PETALING JAYA: The Sudirman Cup is not Malaysia’s cup of tea.
So don’t expect a great miracle or comeback when Malaysia take part in this year’s edition in Suzhou, China, from May 14-21.
Malaysia have never really been a nation targeted to excel in the Sudirman Cup for one good reason – they do not have equal depth in the men’s and women’s department. And to make it worse, our women shuttlers are left behind by several other badminton powerhouses.
So that’s why former singles legend Datuk Rashid Sidek (pic, above) does not want the team led by Lee Zii Jia to be too hard on themselves.
The others in the team were Leong Jun Hao (men’s singles); Goh Jin Wei, Wong Ling Ching (women’s singles): Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi (men’s doubles); Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, Teoh Mei Xing-Go Pei Kee (women’s doubles); and Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei, Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing (mixed doubles).
Malaysia lost 1-4 to India in the group stage before going down 2-3 to an under-strength China in the quarter-finals in Dubai on Friday. Malaysia did not qualify on merit but they will still sneak into the Sudirman Cup based on the team ranking status.
Rashid feels that Malaysia should focus on the All-England, SEA Games, Asian Games, World Championships and other Open tournaments for this year.
On form: Aaron Chia (right) and Soh Wooi Yik won their matches against Kazakhstan and India in the Asian Mixed Team Championships. — AFP
The All-England from March 14-19 is the next major event lined up for the shuttlers.
“We have to admit that we have not been serious contenders for the Sudirman Cup, even from my time as we have always struggled to have a balanced team,” said Rashid.
“There are more bigger and important tournaments to prepare for,” said Rashid.
He even said the national football team were also giving the Asian Games a miss as they acknowledged their lack of depth against the other Asian teams.
“Our current badminton team are not at the level of challenging for the title in Sudirman Cup just yet, that’s the reality.
“Of course, they could have done better in the qualifiers, as I felt that they wasted one or two good chances. They should not be too worried about the Sudirman Cup and refocus.”Another former great Ong Ewe Hock however, felt that it was time that Malaysia make Sudirman Cup their forte.
“How long do we want to be in this state? We must try to improve. We have been in the same low standard in Sudirman Cup since my playing days ... I hope to see it change one day,” said Ewe Hock.
Since the Sudirman Cup’s inception in 1989, Malaysia have only reached the semi-finals twice (in 2009 and 2021).
China have won it 12 times, followed by South Korea (four) and Indonesia (once). And don’t be surprised if Japan (three-time runners-up) join the league this year.
China showed their strong intent when they reached the Asian Mixed Team championships final even with their second stringers. They face South Korea next.
And we must not forget strong Europeans teams like Denmark and France.
Two-time finalists Denmark emerged as the European mixed team champions after a 3-2 win against France on Saturday in Aire-sur-la-Lys, France.
CONTINENT QUALIFIER RESULTS
ASIA
Semi-finals: China bt India 3-2 (Lei Lanxi bt H.S. Prannoy 21-13, 21-15; Gao Fang Jie bt P.V. Sindhu 21-9, 16-21, 21-18; He Jiting-Zhao Houdong bt Dhruv Kapila-Chirag Shetty 19-21, 19-21; Liu Shengshu-Tan Ning lost to Treesa Jolly-Gayatri Gopichand 18-21, 21-13, 19-21; Jiang Zhenbang-Wei Yaxin bt Ishaan Bhatnagar-Tanisha Crasto 21-17, 21-13); South Korea bt Thailand 3-1 (Cho Geon-yeop lost to Sitthikom Thammasin 23-25, 21-19, 12-21; Kim Ga-eun bt Supanida Katethong 21-15, 21-12; Kim Won-ho-Na Sung-seung bt Pharanyu Kaosamaang-Worrapol Thongsa-Nga 21-13, 21-11; Jeong Na-eun-Lee So-hee bt Benyapa Aimsaard-Nuntakarn Aimsaard 21-9, 21-7).
EUROPE
Final: Denmark bt France 3-2 (Mathias Christiansen-Amalie Magelund lost to Thom Gicquel-Delphine Delrue 17-21, 22-24; Viktor Axelsen bt Christo Popov 15-21, 22-20, 21-14; Line Christophersen bt Qi Xuefei 21-12, 21-11; Kim Astrup-Frederik Sogaard lost to Thom Gicquel-Toma Junior Popov 19-21, 19-21; Maiken Fruergaard-Sara Thygesen bt Delphine Delrue-Margor Lambert 17-21, 21-15, 21-14).
OCEANIA
Final: Australia (emerged champions in seven-team league)
AFRICA
Final: Egypt bt Mauritius 3-2.
