Shuttlers don’t want to come home early
FORMER World No 1 Wong Choong Hann did not hide the fact that China are super strong and that Malaysia might end up losing 5-0 in their opening Sudirman Cup encounter in Nanning, China, on Sunday.
The BAM coaching director admitted that such is the depth of China that if the Sudirman Cup, which is a world mixed team, were a six-match tie, Malaysia would lose 6-0 as well.
Yesterday, the national players left for Nanning with a single minded approach — to beat India and avoid coming home early.
“There is no doubt that China players are better in every aspect, and our players can only hope for upset results by giving their very best.
“This opening encounter (against China) does not really matter. Even if there were six matches, we would still lose 6-0. That is how strong they are,” said Choong Hann.
However, against India, former World Championship silver medallist Choong Hann believes Malaysia’s doubles pairs will carry them through to the quarterfinals.
“As India have strong singles players, we have to bank on our doubles to avoid returning home early,” said Choong Hann.
The Sudirman Cup, which was incepted in 1989, consists of five matches: men and women’s singles, men and women’s doubles and mixed doubles.
China have won the Sudirman Cup 10 times, with South Korea
lifting the title in 2017 in Gold Coast, Australia.
Malaysia’s best result was reaching the semi-finals in 2009 in Guangzhou, China, before losing to Indonesia.
It remains an uphill task for Malaysia, captained by Goh Soon Huat, to break their 30-year medal drought.
India, the 2018 Commonwealth Games team gold medallists, have three singles players in the world top-10 list.
With K. Srikanth, P. V. Sindhu and Saina Nehwal in the top 10 in the singles, the pressure will be on Malaysia’s three doubles pairs to get the team through.