Qi Xuan believes women’s team can deliver the goods

PETALING JAYA: We are not invisible. The female shuttlers say they can get the job done at home just like their male counterparts.

At least, that’s the positive message that Eoon Qi Xuan wants to send out.

Qi Xuan believes the women’s team will make their presence felt in the Asia Team Championships starting on Tuesday at the Setia Convention Centre in Shah Alam although many have reservations of their chances despite a weakened field.

Most of the teams, except for Malaysia, have fielded their second-stringers for the event.

The top four men and four women teams will qualify for the Thomas and Uber Cup Finals respectively in Bangkok in May.

The men’s team led by Lee Zii Jia are expected to make the cut without any problems but the women, who have lost several key players since the last edition like Goh Jin Wei, Soniia Cheah, Lee Ying Ying, Ho Yen Mei, Vivian Hoo, Chow Mei Kuan and Lee Meng Yean, will have to fight it out.

Qi Xuan believes the current group can qualify on merit – just like how the previous team pulled off the feat at the last qualifiers in Manila in 2020.

They were not expected to go far but they made it to the semi-finals to seal a ticket for the Finals.

“I was not at that last qualifiers but I believe in our current team and our chances this year too,” said the 21-year-old.

Besides the world No. 126 Qi Xuan, the other singles in the team are S. Kisona (64), Siti Nurshuhaini Azman (309), Myisha Khairul (369) and Tan Zhing Yi (1,484).

The doubles players are Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah (15), Valeree Siow-Low Yeen Yuan (91), Teoh Mei Xing-Anna Cheong (92) and Go Pei Kee.

Among them all, Pearly-Thinaah have the best chance to win all their matches.

“Self-belief is everything... we are determined to showcase our best in front of the home crowd.”

Qi Xuan made her debut at the Uber Cup Finals in Aarhus, Den-mark, last year and showed promise, especially her surprise win against higher-ranked Line Christophersen in a tie against the home team. Overall, though, the women flopped due to lack of experience.

“The exposure I gained at the Uber Cup Finals will help me at this stage of my career... I want to do well to help the team qualify on merit.”

Malaysia are in Group A with Japan and India. In Group B are South Korea, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Kazakhstan.

“Both our opponents are quite strong although they have many new faces. We will have to do our best in every match to fight for every point,” added Qi Xuan.