Harsh lesson learned
This isn’t the stage to experiment or make lastminute plans
MALAYSIA’s quarter-final exit at the Thomas Cup Finals did not come as a surprise.
The Malaysian team lacked depth and there were shortcomings in the planning, while many of the rival teams have improved.
Malaysia relied on Lee Chong Wei and Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong to deliver and just hoped that the others – including several first-timers – would step up to end the country’s 26-year-wait for the Cup. And that simply didn’t work.
The 35-year-old Chong Wei lived up to expectations but V Shem-Wee Kiong flopped.
There was a silver lining in the emergence of Lee Zii Jia and Aaron Chia-Teo Ee Yi – although they’re still not on par with many other young stars from other nations.
Malaysia lost 3-1 to Indonesia, led by mostly youngsters who had already played in Superseries tournaments in the last two years.
The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM)’s selection of Chong Wei, Zii Jia, Leong Jun Hao and Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin is understandable as they are still the country’s best – and of equal standard to their counterparts in rival teams.
And credit goes to men’s singles coach Datuk Misbun Sidek for preparing Zii Jia, Iskandar and Jun Hao well since he took over 10 months ago. These players have indeed improved.
But the doubles selection – V Shem-Wee Kiong, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Teo Ee Yi-Mohd Arif Abdul Latif – just weeks before the Finals raised eyebrows.
Why select untested scratch pairs? And why pick independent player Arif, who just joined the national team a week before the selection and was not even with his own partner? Eventually, he was not even used at the Finals.
Wouldn’t former international Tan Boon Heong be a better choice?
The Thomas Cup Finals is not a platform to experiment and make last-minute plans – a team for the future should have been planned two years ago when Malaysia lost to Denmark in the semi-finals in Kunshan, China!
Taking a gamble with the untested at the last minute only backfired for Malaysia in Bangkok.
If Aaron and Ee Yi were groomed as a pair even a year ago, they would have been more experienced to handle pressure-cooker situations.
Thank goodness, the BAM are now finally making early plans.
Malaysia’s team manager Datuk Ng Chin Chai said they would ride on the rise of Zii Jia, Aaron, Ee Yi to build a young team to win the Cup in four years time.
“We set a semi-final target but lost in the quarters. We’re not good enough and we accept the defeat,” said Chin Chai.
“We’ll plan for a youthful team. We’ll focus on Under-21 players. We’ll have a fighting team for the next Finals and a winning team in four years.
“Indonesia have planned well and we’ll have to do the same. There is nothing wrong with BAM’s structure but we need to get it right in grooming our future players,” added Chin Chai.