All the best: Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz and SEA Games chef de mission Nurul Huda Abdullah sharing a light moment with the players. — SAMUEL ONG/The Star
PETALING JAYA: The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) believe the shuttlers bound for the SEA Games in Thailand from Dec 9-20 will be able to meet the ambitious target of four gold medals set for them.
BAM president Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz announced the official medal target during a sending off ceremony at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara yesterday.
With reigning world champions Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei (mixed doubles), world silver medallists Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah (women’s doubles) and 2022 world title winners Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik among those selected to compete, Zafrul believes Malaysia stand a strong chance to grab more golds.
Another gold is also targeted in the men’s team event.
Malaysia send an under-strength team at the last edition in Cambodia in 2023 and returned home with two silvers and four bronze medals.
“We are targeting four gold medals in this SEA Games and seven medals in total,” said Zafrul.
“This is a collective decision after discussions with the Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh and the BAM management. The coaches are also in agreement.
“The events that we believe we have a strong chance to win gold are the three doubles and men’s team events.
“Hopefully, badminton can help Malaysia achieve the overall medal target for the Games this time,” added Zafrul.
Malaysia last won four golds way back in the 1975 edition when the biennial Games was known as the SEAP Games.
Doubles coaching director Rexy Mainaky said that initially BAM did not target the men’s team title but decided to raise the medal target after Malaysia’s main challengers Indonesia decided to field their second stringers.
“Initially, we did not target gold in the men’s team event because we thought Indonesia will field their strongest line-up including their top men’s singles player Jonatan Christie,” said Rexy.
“But they decided to pick their second team. I’m not saying it’s going to be easy to beat them but we do have a good chance.
“We have Aaron-Wooi Yik, who are ranked No. 2 in the world and world No. 5 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun in the doubles. We only need one or two points in the singles. Hopefully, they can deliver.”
The team events start on Sunday while the individual event will be from Dec 11-14 at Thammasat University, Pathum Thani.
