Believe it as chance to end long wait is there in Bangkok

IT’S nice to be back in Bangkok for the Thomas-Uber Cup Finals after four years.

Nothing much has changed post Covid-19 here – the weather is unpredictable, the Impact Arena looks magnificent, and the people are still warm and nice as they bow and greet with “Kapunka”.

It was here in 2018 when the team led by Lee Chong Wei collapsed to a 3-1 defeat to Indonesia.

Malaysia, led by Lee Zii Jia, also lost in the quarter-finals (0-3) to eventual champions Indonesia in the last edition in Aarhus, Denmark, last year.

Will Bangkok be the place where the long wait for the Cup – 30 years to be exact – end for Malaysia?

My gut feeling says yes, there is a chance.

Not because the team have done anything out of the ordinary.

They are motivated, determined and united – just like all the previous teams. They have trained hard just like the others. There have been some changes within the set-up and there have been selection disputes too.

But one of the differences this time is that there are no clear favourites, making it probably one of the most open Finals in recent times.

What about 14-time champions Indonesia? Yes, solid doubles but their singles are beatable.

China? Without a big name, it’s quite open really although their youngsters are dangerous.

Denmark and Japan probably have a more balanced side but they are not invincible. Even India, with three strong singles and one top pair, can’t be ruled out.

Malaysia will enter with an equal chance too, banking on their reigning Asian champion Zii Jia, Liew Daren, Ng Tze Yong, Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin, Leong Jun Hao and improved doubles pairs Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi, Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani.

It’s all about taking one’s chances well and executing the right strategy.

Even as I’m writing this, a reader dropped an email, expressing a totally different view.

“Sad to say, Malaysia will not win the Thomas Cup in Bangkok.

“Reach semi-finals only. Worst for Uber Cup team, will get knocked out in the group stage,” he stated.

“Revamp BAM (Badminton Association of Malaysia). Too many deadwood. The Star should be brave to give constructive criticisms.”

The brutal statement is understandable and probably echoed by many fans as Malaysia have waited just far too long for Thomas Cup glory.

While Denmark and Japan have lifted their first, Malaysia, despite all their legacies and investments, are still clueless why the Cup had remained elusive since the 1992 victory.

I guess fans have grown tired, disillusioned and left without hope after years of disappointments.

In sports, and in life though, we never give up.

Hopefully, we will have a grand reason to celebrate in Bangkok this time around. Even a good fight until the end will be great – like how the teams fought in the last two finals in 2002 Guangzhou and 2014 New Delhi.

I sat and watched our players as they trained and mingled around in Bangkok under the guidance of singles and doubles coaching directors Wong Choong Hann and Rexy Mainaky and wondered – could this be the dream team?

The Finals start today, and like many, I’m quietly hoping for the nation despite all the differences to celebrate as one again as we did three decades ago, and who knows there could be a Public Holiday on May 16 too!