PETALING JAYA: The national badminton squad are all geared up for their medal-hunting mission at the World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany.
Men’s singles player Jacky Kok (pic) will be one of the players spearheading Malaysia’s challenge in the mixed team event starting today at Westenergie Sporthalle.
The University Malaya student said the harmonious atmosphere and high team spirit among the players would give them an advantage.
“All my teammates are ready to go and we are spending a lot of time together, everywhere. We have been building this camaraderie from the central training camp. I think this is something very good for future team events,” said Jacky.
“If we can bring out the best in the game, anything can happen, especially since the competition point format is only 15 points.
“We just have to do our best and support each other,” he said.
For the mixed team event, Malaysia are drawn in Group D with only Canada.
Head coach Datuk Rashid Sidek said his men would have no excuse for failing to beat Canada.
“We have to win against Canada to become group champions so that we can have an easy passage to the knockout round. No matter what, we have to play our best, don’t underestimate them and play as usual,” he said.
Apart from Rashid, former national men’s doubles player Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif also acts as the national team coach with the aim of improving the medal tally from the last edition.
The shuttlers contributed two bronze medals, one each in the men’s doubles and mixed team events in the last edition in Chengdu, China. — Bernama
