Prove yourselves
BAM hope lower-rank shuttlers can step up to the occasion
WILL the Perodua Malaysian Masters witness the rise of a new badminton star from the national team?
With Lee Chong Wei yet to return to competition, and top men and mixed doubles pairs Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong and Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying having turned independent shuttlers, local fans turning up at the Axiata Arena this week will be eager to see if there are any Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) players capable of rising to the occasion.
Surely, there’s no better platform for promising stars such as Lee Zii Jia and Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik to showcase their readiness to carry the nation’s challenge for years to come.
While the odds are heavily stacked against these young and lower-ranked players, BAM coaching director Wong Choong Hann wants his charges to take on the world’s best opponents assembled here this week without fear.
Choong Hann said while winning titles would be too much to ask now, the least they could do is to convince the home fans that the current national squad do have plenty of qualities.
“On paper, it certainly looks tough for our players. Ranking and strength wise, we’re definitely not on par yet,” said Choong Hann, who joined BAM last November.
“But like it or not, we have to push these players to the front line.
“The players know they will start as the underdogs.
“However, taking on higher ranked opponents, even they are Olympic or world champions don’t mean you can’t play a quality game.
“What I want from them is that they perform to their level best and put on a good show that earns them credit from opponents and a standing ovation from the crowd.
“The fans would want to see some hope and it’s up to the players to make them believe that they will come good in time. That’s all that matters.”
Meanwhile, newly crowned Thailand Masters champions V Shem-Wee Kiong and Peng SoonLiu Ying displayed their strong desire to win their second straight tournament by turning up for the court testing sessions yesterday morning.
The quartet arrived from Bangkok late Sunday evening, but despite having little rest, they turned up at the venue at 7am to join the one-hour session reserved for Malaysian players.
Wee Kiong said they are hungry for more glory after ending their two-year title drought with the Thailand Masters victory.
“There’s no time to rest or celebrate our win (in Bangkok). It’s a brand new week and we’re looking forward to going one better in the Malaysian Masters after finishing runners-up last year,” said Wee Kiong.
“It’s important that we acclimatise with the courts here, getting used to the draught at the venue.”
The tournament begins today with the mixed doubles main draw and qualifying rounds for the men’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s singles and women’s doubles.
Peng Soon-Liu Ying will lead the charge in the mixed doubles together with former teammates Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai, Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing and Chen Tang Jie-Peck Yen Wei.
Shuttlers in the qualifiers are Lee Zii Jia and Chong Wei Feng for the men’s singles, Chooi Kah MingLow Juan Shen (men’s doubles) and Vivian Hoo-Yap Cheng Wen, Anna Cheong-Lim Chiew Sien and Payee Lim-Teoh Mei Xing (women’s doubles).