M’sia look to end of injury issue at Thomas Cup
LUMPUR: Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM) coaching director Rexy Mainaky hopes the issue of fitness and injury that plagued the national men’s squad at the Badminton Asian Team Championships (BATC) will not be repeated at the 2024 Thomas Cup in Chengdu, China.
The 56-year-old Indonesian admitted that he was a bit ‘confused’ thinking about the incident involving several key players at BATC 2024 in Shah Alam, Selangor, since he had never faced such a situation either as a player or coach before. I just want a solid team (at the 2024 Thomas Cup) and don’t want the same thing at BATC 2024 to happen again.
“I’m not the only one, I believe Malaysians also don’t want to see such things happen,” the former men’s doubles world champion said when met at a training session here.
At the BATC 2024 competition last month, the men’s squad experienced some anxious moments after two singles players Lee Zii Jia and Ng Tze Yong had to be rested for several matches as both had difficulty breathing due to sinus and back injuries.
In the meantime, Rexy admitted having difficulty to choose the national men’s doubles line-up considering that the pair on his radar for the 2024 Thomas Cup final squad have their respective advantages.
Besides 2022 world champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, he said other pairs that may potentially be listed are the professional pair, Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi, Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and the rising pair, Choong Hon JianMuhammad Haikal Nazri
“Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin often performs well in team tournaments.
“For Hon Jian-Muhammad Haikal, although they have played in the Badminton Asia Team Championship (BATC) 2024 recently, are they ready to play at a level as high as the Thomas Cup,” he said.
He said, among the men’s singles players who are of interest to him to be included in the Thomas Cup 2024 final lineup is Zii Jia, followed by four other national players namely Tze Yong, Leong Jun Hao, Justin Hoh and Eogene Ewe.
Rexy was to meet his coaching team yesterday to determine the line-up of players who will be brought to take on the national challenge in the 2024 Thomas and Uber Cup competition.
The Thomas and Uber Cup 2024 will take place from April 27 to May 5. — Bernama