On a high after R&R (AUGUST 19 - 30)
Iskandar ready to lead team to victory after Fraser’s Hill stint
SHUTTLER Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin is refreshed after a sojourn to
Fraser’s Hill in
Pahang.
The 26-yearold and his SEA Games teammates attended a second team building programme at the hill resort from Aug 11-13.
Earlier, the shuttlers completed a motivational camp with the Malaysian contingent in Kuala Lumpur from Aug 4-10.
Now, Iskandar is all psyched up to lead the team to glory when the team event begins at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil from Aug 22-24.
Malaysia meet Laos in the opening match of the eight-team knockout round on Aug 22 but the real rest will be against either Thailand or Indonesia in the Aug 24 final.
“We didn’t touch our badminton racquets at all in Fraser’s Hill.
“We jogged in the morning and there were team building activities in the evening. We also went hiking,” said Iskandar.
“It was good as it took our minds off badminton for a while. And there were bonding activities to help us to perform as a team at the Games,” he added.
Malaysia have not won the team gold since the 2005 Manila Games.
“It’ll be awesome to win the gold after a 12-year drought.
“Most of our players are making their first Games appearance but they’re in high spirits,” he said.
The others in the team are Lee Zii Jia, Soong Joo Ven, Lim Chi Wing, Teo Ee Yi-Ong Yew Sin, Goh Sze FeiNur Izzuddin Rumsani, Chan Peng Soon and Goh Soon Huat. Olympian Peng Soon is the most senior mem- ber of the squad.
Iskandar, playing in his third Games, hopes to end his wait for a gold.
“It’ll be fitting to win my first SEA Games gold at home. I’m not troubled by any injuries and I’m in good form,” said the world No. 52.
Iskandar failed to win any medal in his debut in 2013 in Myanmar. He managed a team bronze at the 2015 Singapore Games.
We didn’t touch our badminton racquets at all in Fraser’s Hill. It was good as it took our minds off badminton for a while.
Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin