KUALA LUMPUR — Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh is profoundly disappointed with the national badminton players’ performance at the Malaysia Open which concluded yesterday.
The tournament saw Malaysian shuttlers falling short of expectations, failing to advance beyond the quarter-final stages for the second consecutive year on home soil.
“I’m really disappointed because this is the second year in a row where our shuttlers have not reached the semifinals of the tournament.
“I hope athletes, especially our badminton players in the Podium Programme, will be more serious.
“Training alone is not enough. The public prioritises results, and they want our players to reach greater heights,” said Hannah at the 2024 Malaysian Athletics Awards in Kuala Lumpur.
Hannah also emphasised that the shuttlers should take their game more seriously, considering the Paris Olympics are just around the corner.
“We don’t have enough time left for the Paris Olympics, and I really want them to qualify. At the ministry level, we have been doing our best to support them.
“I want them to work harder after this and be even more serious about seizing their opportunities because they don’t come knocking twice.
“They won’t be able to guarantee their spot in the Podium Programme for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, so they need to start now and give their 100% in their upcoming tournaments,” Hannah added.
The disappointing outcomes at the Malaysia Open unfolded as men’s doubles pairs — Aaron Chia-Soh Woi Yik and Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi — bowed out in the quarterfinals.
Men’s singles shuttlers Lee Zii Jia exited in the first round for the second consecutive year, while Ng Tze Yong withdrew due to a back injury sustained during his match against Koki Watanabe, revealing a muscle tear that will force him out of the upcoming India Open.
The frustration extended to the national number one mixed doubles pair, Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei, who exited in the second round after losing to Hiroki Midorikawa-Natsu Saito of Japan.
National badminton coaching director Rexy Mainaky expressed his disappointment in an Instagram post but promised a renewed dedication from the players for the upcoming India Open and Indonesian Masters, aiming for improved results. — January 15, 2024