All the best: The SEA Games squad posing for a photograph with BAM secretary-general Datuk Kenny Goh (centre) and officials during their send-off ceremony at the Academy Badminton Malaysia in Bukit Kiara. — KAMARUL ARIFFIN/The Star
PETALING JAYA: The task could not be harder for the national men’s doubles pairs in the SEA Games in Cambodia.
Indonesia are set to flex their muscles by sending 2022 All-England champions and world No. 14 Shohibul Fikri-Bagas Maulana and 2022 Asian champions and Pramudya Kusumawardana-Yeremia Rambitan for the Games.
Pramudya and Yeremia also finished as silver medallists at last year’s Games in Vietnam after losing to compatriots and world No. 11 Leo Rolly-Daniel Marthin in the final.
The Indonesians’ strength in the men’s doubles is well known and they will be looking for another one-two finish despite sending the cream of the crop including Leo-Daniel for the prestigious Sudirman Cup in Suzhou, China (May 14-21).
The team meet clashes with the individual event at the Games, which is set to take place from May 12-16 while the team event will be held from May 8-11.
The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) have opted to keep their faith in back-up pairs Beh Chun Meng-Goh Boon Sze and Chia Weijie-Liew Xun for the Games despite the tough challenge.
Chun Meng-Boon Sze are currently ranked No. 77 in the world while Weijie-Liew Xun are ranked No. 105 and both will be making their debuts.
The latter were only paired together last December after Weijie’s former partner Low Hang Yee left the national team.
Meanwhile, in the mixed doubles department, scratch pairings Roy King-Yap Ling and Choong Hon Jian-Cheng Su Yin are also set to have a battle on their hands as Indonesia have selected their top pair in world No. 10 Rehan Naufal-Lisa Ayu for the Games.
BAM secretary-general Datuk Kenny Goh though has backed his charges to spring a few surprises.
“All our players have played in international tournaments before, so they are not inexperienced,” said Kenny at a special send-off ceremony for the SEA Games squad at the Academy Badminton Malaysia in Bukit Kiara yesterday.
“We believe that they have what it takes to do well in this Games. This is a great opportunity for them to showcase their abilities.”
