KUALA LUMPUR: Women’s singles shuttler K. Letshanaa is eager to prove that she and teammate Wong Ling Ching are not just benchwarmers in the national squad for the Asia Mixed Team Championships in Qingdao, China, from Feb 11-16.
Determined to silence critics who have questioned the strength of Malaysia’s women’s singles players, Letshanaa is ready to rise to the occasion.
Team events are nothing new for the 20-year-old, who previously competed in the Uber Cup in Aarhus, Denmark, in 2021.
She was also part of the national squad that clinched bronze medals at the Sudirman Cup in Vantaa, Finland (2021), and Suzhou, China (2023).
For now, Letshanaa prefers to let her performance do the talking, vowing to respond to criticism with her best efforts on the court.
“For now, especially in women’s singles, I can say that we want to give our best, just like I did in Indonesia.
“We’ll see the outcome later because we’re still the underdogs. But when we give our best, the results will come. This is what I believe in, so let’s hope for the best.
“When I give my best, that is my answer to them. I don’t need to prove anything to anyone, I play for myself and for my country,” said Letshanaa.
Malaysia have been drawn in Group B alongside Indonesia and Hong Kong. Kazakhstan, initially placed in the same group, were moved to Group C with Thailand and Japan following the Philippines’ last-minute withdrawal.
Despite the reshuffle, Letshanaa and Ling Ching face a tough challenge, as Indonesia will field world No. 15 Putri Kusuma and Thailand Masters finalist Komang Ayu.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong, despite boasting a solid squad, present a more balanced contest in the women’s singles event, with Saloni Samir, ranked 101st in the world, and Yeung Sum Yee, ranked 193rd.
“Team events come with a lot of pressure and expectations on the players. So, when they step onto the court, they might feel nervous or face ups and downs. It’s difficult to guarantee anything in such situations,” she added.