Rosman remains positive despite loss of key senior players

PETALING JAYA: Women’s doubles head coach Rosman Razak (pic) sees the exodus of shuttlers in his department this year as an opportunity to rebuild his squad from scratch.

Former Commonwealth and SEA Games gold medallist Woon Khe Wei, Goh Yea Ching and Tan Sueh Jeou quit the national team this week – just four months after Tee Jing Yi and Soong Fie Cho resigned.

Now, Rosman has only nine players at his disposal to kick off the new year.

His players are Chow Mei KuanLee Meng Yean, Vivian Hoo-Yap Cheng Wen, Lim Chiew Sien, Anna Cheong Ching Yik, Teoh Mei Xing and the recently promoted World Junior Championships silver medallists Pearly Tan Koong Le-Toh Ee Wei.

And as a temporary measure, Rosman has extended Payee Lim Peiy Yee’s probation period as well as promoting Yap Ling and Eng Sin Jou from the Bukit Jalil Sports School.

Rosman remained positive despite loss of several key senior players.

“We have lost many seniors but it may not be a bad thing after all. Their exits open up opportunities for younger players to shine,” said Rosman.

“Cheng Wen is one of the youngsters who took her chances and impressed this y e a r . H o p e f u l l y, more will follow suit.

“I’m looking forward to rebuilding the squad with an aim to produce more world-beaters in the next two to three years.”

Rosman said the mass exodus did not come as a surprise to him.

“The seniors knew they had reached their peak and it’s difficult for them to go far. As there’s nothing much I could do to help them , so I left it to them to decide what’s best for themselves.

“For Khe Wei and Yea Ching, their careers had been curtailed by injuries. It’s tough for them to recover fully and play badminton at the highest level. Yea Ching will focus on completing her degree at Universiti Malaya.”

If there’s one thing that Rosman didn’t see it coming was Sueh Jeou’s decision to retire at 19.

“I was shocked as I had high hopes on her. The sky is the limit for her at 19. I paired her with Chiew Sien this year and hoped for her to make it big but she has other plans in life,” said Rosman.

While the world No. 18 Mei Kuan- Meng Yean and No. 39 Vivian-Cheng Wen are Rosman’s two main pairs in 2019, he also hopes for Chiew Sien-Anna and Pearly-Ee Wei to show progress.

“Pearly and Ee Wei definitely have the potential based on their achievements at junior level. But it’s important not to rush them ... let them develop in stages,” he added.