KUALA LUMPUR: Kazakhstan’s absence is unlikely to affect Malaysia’s campaign, as the team still face formidable opponents in Hong Kong and Indonesia in Group B of the Asia Mixed Team Championships, to be held in Qingdao, China, from Feb 11-16.
Mixed doubles shuttler Hoo Pang Ron believes Malaysia must go all out to navigate the group stage and push for a spot in the semi-finals.
Only the top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals, and Malaysia must secure at least one victory to keep their hopes alive.
Additionally, this tournament also serves as a qualifier for the Sudirman Cup, which is set to take place in Xiamen, China, from April 27 to May 4.
Kazakhstan have been reassigned to Group C alongside Thailand and Japan following the withdrawal of the Philippines, who were originally drawn in that group.
Badminton Asia have yet to issue an official statement on the Philippines’ last-minute withdrawal, but the decision could result in a US$3,000 fine for pulling out after the draw was finalised.
Even without Kazakhstan in Group B, the challenge remains daunting. Hong Kong, under the guidance of Wong Choong Hann, are fielding their strongest line-up, while Indonesia, despite relying on their second squad, still pose a significant threat compared to Malaysia.
“I think all the teams are quite strong, so we’ll take it one match at a time and not overthink it. That said, I believe we have a good chance this time,” said Pang Ron.
“I don’t think any team have a clear edge, and once we step onto the court, it’s anyone’s game. What matters most is our fighting spirit, we must give our all for the team and never easily back down.
“I don’t think it makes much of a difference (Kazakhstan’s absence) because, as I always say, we focus on one match at a time. We don’t want to look too far ahead, as it would only create unnecessary pressure,” said Pang Ron.
At the same time, Pang Ron, partnering with Cheng Su Yin, hopes that this Asia meet will serve as a platform for them to regain their confidence and sharpen their form, which has slightly waned.
After achieving a breakthrough as runners-up at the China Masters last November, the Pang Ron-Su Yin duo experienced a sudden dip in form, with early exits at the Malaysian and Indian Opens last month.
“For us, we’re focusing on improving our consistency because we’ve noticed that our performance has been fluctuating, going up, down, then up again, and finally down. To address this, during our training sessions, we’ve been working hard to reduce mistakes,” he added.
