Follow the Lee-ader >Reports by RAJES PAUL on Pages 37-39

Way to go, Lee Chong Wei! The Malaysian badminton team captain led a pep talk among his teammates as they bonded ahead of their Thomas Cup Finals Group D opener against Russia at the Impact Arena in Bangkok today. “As a captain and a senior, I advised the team to stand together,” said Chong Wei. “I also advised some of the tense youngsters not to worry and fear the unknown. We’re the underdogs but anything can happen in a team event.”

INDONESIA’S singles players are all in their 20s but they are not in Bangkok for exposure.

Doubles shuttler Mohd Ahsan said the singles players – Anthony Ginting, Jonatan Christie, Ihsan Maulana Mustofa and Firman Kholik – were experienced enough to help Indonesia win the Thomas Cup.

Indonesia, despite resting their top guns, showed their intention to win the Thomas Cup when they outclassed Canada 5-0 in their first Group B tie yesterday.

The three singles points were delivered by Anthony (22), Ihsan (22) and Firman (20) while the doubles ties were won by AhsanHendra Setiawan and Fajar AlfianMuhd Rian Ardianto.

Kuala Lumpur SEA Games champion Jonatan Christie (20) and world No. 1 doubles pairing Marcus Fernaldi Gideon-Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo were not fielded yesterday.

The 30-year-old Ahsan said it was the responsibility of the young singles players to deliver.

“Ihsan is playing in his third Thomas Cup. The others have been sent for many international tournaments in the last two years. This is not an exposure trip,” said Ahsan, a father of two.

“It’s time for the juniors to deliver, it’s their responsibility. I’ve confidence in them.”

Ahsan is happy to be teamed up with Hendra again. Together, they won the world title twice in 2013 and 2015.

Hendra left the national team two years ago but was recalled for the Thomas Cup Finals.

“I’ve played with another player in Hendra’s absence and it has taken some time for me to get it right again with Hendra,” he said.

“I’ve come close to winning the Cup twice – but lost in the finals in 2010 (Kuala Lumpur) and 2016 (Kunshan).

“I don’t want to be disappointed this time.”

Besides Indonesia and Canada, the others in Group B are South Korea and Thailand. Only the top two teams advance to the quarter-finals.

Turning heads: Two promoters posing with the Thomas-Uber Cup mascot. Left: Coach Hendrawan mopping the court as Lee Chong Wei walks away during a training session at the Hippocampus in Bangkok yesterday.— S.S. KANESAN / The Star

Not required to play: Jonatan Christie, the KL SEA Games singles champion, was not fielded by Indonesia in their 5- 0 romp over Canada in the Thomas Cup Finals yesterday.