The bond among the players will grow stronger when the Malaysian
Thomas Cup team, led by World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei, switch their training
base from Kuala Lumpur to Guangzhou as part of their final preparations
for the Finals in Wuhan from May 20-27.
That was the assurance given by Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president Datuk Seri Nadzmi Mohd Salleh.
Nadzmi admitted that the team were not Malaysia’s strongest but they would go all out in every tie.
For the past few days, the atmosphere at centralised training at
Stadium Juara in Bukit Kiara had been rather sombre with players and
coaches minding their own programmes.
There was hardly any excitement and it seemed as though the team spirit was lacking.
Nadzmi, however, has denied claims that the team, comprising Chong
Wei, Liew Daren, Mohd Hafiz Hashim, Chong Wei Feng, Koo Kien Keat-Tan
Boon Heong, Lim Khim Wah-Goh V Shem and Hoon Thien How-Tan Wee Kiong,
are not united.
“The players have known each other for a long time and there should
not be any problems in building camaraderie,” said Nadzmi, during a
press conference after striking a deal with Maxis Berhad to support
BAM’s elite and development programmes.
BAM coaching and training chairman Ng Chin Chai also assured that the
situation would improve when the team stay together in Guangzhou during
their centralised training from May 13-18.
“The players have been playing in so many competitions,” said Chin Chai
“The qualifying period for the Olympic Games ended last month and the
players also featured in the Malaysian Open Grand Prix Gold. They were
given a day’s rest before they resumed training.
“In Guangzhou, the team will be together in one home – they will eat and train together.”
Team manager Datuk Sayed Abu Bakar, who joined the squad for the
first time yesterday, assured that all players will abide by the rules,
stay focused and give their best in the Thomas Cup Finals.
Just three months ago, the team were in high spirits as they defied
the odds to beat South Korea at the qualifiers in Macau to seal a ticket
for the Finals.
The Malaysian team, whose target is to reach the semi-finals in Wuhan, will leave for China tomorrow.
At the last Thomas Cup in Kuala Lumpur in 2010, Malaysia – who last
won the Cup in 1992 – were whipped 0-3 by China in the semi-finals.
Courtesy of The Star
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