PETALING JAYA: Former national players, coaches and badminton officials think that Malaysia are in with a shot to regain the Thomas Cup, which they last won in 1992, in the Finals, which begin in Japan on Friday.
After a successful two-week centralised training camp in Kuching, the team of singles players Lee Chong Wei, Wong Choong Hann, Mohd Hafiz Hashim and Kuan Beng Hong and the doubles pairs of Chan Chong Ming-Koo Kien Keat, Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah and Chew Choon Eng-Tan Boon Heong are now in Sendai to gear up for the opening Group D tie against the United States. The other team in the group are England.
Malaysia are expected to play against either South Korea or Indonesia in the quarter-finals. If they advance, they will be up against Denmark for a place in the final. The other half of the knockout draw has defending champions China.
The panel we interviewed conceded that China will start as the favourites but Malaysia also have a balanced side to challenge for the prestigious trophy.
Datuk Punch Gunalan, Tan Yee Khan and Saw Swee Leong felt that the team had raised hope after producing better results under the new 21-point best-of-three games scoring format.
Yee Khan, a member of the 1967 Thomas Cup winning side, felt that Lee Chong Wei, who had adapted well under the new scoring format, will boost the team's chances in crucial ties with a win in the first singles match.
And Rashid Sidek and Datuk James Selvaraj said that the challenge of 13-time champions Indonesia could not be ruled out even though they appeared not as strong as before.
And Selangor coach Moe Chin Kiat is all excited about Malaysia’s prospects in the Finals.
* Note: The panel we interviewed are all former Thomas Cup players except for Chin Kiat. Rashid was the lead player of the Malaysian team who last won the Cup in 1992.
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