PETALING JAYA: For 12 years, national women shuttlers were deemed not good enough to compete in the team event at the Asian Games.
They will finally make a return at this year’s edition in Japan and women’s doubles head coach Rosman Razak sees it as a positive step.
Rosman hopes it would help accelerate the development of the country’s young players.
BAM were initially hesitant about entering the women’s team at the Aichi-Nagoya Games, but he and the other coaches managed to convince the management that the players deserved the opportunity.
While admitting that Malaysia may not be among the strongest teams in the competition, Rosman believes the experience will be invaluable for a squad made up largely of players aged 22 and below.
World No. 5 women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah and Shevon Lai Jemie are the only players in the squad with previous experience at the Games.
The rest will be making their debuts, including doubles players Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan-Low Zi Yu, Cheng Su Hui, as well as singles shuttlers K. Letshanaa, Wong Ling Ching, Oo Shan Zi and Eng Ler Qi.
“I think we have to thank the BAM management because initially, I don’t think we were going to send a women’s team,” said Rosman. “The coaches however, did not want them to be left behind.
“Zi Yu is still a junior, so this will be good exposure for them and a chance to experience a competition at this level.
“I think everyone in the women’s team is very happy with the decision made by the management, including Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei,” said Rosman.
Malaysia last featured in the women’s team event at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, where they reached the quarter-finals before losing to China.
They sat out the next two editions in Jakarta-Palembang in 2018 and Hangzhou in 2022 as BAM felt the squad were not strong enough to challenge for a medal.
But confidence in the women’s team grew after their encouraging performance at the Uber Cup Finals in Horsens in April, where they ended a 16-year wait to reach the quarter-finals.
“Asian Games only come around once every four years, almost like the Olympics and I think the younger players have to make the most of it,” added Rosman.
