KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s preparations for the upcoming Thomas Cup at the end of April appear uncertain, especially concerning the men’s singles players.
This raises questions about who Malaysia will field for the upcoming action in Chengdu.
Currently, the status of former Asian champion Lee Zii Jia remains unclear as he intends to prioritise preparations for the Paris Olympic Games.
Meanwhile, another key player, Ng Tze Yong, is still battling to fully recover from a back injury, casting doubt on his inclusion.
Former world No. 1 player Roslin Hashim feels that such situations have occurred frequently in the Malaysian camp whenever preparing for team events. He also highlighted inconsistencies in the country’s men’s singles players.
“This is not new, the Thomas Cup is held every two years, and by now we should be able to plan and prepare earlier.
“When such things happen – with Zii Jia and Tze Yong still uncertain – it indirectly shows that we actually don’t have many options in the men’s singles event,” said Roslin.
If these two players are unable to compete, the coaching staff at Akademi Badminton Malaysia may have to turn to talents such as Leong Jun Hao to lead Malaysia’s charge in the Thomas Cup.
However, relying on young players like Eogene Ewe and Justin Hoh, who are still recovering from injuries, poses a significant risk for the Malaysian team.
During the Asia Team Championships held in Setia Alam last February, which doubled as the qualification tournament for the Thomas Cup, Malaysia faced a shortage of male singles players.
This forced them to deploy men’s doubles player Haikal Nazri as the country’s third singles player in the final against China.
“We must field our strongest squad for the Thomas Cup, but if circumstances dictate otherwise, we can provide invaluable exposure to our young players.
“It is essential for these players to step out of their comfort zones and rise to the challenge.
“However, the question remains: are they prepared to navigate the competitive landscape of the Thomas Cup?” pondered Roslin.
For this edition, Malaysia are drawn in Group D alongside Japan, England, and New Zealand. – April 3, 2024