Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Otarola tennis #1

 Following Ignacio Becerra Otarola, a 23 year old tennis player from Chile. He is ranked a career high 889 on the ATP rankings and had just won his first ATP challenger match in the hard court tournament in Temuco, Chile. He has been in good form this season, reaching 3 consecutive semi finals in ITF tournaments in Brazil and Peru. Hope to see him play more at ATP challenger level in 2024. He is only 5 foot  7 but moves well and is a steady baseliner. He certainly has the ability to reach the ATP top 500 in 2024.   




  

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Autumn reflections #16

 Lord, teach me to be a daddy. 

Judges 13: 8: Then Manoah prayed to the Lord. Pardon your servant, Lord. I beg you to let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born.

In the season of fatherhood, I would like to seek the Lord's guidance always in bringing up my son.  

    

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

Jun Hao shuttler episode 3

 Jun Hao's performance in the last 3 tournaments

Arctic Open Super 500 - quarterfinals

KL Masters Super100 - champion

Korea Masters Super 300 - quarterfinals 

He is now ranked 36 in the world on the BWF world rankings. 

Although he lost in the qualifying rounds in the Kumamoto Masters in Japan,  he can rest and then aim for a strong finish to the year in the Syed Modi International event in India, a Super 300 tournament.  

Sunday, November 12, 2023

Autumn Proverbs #7

 The fear of the Lord leads to life;

then one rests content, untouched by trouble 

Proverbs 19:23

Our contentment does not depend on earthly comforts, but comes from our fear of the Lord. The Lord is our greater safety and deeper security. We can therefore rest in Him. 

Saturday, November 11, 2023

Korea Masters 2023


 The venue of the Korea Masters in Gwangju, Korea is really impressive. Nice stadium and well- maintained badminton courts. A well-organised Super 300 BWF tournament.   

Jun Hao shuttler episode 2

 Kuala Lumpur- born Leong Jun Hao has lost to Lei Lan Xi from China in the quarterfinals of the Korea Masters. Nevertheless it is a decent showing from Jun Hao , who had won a total of 7 consecutive matches before the quarterfinal stage of this Super 300 event. This defeat is a blessing in disguise because it gives him some rest before the next big event - the Kumamoto Masters in Japan which starts next week. This event is a Super 500 tournament so an important one for Jun Hao to do well and gain more ranking points. Being a KL born Malaysian, I can identify with Jun Hao and would support him to win more matches in the BWF tour.      

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

Jun Hao shuttler episode 1

 Following Leong Jun Hao, a 24 year old Malaysian badminton pro ranked 38 in the world. Jun Hao has just advanced to the quarterfinals of the Korean Masters in Gwangju. This is a Super 300 tournament so there is a big opportunity for him to improve his ranking further. He has recently won the KL Masters, a Super 100 tournament and is full of confidence to do well in Gwangju. Lets hope he can end the year in the world's top 30.     

Monday, November 6, 2023

Autumn reflections #15

 Fear God and not other things. Why? Because God is with us and is greater than anything we fear. 

Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the LORD of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many shall stumble on it. They shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken.  

Isaiah 8:12-15

Autumn reflections #14

 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:7 

What does it mean to fear the Lord? It is to be in reverend awe of His mighty hand that saved us. Joshua 4:19-24 gives us the example of God saving His people, and allowing them to cross the river Jordan by drying up the river. Remember the times that God delivered us from trouble and gave us salvation. We did not deserve this, but His grace was given to us because He choose to do so. This is the right fear of God to have.