KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 — The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) has decided to field a team comprising rising shuttlers for the Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships in Qingdao, China, from February 11 to February 16.
Independent mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai, who recently reached the Malaysia Open and India Masters semi-finals, will be the only experienced shuttlers joining another mixed doubles pair of Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin.
BAM coaching director Rexy Mainaky, who announced the lineup today, emphasised the strategic blend of experience and young talent for the tournament.
World number 27 Leong Jun Hao and Justin Hoh (no 53) will be making up the men’s singles department in the absence of recovering professional shuttlers Lee Zii Jia and Ng Tze Yong, while K. Letshanaa (no 59) and Wong Ling Ching (no 95) have been named for women’s singles.
World number 13 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun and Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi (no 20) are to shoulder the men’s doubles task, while the women’s doubles consist of Teoh Mei Xing-Go Pei Kee (no 66) and Tan Zhing Yi-Cheng Su Hui.
This means top shuttlers — two-time Olympic bronze medalist Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani (both men’s doubles), Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah (women’s doubles) and Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei (mixed doubles) — are omitted from the tournament.
“After much deliberation, we opted for a balanced team, blending senior experience with backup players to provide them with a great opportunity. If not now, when will they get the chance?”
“Our core players are gearing up for a packed calendar ahead and this tournament provides an excellent platform for back-up players to step up and gain valuable experience,” he said in a statement today.
The Malaysian squad are expected to face an uphill task in Qingdao after having been drawn in Group B against Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Kazakhstan. Only the top two will advance to the knockout stage.
— Bernama
