GO FOR MORE WOMEN’S POWER
Frost says Malaysia lack depth to challenge for Sudirman Cup
BA of Malaysia (BAM) technical director Morten Frost believes more depth is needed in the national squad if they are to challenge for team titles.
Frost, when asked to comment on the team’s quarter-final exit in the Sudirman Cup last week in Australia, said more focus should be given to the women’s department.
He said the shuttlers, despite their improvement in recent years, are still far from posing any threat to the world’s top players.
The Dane added that this has led to the Malaysian team being overly dependent on men’s doubles Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong.
The 2016 Rio Olympic Games silver medallists, who had to win their crucial match in the quarter-final against Japan on Friday, lost to World No 5 Takeshi Kamura-Keigo Sonoda. Malaysia eventually lost the tie 3-1.
Earlier, Malaysia had gone down 3-2 to Japan in the group stages, with V Shem-Wee Kiong losing as well.
“Even though our women are improving, we are definitely still not there yet.
“We need to have more than just three possible points in a tie.
“This year it was all down to our men’s doubles and we did not make it,” said Frost, who applauded Japan’s efforts in coming close to beating China in Saturday’s semi-finals.
“Look how close Japan got to China. Their mixed doubles did extremely well in winning the crucial point for them. And to know that our pair (Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing) beat them.
“As our national No 2, Kian Meng-Pei Jing had a very good outing. As for the rest, we just need to train harder and come back stronger.”
In yesterday’s final, 10-time Sudirman Cup champions China were stunned 3-2 by South Korea. The Koreans, who last won the title in 2003, have now triumphed in the biennial world mixed team event four times (including 1991, 1993).