders promoting the PETRONAS Malaysia Open.

In partnership with BAM, the national oil company, with their advanced knowledge and experience from their past involvement in sports, transformed the PETRONAS Malaysia Open and transcended the prestigious tournament to a whole new level.

PETRONAS Twin Towers

The Petronas Twin Towers, Malaysia’s iconic twin towers is the world’s tallest twin skyscraper. Connecting the two building is a double decker skybridge, the second highest 2-storey bridge in the world.

The 88-storey twin towers of 452m tall are a majestic engineering feat that symbolises the meteoric rise of Kuala Lumpur to a 21st century metropolis.

CONTENTS

THE ARENA & SUPER FAN

The Axiata Arena, a world-class multi-purpose venue located in the Kuala Lumpur Sports City of Bukit Jalil served as the venue for the PETRONAS Malaysia Open 2022. With a capacity of 14,000, corporate suites and refurbished with state-of-the art LED screens, it was the ideal location for this prestigious tournament.

Fans were welcome with seating arrangements to watch the tournament from five categories of seats; upper-tier, lower-tier, premium, VIP and Super Fan.

Entrance to the Super Fan tier allowed the fans to be submerged in the bustling arena of front row seats. The privileged fans were able to greet players after each match hoping for an autograph, present gifts, a fist bump and even take selfies with the players.

Japan’s Kento Momota uses a fan’s phone to take selfies with the media and fans.

Fans scrambles for autographs with Viktor Axelsen.

PLAYERS & MATCHES

Players battling for ranking with their share of joy, triumph and defeats during the lead up from the semi-finals to the podium.

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS

World number one, Viktor Axelsen from Denmark beat former world number one, Kento Momota of Japan in the Men’s Singles final.

Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon reacts after winning against China’s Chen Yu Fei in the Women’s Singles final.

Thailand’s Ratchanok Intanon reacts after winning against China’s Chen Yu Fei in the Women’s Singles final.

Japan’s Tajuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi celebrates after winning against Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto in the Men’s Doubles final.

Japan’s Tajuro Hoki and Yugo Kobayashi celebrate with their coaches after winning against Indonesia’s Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Rian Ardianto in the Men’s Doubles final.

Indonesia’s Apriyani Rahayu and Siti Fadia

Silva Ramadhanti celebrate after winning against China’s Zhang Shu Xian and Zheng Yu at the Women’s Doubles final.

China’s Zhang Shu Xian and Zheng Yu fought hard but lost the title to Indonesia’s Apriyani Rahayu and Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti at the Women’s Doubles final.

China’s Zheng Si Wei and Huang Ya Qiong rejoice after winning the Mixed Doubles final against Thailand’s Dechapol Puavaranukroh and SapsireeTaerattanachai.

China’s Zheng Si Wei and Huang Ya Qiong win the Mixed double title beating Thailand’s Dechapol Puavaranukroh and SapsireeTaerattanachai to the podium.

YONEX THE LEGEND’S VISION

The Legends, from left, South Korea’s Lee Yong Dae, Denmark’s Peter Gade, Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei and Indonesia’s Taufik Hidayat, pose with a frame of their palm prints during the Yonex the Legends’ Vision session.

National badminton legend, Lee Chong Wei hopes that the racquet he presented to up-and-coming Ng Tze Yong will inspire the young player to continue the national legacy he left behind.

South Korea’s Lee Yong Dae reacts on losing a shot from the junior players during an exhibition game.

The Legend’s Vision

Envisioned by legends to create future legends, Yonex paired with its former team of athletes to initiate the programme in 2015.

Each were hailed as their country’s hero and badminton icon, Lee Chong Wei from Malaysia, Lin Dan from China, Peter Gade from Denmark, Taufik Hidayat from Indonesia and Lee Yong Dae from South Korea.

These now retired world-class athletes are determined to give back to the community not only by promoting badminton as a sport but to also inspire the next generation of players.

An exhibition match was held during the PETRONAS Malaysia Open 2022 where the Legends battled local ‘Champions’ such as Pearly Tan, Thinaah Muralitharan, Ng Tze Yong, Muhammad Shaqeem, as well as the Malaysia junior players.

STAGE DESIGN

For the first time, an entertainment element was injected into this sporting event. Fans were greeted with light shows, mapping projections, heart-pumping music and the catchy Badminton Association of Malaysia’s anthem, ‘We are the champion’ played throughout the tournament.

A surprise element was the entrance of the players from the main stage during the semi-finals to the finals. The players appeared from under the stage as they were ‘raised’ from a platform to roaring support from the fans.

Players practice at the courts before the start of the tournament.

BEHIND THE SCENES

The stage has been set, the courts are in place and the world-ranking players had arrived. Despite the stiff competition for ranking in this international tournament, there were many light-hearted moments captured when players practice, socialise, and cheer each other on.

A camaraderie among the players were fostered over time spent practicing and the constant meeting at matches.

Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia smiles during a practice session.

A meeting of two legends - a warm exchange ensuite between Lee Chong Wei and his mentor, Misbun Sidek when they met at the Petronas Malaysia Open 2022.

Pusarla V. Sindhu dribbling with the shuttle cock at practice.

