May 16 2008
Have Fun With Badminton!
Today Malaysia will face off against the formidable defending champions China in the Thomas Cup semifinal. Hopefully we can pull an upset. And I have faith in the team that they can cruise into the final if they maintain their team spirit and focus on the task.
Recently I shared a real fun story to a congregation of people when helping to promote a sports carnival event in which I served as an organizing committee member. Well, you need to know some Malay and Cantonese to get the joke…
In the 90’s I was in Stadium Negara watching Rashid Sidek playing against an Indonesian player in the Malaysian Open that year. All spectators came in support for him, waving our national flag, singing, shouting, clapping and beating drums.
One elderly man who sat behind kept on screaming, “Rashid, do not give water!” (不要放水 in Cantonese which means do not give chance to the opponent).
Of course he was not shouting in English nor Cantonese but in Malay. But his Malay was not so fluent. He kept on shouting, “Rashid, jangan buang air!” (”Rashid, don’t pee!”)
We were so also amused throughout the match. So was Rashid too 