PETALING JAYA: Men’s doubles shuttlers Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani should be the favourites to be included in the team list for the Asia Mixed Team Championships from Feb 11-16 in Qingdao, China based on their hot form.
National coaching director Rexy Mainaky is set to name the team for the mixed team event this week and Sze Fei-Izzuddin are likely to get the nod after the independent pair captured their fourth title since August in the Indian Open on Sunday.
The world No. 2 combo pulled off an impressive 21-15, 13-21, 21-16 win over South Korea’s Malaysian Open champions Seo Seung-jae-Kim Won-ho in New Delhi.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin also won the China Open, Japan Open and Arctic Open crowns and finished runners-up in their maiden appearance in the prestigious World Tour Finals last month.
Although, Rexy is not disclosing much yet, Sze Fei-Izzuddin could be picked along with world No. 5 Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik. In fact, they could be given the role to play as the top pair based on their world ranking.
The other options in the men’s doubles could be world No. 14 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, youngsters Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi (No. 23) and Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi (No. 27).
In the men’s singles, Malaysia’s options are Lee Zii Jia, Leong Jun Hao, Justin Hoh and Cheam June Wei while Goh Jin Wei, K. Letshanaa, Wong Ling Ching and Siti Zulaikha Azmi will be vying for selection in the women’s singles.
In the women’s doubles, world No. 7 Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah are Malaysia’s best bets for a point while world No. 67 Go Pei Kee-Teoh Mei Xing could be called up as well to support them.
Malaysia have better depth in the mixed doubles with world No. 3 Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei, world No. 4 Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie and Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin (No. 18) among the pairs in contention.
“We will finalise the names this week. Just wait until we make the announcement,” said Rexy.
The deadline to submit the team line-ups is on Friday, with each country allowed to register a maximum of eight men and eight women.
The competition is the qualifier for the Sudirman Cup from April 27-May 4 in Xiamen, China.
Malaysia have been placed in a tough Group B along with Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Kazakhstan.
Only the top two teams will progress to the last eight.
Malaysia went down 2-3 to China in the quarter-finals in the last edition in 2023.
