PETALING JAYA: National shuttler Toh Ee Wei (pic) is taking her omission from the Uber Cup squad in stride as she steps aside to give the next generation the opportunity to gain exposure on the big stage.
The 25-year-old was always ready to step up for the country if needed but although she was not called up to join the team competing in Horsens, Denmark, she’s still cheering on her teammates from back home.
For Ee Wei and her mixed doubles partner Chen Tang Jie, there are other opportunities to represent the country at a team event, particularly the Sudirman Cup, while the Uber Cup serves as an ideal platform for younger players to gain valuable experience.
“For the Uber Cup, the players have already been selected to compete. There are juniors who need to improve and get exposure at the highest level,” said Ee Wei when met at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM).
“This is the perfect opportunity for them to play in high-intensity matches.
“There’s not much pressure on the young players. So they just need to be confident with themselves and give it their all for the country, regardless of who they meet.”
Malaysia’s Uber Cup team are led by M. Thinaah, with singles players K. Letshanaa, Wong Ling Ching, Goh Jin Wei, and Siti Zulaika Azmi; pairs Carmen Ting-Ong Xin Yee and Low Zi Yu-Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan, as well as debutant Chong Jie Yu, who was brought in to replace an injured Pearly Tan.
The team have been drawn in Group B alongside six-time champions Japan, Turkiye and South Africa, and Ee Wei said she hopes to catch her teammates in action in Horsens.
“If I get the chance to watch, I surely will and support our team,” she said.
Meanwhile, Ee Wei said she’s fully back to her training routines after recovering from an abdominal strain sustained during training before the Asian Championships earlier this month.
With her next outing being the Malaysian Masters next month from May 19-24, Ee Wei is confident her injury will not be an issue.
“I’m fully recovered and have been training as usual since last week. There shouldn’t be any issues for the Malaysian Masters. There’s still time for it,” she said.
