SHORT AND HARD

Frost doesn’t see the need for lengthy training camps

FABIAN PETER fabian.mark@nst.com.my

BA of Malaysia (BAM) technical director Morten Frost does not believe in lengthy centralised training camps. The Dane, instead, prefers to leave early for a tournament so players can adapt to the new conditions and resume regular training.

For the Sudirman Cup in Gold Coast, Australia next month, the national team consisting of 16 players — will only leave on May 17, four days before the start of the competition.

“I don’t see why we need lengthy training camps.

“I believe this works best for us. It worked well for us during the Olympics in Rio last year, the Thomas Cup and the previous Sudirman Cup as well.

“I think it’s better for us to train here at home, be with our friends and family but prepare well and hard.

“Then we leave for the tournament slightly earlier so the players will have some time to adapt themselves to the conditions.

“We leave on May 17 for the Sudirman Cup, and that leaves us with about five days to get used to the conditions and for us to begin training as well,” said Frost who believes Malaysia stand a fighting chance of doing well in the biennial mixed team event.

This year Malaysia are in Group 1C alongside Japan and Germany. BAM have set a target to reach the semi-finals first.

RESULTS (all finals) —Men’s singles: Chen Long (Chn) bt Lin Dan (Chn) 21-23, 21-11, 21-10; Doubles: Li Junhui-Liu Yuchen (Chn) bt Huang Kaixiang-Wang Yilyu (Chn) 21-14 21-12;

Women’s singles: Tai Tzu Ying (Tai) bt Akane Yamaguchi (Jpn) 18-21, 21-11, 21-18; Doubles: Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi (Jpn) bt Kim Hye Rin-Yoo Hae Won (Kor) 21-19, 16-21, 21-10;

Mixed doubles: Lu Kai-Huang Yaqiong (Chn) bt Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Sapsiree Taerattanachai (Tha) 21-18, 21-11.