KUALA LUMPUR: The move taken by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) in banking on the elite squad at the SEA Games in Thailand from Dec 9-20 can restore the national team’s dignity after the harrowing experience at the 2023 edition in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
National badminton legend Datuk Rashid Sidek (pic) said BAM’s move in naming the likes of two world champions - Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik (men’s doubles) and Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei (mixed doubles) - would increase their chances of returning home from Thailand with the gold medal, after bringing back just two silvers and four bronzes from the previous edition.
“High chance of getting three or four golds... to restore our dignity,” said Rashid.
“Previously (in the 2023 edition), we lost to the Philippines (in the women’s team event). Our dignity was tarnished, and it was a reality that was hard to accept. If you want to send, then send the strongest line-up... the best we have, and it would be worth the while,” he said.
Rashid said the SEA Games are prestigious in their own right, and the national shuttlers should seize the opportunity to fly the Malaysian flag high and mighty at the biennial Games.
He added that Malaysian shuttlers would still face a torrid time at the SEA Games should other countries, such as Indonesia and hosts Thailand, also send their best this time.
“Although this is only the SEA Games, there are many in the Southeast Asian region who are world-class shuttlers,” he said.
Rashid, a three-time SEA Games men’s singles bronze medallist, said that playing in the biennial Games or any Games for that matter was a big deal for national shuttlers as they strive to clinch as many gold medals as possible to contribute to the contingent’s total medal haul.
The men’s singles bronze medallist at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics in the United States also said that listing their strongest squad for the SEA Games would enhance the image of BAM president Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz if their gamble hits the jackpot, since the Thailand edition is the first one under his leadership.
Tengku Zafrul was elected unopposed to helm BAM during the national governing body’s 80th annual general meeting in May.
The others in the squad are Leong Jun Hao, Justin Hoh, Eogene Ewe, Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin (men’s singles); Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun (men’s doubles); K. Letshanaa, Wong Ling Ching, Siti Zulaikha Muhammad Azmi, Eng Ler Qi (women’s singles); World Championships runners-up Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, Go Pei Kee-Teoh Mei Xing (women’s doubles); and Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin (mixed doubles).
Aaron-Wooi Yik won the gold medal in the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines, while Tang Jie also captured the gold medal with Peck Yen Wei in the 2021 edition in Vietnam. — Bernama
