THAILAND might not be sending their top women’s singles shuttlers for the SEA Games but this does not make it any easier for Malaysia.
Thailand have chosen to send world No. 23 Phittayaporn Chaiwan and Supanida Katethong (No. 24) for the biennial Games and both are set to pose a huge threat to the young national players.
Phittayaporn and Supanida are only the fourth and fifth highest ranked players for their country behind Ratchanok Intanon (No. 7), Pornpawee Chochuwong (No. 11) and Busanan Ongbamrungphan (No. 13) but both will be fancying their chances of setting up another one-two finish for Thailand.
In last year’s Games in Vietnam, Pornpawee had captured gold after defeating Phittayaporn in the final.
The latter had done well to finish with the silver after stunning Indonesia’s world No. 10 Gregoria Mariska in the last four.This time Pornpawee will be focusing on the Sudirman Cup in Suzhou (May 14-21) which clashes with the individual event in the Games (May 12-16).
The team event will be held from May 8-11.
The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) have put their faith in a young team consisting of Siti Nurshuhaini Azman, Wong Ling Ching, Tan Zhing Yi and Ong Xin Yee.
Despite sending an inexperienced team, BAM high performance director Dr. Tim Jones feels that Ling Ching in particular has the potential to spring a surprise.“I don’t want to put too much pressure on her but I believe she could spring a surprise and win a medal,” said Jones.
Ling Ching, who is currently ranked No. 114 in the world, will need to adopt the same fearless attitude she had in the Asian Mixed Team Championships in February to have a chance of toppling the likes of Phittayaporn and Supanida.
The 20-year-old gave a good account of herself before going down 13-21, 17-21 to India’s 2019 world champion P. V. Sindhu in a group tie.
