PETALING JAYA: To win the Thomas Cup, players cannot afford to have a superstar mentality as the tournament is all about teamwork.
That is the view of national singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen, drawing from his experience with Denmark when they won the title for the first time in Kunshan in 2016.
Jonassen said it was crucial for every player to embrace unity and work together, as collective spirit could prove the difference between victory and defeat.
His years as both a player and coach with Denmark shaped his belief that team events demand contributions from everyone, rather than relying on one or two individuals to deliver success.
“From being a player to a coach, it’s probably one of the areas where I’ve used that bit the most, understanding the role of playing either first singles, second singles or third singles, what that does to the player, what kind of pressure you feel. What I’ve experienced is actually very important for me to communicate to the players,” said Jonassen in an interview with the Badminton World Federation.
“But at the end of the day, I feel that the players have to be united and not point fingers at each other if a player loses.
If you give your all and the opponent was better on the day, or you did not have your best, then as long as you gave everything, it should be okay.
“And it’s also the event where it’s not necessarily the biggest superstar that wins the last match. Many times it is either the second doubles pair or the third singles. We act as a team. You may be a superstar compared to some other players, but here you are number three or four.’’
Since joining Malaysia in 2025, Jonassen has worked to strengthen the national singles department and the Thomas Cup campaign in Horsens, which begins tomorrow, will be one of the biggest tests of his tenure so far.
Malaysia are hoping to end a 34-year wait for the title, having last lifted the trophy on home soil in Kuala Lumpur in 1992.
