Under-performers to be axed

Underachievers at the forthcoming Ciputra Hanoi International Challenge badminton tournament starting today with the qualifying tournament, are expected to face the axe.
With the bulging number of players in the national team – mostly the graduates from the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) – the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) are looking at trimming the team by keeping only potential players.
There are currently 52 players in the national team (elite and back-up) and 60 under the BJSS banner.
National doubles chief coach Tan Kim Her (pic) said that some of the men’s doubles players have to go.
“There are just too many men’s doubles players in the squad right now. We have to drop those without future of going far. The players’ performances in the next two tournaments will give us coaches an idea of who to drop,” said Kim Her.
“We have to be fair to the players and not give them false hopes.”
In the Hanoi International Challenge, Malaysia have named Khang Tai An-Tan Chee Tean, Goh Jian Hao-Yew Hong Kheng, Shen Low Juan-Tan Yip Jiun, Jagdish Singh-Roni Tan Wee Long and Ong Jian Guo-Teo Kok Siang in the men’s doubles.
Jian Guo-Kok Siang are the more senior ones and they are expected to go far in the tournament. They will take on second seeds Ronald Alexander-Selvanus Geh of Indonesia in the first round.
In men’s singles, the focus will be on two players – Tan Kian Meng and Choong Yee Han – who are under a three-month probation with the national team. They have been sparring with world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei since January.
Both Kian Meng and Yee Han are unseeded and will take on Thailand’s Boonyakom Thumpanichwong and Indonesia’s Akbar Panji respectively in the opening round.
The other singles players hoping to make their mark are Goh Giap Chin, Chiang Jiann Shiarng, Soo Teck Zhi, Soong Joo Ven, Loh Wei Sheng, Mohd Azriyn Nur Ayub and Cheam June Wei. Several other club players are also taking part including former internationals Chan Kwong Beng and K. Yogendran, who currently enjoy the benefit of training under China’s Li Mao at the Kawasaki Badminton Club.
In women’s singles, Malaysia will be relying on Yang Li Lian. She is the top seed and will be taking on Shuo Yun-sung of Taiwan in the opening round. The other singles players are Lim Chiew Sien, Yii Lee Zii, Yap Rui Chen, S. Kisona, Lim Yin Fun and Ho Yen Mei.
With the lack of talents coming through in women’s singles, it is important for the second echelon of women singles players to step up.
Courtesy of The Star