BAM expect young shuttlers to shine at Asian Mixed Team C’ships

KUALA LUMPUR: The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) are expecting the younger players to step up at the Asian Mixed Team Championships – also known as the Tong Yun Kai Cup – from March 19-24 in Hong Kong.

The players selected are Soong Joo Ven, Cheam June Wei (men’s singles), Lee Ying Ying, Ho Yen Mei (women’s singles), Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin, Low Hang Yee-Ng Eng Cheong (men’s doubles), Anna Cheong-Lim Chiew Sien, Pearly Tan-Yap Ling (women’s doubles), Cheng Tang Jie-Peck Yen Wei and Hoo Pang Ron-Cheah Yee See (mixed doubles).

BAM coaching director Wong Choong Hann said that the tournament will be a good learning experience for the younger players.

“We want to expose our younger players so that they can learn to take on more responsibili- ties in the team events and deliver at major team events,” said Choong Hann.

“These are also good platforms for them to learn to meet expectations,” said Choong Hann after the coaching and training committee meeting at the Academy Badminton of Malaysia here yesterday.

He added individual targets will be set for the players as the tournament approaches.

“Individually, they will have different opponents, so from there we expect them to perform well and create upsets that can help make them better players.”

BAM secretary Datuk Ng Chin Chai added that they also did not want to wear out the senior players who are expected to return from the AllEngland on March 12.

“We believe these young players are the future of our team, so sending a younger team to the team championships will be a good exposure for them.”

Chin Chai also announced that four players had resigned from the national team and will leave at the end of the month.

They are men’s doubles pair Shia Chun KangTan Wee Gien and women’s doubles players Eng Sin Jou and Toh Ee Wei.

Chin Chai pointed out that the national squad are at an optimum number and the BAM don’t intend to trim the squad further.

There are 41 players and nine juniors who are on three-months probation until the end of March.

“The head coaches will give us a report on whether to confirm or extend their probation and we’ll review that every three months.”