Even the world champion, Viktor Axelsen, had to do his part in clearing the court.

In the light of friendly competition, Michelle Li from Canada (far left), joined a team briefing by the coaches of the Malaysian team.

Former men’s singles world champion, winning the title at the 2021 BWF World Championships, Penang-born Loh Kean Yew now plays for the Singapore national team.

Physiotherapist for the Chinese national team teases China’s Huang Ya Qiong at the practice hall.

The two most universal languages we have are sport and art. Both enable us to express our emotion, intellect and strength. It allows us to connect, crossing cultures, languages and generation.

Bringing in the element of this connection, for the first time at a sports tournament, The Over Malaysia fine art photo exhibition by David ST Loh Images was organized in conjunction with the PETRONAS Malaysia Open 2022.

The exhibition showcased a curated collection by aerial landscape artist, David ST Loh’s of his colorful journey of discovery across a picturesque Malaysia narrated through stunning visuals and never before seen images.

Each and every state evokes a different emotion and feeling as the drone flits from the lush green valleys to the rugged mountains, hill-slopes, cityscapes or festivals.

“We have been fortunate to travel and see so much of Malaysia and we realized many Malaysians don’t know how scenic their towns are.

We want to share and show them how truly beautiful our country is” - David ST Loh and Rebecca Lee.

MALAYSIA FESTIVAL

To commemorate the return of the prestigious Malaysia Cup tournament, where fans inside and outside the stadium could be immersed in the frenzy of the tournament, the organizer held the Malaysia Festival, an event supported by Tourism Malaysia, by the side of Axiata Arena.

The public was entertained with scheduled dance and cultural performances and local artistes graced the stage on the final evening of the tournament. There were interactive games such as Air badminton, DIY batik hands-on workshop as well as a wide array of food including durian and a non-halal section to cater to the wide array of attendees.

PETRONAS had a viewing deck above their pop-up store where fans can chill and have their meals while watching the action on the LED screen on the main stage.

Thank you

Thank you, Badminton Association Malaysia (BAM) for believing and appointing KH Worldwide as the organizer for Petronas Malaysia Open 2022. KH Worldwide Sdn Bhd (KHWSB) was established in 2013 with the vision of improving the sports ecosystem in Malaysia. KHWSB is made up of an experienced team with sports, exhibition, events entertainment and logistics management skills and background.

We were honoured to be given the responsibility of bringing this prestigious Malaysia Open tournament back into the limelight. With the notion of sports playing a vital role in healthy social development and to unite people to support and encourage the same cause, we held the tournament together with the Malaysian Festival. This festival, supported by Tourism Malaysia, promotes the diversity of Malaysian culture, arts and cuisines through cultural performances, varied-cuisine food stalls and stage performances as a fringe event during the Petronas Malaysia Open 2022.

Our mission is to cultivate sports in combination with art and culture as the platform for connecting people and uniting Malaysians for a common goal.

Organising an international badminton tournament is complex, especially since the Malaysia Open tournament had been idle for two years, due to the pandemic. However, the interest in the sports is relentless. This was proven from the overwhelming ticket sales. In the past, fans would have a waitand-see approach and buy tickets only if the Malaysian players qualified for the quarter, semi or final rounds. However, for the first time, tickets for the Petronas Malaysia Open 2022 were sold out weeks before the tournament. Fans are the soul of sports; their passionate support, encouragements and great response, energize and motivate the players and render appreciation to all the supporting organisation, sponsors and everyone involved in organising the tournament.

Our sincerest appreciation to YBhg Tan Sri Dato’ Sri (Dr.) Mohamad Norza Zakaria, President of BAM and all council members for entrusting KH Worldwide Sdn Bhd to organise this prestigious event, as well as all members of the working team for their unwavering support and cooperation in ensuring the success of this tournament.

The highest of gratitude to all the players and officials from participating countries for their dedication, sponsors and donors for their generosity, the media for their worldwide coverage and the organisations or individuals who have helped and contributed one way or another in making the Petronas Malaysia Open 2022 a successful event.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

KH Worldwide Management

PMO 2022 Over

Photographs copyright © 2022 David ST Loh, Rebecca Lee. Text copyright © 2022 KH Worldwide.

Publisher Elaton Publishing, 15A Jalan Hutton, 10050 George Town, Penang, Malaysia. tel: 6014.301.0364 email: rebecca.lee@elaton.asia

Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

Over Petronas Malaysia Open (2022 : Kuala Lumpur)

Over PETRONAS MALAYSIA OPEN 2022

ISBN 978-967-17164-5-8 (hardback)

1. Badminton (Game)--Tournaments.

2. Sports tournaments. 796.345

Sponsor KH Worldwide Sdn Bhd

Editor-in-chief David ST Loh

Editor Rebecca Lee

Photographers David St Loh, Rebecca Lee

Editorial team Erika Cheyenne Loh

Designer Bazuki Muhammad @ THINKING EYES

Writers Mohd Nur Al-Falah Abdullah, Nur Fatin Aswani Abu Hassan

Printer Percetakan Advanco Sdn Bhd

All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without written permission from the publisher and copyright holders. The authors’ moral rights have been asserted.