Players take time off from training to enjoy virtual game
KUALA LUMPUR: National women’s doubles shuttler Vivian Hoo says a fun activity at The Rift has united the team ahead of the Thomas-Uber Cup Finals.
Vivian and the other badminton team members had an outing at the digital entertainment world in Mid Valley Megamall yesterday as part of their centralised and motivation training camp for the Finals in Bangkok, Thailand, from May 20-27.
They played two virtual games. One of it involved the team coming up with a strategy to outwit zombies in a virtual world.
“It’s a first for me and it was fun. Both the men and women shuttlers played together. It certainly strengthened the team’s camaraderie,” said Vivian.
“We had to wear some gear, including goggles, and it transported us into this three-dimensional virtual world. We were able to spot our teammates and our mission was one – to gun down our enemies.
“It taught us the importance of having the right strategy as a team and the advantages of sticking together as a team.
“It’s the same when we compete in the upcoming team events. We’ve to be united as a team, have the right bond and use the right game plan to win.”
Besides Vivian, the others in the women’s team are Soniia Cheah, Goh Jin Wei, Lee Ying Ying, S. Kisona, Goh Yea Ching, Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean, Tee Jing Yi-Soong Fie Cho.
The men are Lee Chong Wei, Lee Zii Jia, Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin, Leong Jun Hao, Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, Teo Ee Yi and Mohd Arif Abdul Latif.
Vivian, who will be playing in the Uber Cup without her partner Woon Khe Wei, said the training session had been good.
Khe Wei is recovering from a knee injury.
“I’ve been playing together with different partners. It has been good so far.
“I’m ready to play with anyone,” said Vivian, who will leave for Bangkok with her teammates on Thursday.
The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) have set a semi-final target for the men and are hoping for the girls to reach the quarter-finals.