SHAH ALAM – National men’s doubles coach Tan Bin Shen applauds Soh Wooi Yik’s leadership during the national men’s team’s campaign in the 2024 Badminton Asia Team Championships (BATC), which concluded yesterday.
Despite Malaysia’s 0-3 defeat to China in the final – where Wooi Yik, alongside his partner Aaron Chia faced Xie Hao Nan-Zeng Wei Han – Bin Shen recognised Wooi Yik’s captaincy as a driving force behind the team’s progression.
As such, he hopes that Wooi Yik will continue to emulate his leadership skills with full diligence in the upcoming Thomas Cup campaign.
“Wooi Yik has been a great captain for the team, always making sure that not only doubles players but everyone, including the singles players, deliver their best performance for the team and the country.
“He was never under pressure as he has been very influential for the whole team by leading by example.
“It’s good to see him having such a leadership role, and I believe that it will be useful to motivate the players better for our Thomas Cup campaign,” he said during the prize-giving ceremony session at Setia City Convention Centre.
Bin Shen also praised Wooi Yik’s partnership with Aaron, noting their remarkable performance throughout the tournament, characterised by their unwavering fighting spirit and commitment to the team’s cause.
He acknowledged the contributions of players like Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin, expressing pride in their progress and dedication.
“I’m just sad that they couldn’t play in the final, and they also worked hard to carry the team all the way to the final.
“I just hope that they can use the experience that they have gained at the BATC and apply it at Thomas Cup so that we can emerge successful” he added.
Reflecting on potential additions to the Thomas Cup lineup, Bin Shen mentioned Choong Hon Jian-Muhammad Haikal as promising prospects – emphasising the need to focus on upcoming European tournaments before finalising plans.
In the four games they played in the BATC, Aaron-Wooi Yik secured victories against Singapore (group stage) and Japan (semis) but lost to Chinese Taipei (group stage) and China (final).
The BATC setback, however, did not overshadow Malaysia’s qualification for the forthcoming Thomas Cup finals in China from April 28 to May 5 as they emerged top-four team in the tournament. – February 18, 2024