Chong Wei wants team to reach first ever final in Sudirman Cup

KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 1 men’s singles shuttler Lee Chong Wei is banking on team spirit to help Malaysia achieve their best-ever result in the Sudirman Cup badminton championships, which begin tomorrow at Qingdao, China.

Malaysia have never gone beyond the semi-finals in Division One of the world mixed team competition, usually due to the team’s lack of depth in the women’s department.

Skipper Chong Wei, however, is hoping that his team-mates, including the debutants, will rise to the occasion.

“It’s time to show the world that we have a united team. Team morale is high and we will do our best to support and push one another to give our best,” said the 29-year-old Chong Wei.

The others in the team are Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, Hoon Thien How, Tee Jing Yi, Lydia Cheah, Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty, Vivian Hoo and Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying.

Jing Yi, Thien How, Vivian and Peng Soon-Liu Ying will be making their Sudirman Cup debuts.

“I will try to win a point in every tie so that I can give the team a good start. Koo and Tan also have a good chance to win. We have a fighting chance in other events,” said Chong Wei.

“Our mixed doubles pair of Peng Soon-Liu Ying have improved and this will be another big stage for them to prove themselves. I hope they will deliver.

“Eei Hui-Pei Tty may not be in the best of conditions but they are experienced and never give up. We can rely on them to pull off the unexpected.

“It will be a good experience for either Jing Yi or Lydia and all that matters if for them to give a good fight.”

The team’s strength has been diluted following the absence of Wong Mew Choo, who is currently a coach with the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS).

Chong Wei hoped that Malaysia, who are in Group B with Indonesia and Russia, would top the group.

“Indonesia and Russia have good women players and I am sure that every tie will be keenly contested. Hopefully, we will make it to the quarter-finals,” he said.

Indonesia have decided against naming their Olympic and world champions Markis Kido-Hendra Setiawan, prefering instead Taufik Hidayat to spearhead the team.

“We should make the top eight and we hope the draw will be favourable for us. China will be the favourites as they have a balanced team.”

Top seeds China are in Group A with Japan and Germany. In Group C are Taiwan, Thailand and India and Group D comprises Denmark, South Korea and England.

The top two teams in each group will advance to the elimination round. A fresh draw will the be conducted to determine the quarter-final match-ups.

Posted by Lucas Liau on 10:12 AM. Filed under Latest News . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0