Counting on you: Leong Jun Hao is the favourite to feature for Malaysia at the Asia Mixed Team Championships.
PETALING JAYA: National badminton coaching director Rexy Mainaky is not looking beyond the tricky clash against Hong Kong in the Asia Mixed Team Championships which gets under way in Qingdao on Tuesday.
Malaysia have been drawn in a tough Group B along with Hong Kong and Indonesia and need to win at least one match to qualify for the last eight.
Rexy’s charges will open their campaign against Hong Kong on Wednesday before facing Indonesia on Thursday.
While Malaysia and Indonesia have always had a strong rivalry, Rexy believes the match against Hong Kong could be key to the team’s hopes of surviving the group stage.
“We need to win at least one match to get past the group stage and this is the risk when it comes to team events,” said Rexy.
“For now, we cannot think too much about the match against Indonesia as this will add undue pressure on the players.
“Instead, we need to motivate the players and prepare them to take on both Hong Kong and Indonesia.
“It will be tricky against Hong Kong in the men’s singles while the women’s singles will be 50-50. In the doubles, we cannot afford to be overconfident,” added Rexy.
Hong Kong will likely field either world No. 20 Angus Ng Ka Long or world No. 21 Lee Cheuk Yiu in the men’s singles while Leong Jun Hao (No. 28) is the favourite to feature for Malaysia ahead of youngster Justin Hoh (No. 53).
In the women’s singles, Malaysia have world No. 53 K. Letshanaa and world No. 95 Wong Ling Ching while Hong Kong will be relying on Saloni Samirbhai (No. 97) and Yeung Sum Yee (No. 191).
The others in the team are Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, Yap Roy King-Wan Arif Wan Junaidi (men’s doubles), Teoh Mei Xing-Go Pei Kee, Cheng Su Hui-Tan Zhing Yi (women’s doubles), Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie and Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin (mixed doubles).
Meanwhile, Rexy also said there is a possibility that scratch pairs could be fielded.
“Selecting scratch pairings is common in team events. All teams, not just us, will do this, depending on what the team need,” said Rexy.
“We need to decide whether it’s suitable to field original pairs or scratch pairs. The possibility is definitely there, depending on the situation.”
The Asia team meet also acts as the qualifier for the Sudirman Cup from April 27-May 4 in Xiamen, China.
