Moving on to bigger stage
FRESH from leading the national women’s team to a second consecutive Sea Games gold medal, national coach Yoong Sze Yuin must now begin preparing for Malaysia’s next big assignment at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Basketball will be featured in the Commonwealth Games for only the second time, after its introduction in the 2006 Melbourne edition, with Malaysia among eight countries qualified to play in the women’s competition next April.
Sze Yuin will be meeting National Sports Council officials to lay down plans leading to the Commonwealth Games where Malaysia have been drawn with New Zealand, Jamaica and India in Group B.
“We have just finished the Sea Games which had been a very tough competition,” said Sze Yuin. “The girls deserve a break for now because we had been preparing for two years.
“But later we will have everyone back once we have set out a plan for training and competitions ahead of the Commonwealth Games.”
The Commonwealth Games holds fond memories for Sze Yuin as it was in Melbourne where she made her final appearance for the national team before retiring and moving into coaching.
Malaysia finished seventh overall with two wins over Malta in the group stage and placing playoff while suffering defeats to Nigeria, New Zealand and Mozambique.
As such, Sze Yuin is perfectly placed to share her experience with her players on what it would be like to take on some of the big teams at the Commonwealth Games.
“The Commonwealth Games is a much higher level than the Sea Games because you have teams like Australia, New Zealand, Canada and England there.
“It will be a good experience for the current generation of players to take this opportunity and improve their game.”
Malaysia won gold at the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games after going through the entire tournament unbeaten in six matches.
Sze Yuin said she will have to reassess her squad to see which areas require strengthening.
“There are two local tournaments coming up with the National Basketball League and the Agong’s Cup giving me a chance to look at players,” she said.
“I will also have to see if they are willing to continue playing for the national team although nobody has said they want to retire.” Devinder Singh