KUALA LUMPUR – Former national badminton champion Datuk James Selvaraj has urged the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to have in-house sports psychologists and therapists to help its shuttlers overcome mental blocks.
He said this following Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik’s defeat in the men’s doubles final at the China Open to China’s Liang Weikeng and Wang Chan.
The world number three Chinese pair had a 4-1 record against Aaron and Wooi Yik going into the final at the Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium in Changzhou, China.
“Aaron and Wooi Yik just lost their direction and could not even match the Chinese pair.
“Psychologically, they already lost four times to the Chinese pair, so maybe they were a little worried before they entered the court.
“I have suggested to BAM that they need a sports psychologist and a therapist to help the players before the games,” said James.
James added that when the players feel the fear factor, it can disrupt their game.
“When that feeling comes, that can be it for your chances to win the game.
“To have a sports psychologist and a therapist is important. They can help the players overcome any fears and mental blocks,” said James.
Commenting on the game, James said last year’s world champions did not play well at all.
“They played better in the semi-finals (against newly crowned world champions Kang Min-hyuk and Seo Seung-jae).
“They could not come into the game. When they wanted to try something, they could not do it, and that led to them losing confidence in their strokes.
“The Chinese pair took advantage of that and played faster, and pushed the shuttlecock nearer to Aaron and Wooi Yik,” said James.
Meanwhile, former world number one men’s doubles player Tan Boon Heong declined to comment on Aaron and Wooi Yik’s performance in the final, but was happy with their overall performance in the tournament.
For the record, BAM administration director Michelle Chai previously said that it had one performance psychologist at Akademi Badminton Malaysia, but they are only working with the Road To Gold programme. – September 10, 2023