Korea’s Lee Eunji falls during the 16th Asian Games women’s sprint quaterfinals at the Guangzhou Veledrome, November 15, 2010.  GLENN GUAN/The Star (Guangzhou)

Let The Games Begin: The Games cauldron is lit and fireworks go off in a spectacular ceremony to mark the opening of the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, November 12, 2010. A giant firecracker was lit at the base of the arch and the flames then shot up to light the cauldron. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Face-off: Kelantan’s Indra Putra Mahayudin (right) and Negri Sembilan’s Mohd Aidil Zafuan getting to grips of the coveted Malaysia Cup during a photo shoot at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, October 29, 2010. GLENN GUAN/The Star

USA’s Michael Russel makes a return to  Ukraine’s Sergiy Stakhovsky during their first round of the men’s singles at the Malaysian Open Tennis championships in Bukil Jalil, September 27, 2010. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Malaysia’s Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong in action against China’s Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng during the men’s doubles finals of the World Championships in Paris, August 29, 2010. GLENN GUAN/The Star (Paris)

Ecstasy: Malaysia’s Koo Kien Keat (left) and Tan Boon Heong celebrating after beating South Korea’s Jung Jae-sung-Lee Yong-dae in the men’s doubles quarter-finals of the World Championships , August 27, 2010. Kien Keat-Boon Heong won 23-25, 21-13, 21-14. GLENN GUAN/The Star (Paris)

Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei reacts after he lost to Indonesia’s Taufik Hidayat  in the men’s singles quarter-finals at the BWF World Badminton Champhionships in Paris, August 24, 2010. Taufik won 21-15, 11-21, 21-12. GLENN GUAN/7The Star (Paris)

China’s Lin Dan reacts after he lost to Korea’s Park Sung Hwan  in the men’s singles quarter-finals at the BWF World Badminton Champhionships in Paris, August 24, 2010. Park won 21-13, 21-13. GLENN GUAN/The Star (Paris)

Malaysia’s Lee Chong Wei prepares for a smash against England’s Rajiv Ouseph during their men’s singles  match at the 2010 BWF World Badminton Champhionships at the Coubertin stadium in Paris, August 26, 2010. Chong Wei won 21-9, 21-9. GLENN GUAN/The Star (Paris)

China’s Lin Dan returns a shot to countrymen Bao Chunlai  during their men’s singles match at the 2010 BWF World Badminton Champhionships at the Coubertin stadium in Paris, August 26, 2010. Lin Dan won 21-16, 21-13. GLENN GUAN/The Star (Paris)

Malaysia’s Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong in action against China’s Chai Biao-Zhang Nan during their men’s doubles match at the 2010 BWF World Badminton Champhionships at the Coubertin stadium in Paris, August 26, 2010. Koo-Tan won 21-17, 21-17. GLENN GUAN/The Star (Paris)

Denmark’s Tine Baun returns a shot to Bulgaria’s Petya Nedelcheva during their women’s singles match at the 2010 BWF World Badminton Champhionships at the Coubertin stadium in Paris, August 26, 2010. GLENN GUAN/The Star (Paris)

Hard-earned victory: Malaysia’s Nicol David being given a run for her money by England’s Alison Waters during their CIMB Malaysian Open semi-final, July 23, 2010. Nicol won 14-12, 12-10, 6-11, 11-7. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Malaysia’s Low Xue Ting powering her way to win the girls 50m freestyle and 400m medley relay golds at the ASEAN school games championship in the Shah Alam aquatic centre,  July 17, 2010. GLENN GUAN/The Star