Swat! Not smash
Shuttlers busy battling mosquitoes at Games Village
THE badminton shuttlers have been busy swatting mosquitoes at the Games Village in Gold Coast.
And that is probably a more challenging task than winning all their Group D matches of the mixed team competition starting today at the Carrara Sports and Leisure Centre.
Malaysia are in the same group with Ghana, Canada and Seychelles and they will open their campaign against Ghana today.
National doubles head coach Cheah Soon Kit said the team have been in high spirits after settling down at the Games Village since arriving on Sunday.
“It’s all good for the shuttlers here. All the facilities are world class.
“The only struggle was with the mosquitoes,” said Soon Kit.
“The players are staying at the lower level of the high-rise building and had to deal with the mosquitoes in the first few days but it’s all good now.”
Soon Kit said Malaysia looked good to defend the team title but would not underestimate any team.
“The players are motivated to do well. They’re showing great camaraderie during the training session here,” he said.
“England and India will be our main challengers but we’ll take every team seriously,” he said.
Malaysia will be represented by Lee Chong Wei, Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong, Soniia Cheah, Vivian Hoo-Chow Mei Kuan, Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie and Chan Peng SoonGoh Liu Ying.
Yesterday, Soon Kit announced that they have decided to field Goh Soon Huat-Chan Peng Soon in the men’s doubles event.
“They are mixed doubles players but they are already here.
“We’ll let them play in the men’s doubles for fun,” he added.