Thomas Cup just as important as Olympics, says Rexy

PETALING JAYA: This is the year of the Olympics and it has seen the government dangling carrots in the form of lucrative incentives and pension schemes.

Even head coach Yap Kim Hock was quoted recently as saying that the priority for the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) was to prepare the shuttlers towards the ultimate target of winning the country’s first Olympic gold medal in Beijing in August.

But as far as doubles coach Rexy Mainaky is concerned, the Thomas Cup Finals in Jakarta from May 11-18 are equally important and he is demanding the same commitment from his charges.

“Everyone is talking about the Olympics but the Thomas Cup Finals are just as important,” said Rexy yesterday.

“When I was a player for Indonesia, it was everyone’s dream to make the team and to play in the Thomas Cup.

“I think Malaysian players should have that hunger in them to fight it out.”

As the most prestigious team competition, Rexy felt that China, led by their three top singles stars in Lin Dan, Bao Chunlai and Chen Jin, are favourites to retain the title on paper.

“China are very strong in the singles department and, since they are capable of even winning all three points from the singles, are the team to beat,” said Rexy.

“But Malaysia, like Indonesia, have a 50-50 chance to tip the odds if the doubles players rise to the occasion.

“Hopefully, the doubles pairs can maintain a good record in the competition again like what we went through in Japan.”

In the last Thomas Cup Finals in Tokyo two years ago, Malaysia’s doubles players lost only one match and that was in the tie against South Korea in the quarter-finals.

Chan Chong Ming-Koo Kien Keat lost to Hwang Ji-man-Lee Jae-jin but they redeemed themselves to beat Danes Jens Eriksen-Martin Lundgaard Hansen in their match-up in the semi-final.

Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah also beat Mathias Boe-Carsten Morgensen but their efforts failed to help Malaysia, who lost all three singles matches to go out of the competition.

Malaysia will go for a combination of four singles and three doubles pairs for the Thomas Cup squad and the line-up will be finalised after the coaching committee meeting tomorrow.

Veterans Tan Fook- Wan Wah will feature as the first doubles pair, followed by Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong and Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Mohd Zakry Latif based on their current world rankings.

Lee Chong Wei, Wong Choong Hann and Mohd Hafiz Hashim are also certainties for the singles berths while it will be a toss-up between youngster Mohd Arif Latif and the more experienced Yeoh Kay Bin for the final singles slot.

Third seeds Malaysia have South Korea and England for company in Group B.

Malaysia will need to beat South Korea to avoid meeting Indonesia in the quarter-finals.