PETALING JAYA: It has been 33 years since Malaysia lifted the prestigious Thomas Cup in 1992 after edging out arch-rivals Indonesia 3-2 in a thrilling final at Stadium Negara in Kuala Lumpur.
Now, more than three decades later, that historic triumph will be immortalised on the silver screen in a sports epic titled ‘Sentuhan Wira’.
The film is the brainchild of two national legends – Datuk Cheah Soon Kit and Datuk Rashid Sidek – who are also serving as advisors.
And hopefully, the movie will inspire the current generation of players, which includes Lee Zii Jia, Leong Jun Hao, Justin Hoh, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, to bring back the Cup when the Finals will be staged in Denmark next year.
“If we want to win back the Thomas Cup, now is the time. The team looks more stable compared to the past few years,” said Rashid.
“I can see we have two strong singles players in Zii Jia and Jun Hao, and the men’s doubles pairs are showing more consistency.
“If everyone can maintain their form, we have a real chance of reclaiming the Thomas Cup.
“A team event like this isn’t just about who’s the strongest, it’s about who’s the most united. If we’re truly prepared both physically and mentally, I believe we can rewrite history.”
As for the upcoming movie, both Rashid and Soon Kit are directly involved in script development, technical research, and ensuring the authenticity and emotional depth of the 1992 victory are captured accurately.
Produced by Victory Pictures, the project was officially launched in Kuala Lumpur yesterday and will be directed by Lenny Ooi.
Meanwhile, filming for the movie is expected to begin around November.
Rashid, a key member of the victorious team, is relieved that the story is finally being brought to life, calling it a long-overdue tribute to one of the country’s greatest sporting moments.
“There are many behind-the-scenes stories that the public may not know, and we believe these can serve as inspiration,” said Rashid.
“This is more than just a badminton film. It’s a story of struggle, belief and national pride. We hope the younger generation will feel the same spirit and continue carrying it forward.”
An open nationwide casting call will be held soon to discover fresh local talent for supporting roles, while the main characters will be portrayed by established actors.
The 1992 squad featured Rashid, Foo Kok Keong and Kwan Yoke Meng in the singles, with Razif Sidek-Jalani Sidek and Soon Kit-Soo Beng Kiang in the doubles.
Their success was also credited to the late Tan Sri Elyas Omar, then Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president, whose foresight brought in the late Datuk Punch Gunalan as team manager and enlisted top Chinese coaches Han Jian, Yang Yang and Chen Chengjie.
