BAM need to crack the whip to improve singles department
Latest News 3:39 PM
IT'S time for the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to
"be cruel to be kind" after the men's team were again found lacking in
depth in the singles department.
Those who can no longer perform and those whose progress have stagnated have to make way for those with potential.
In the Guangzhou Asian Games on Saturday, Malaysia suffered a crushing 2-3 defeat by Thailand in the quarter-finals. It was Malaysia's first loss to the Thais in 30 years.
The vulnerability of Malaysia's singles players was again evident for all to see when 23-year-old Liew Daren failed to rise to the occasion, going down Thai junior S. Avihingsanon in straight games.
In fact, it was the second time Daren has lost to the 20-year-old Thai after the Malaysian International Challenge last year.
The tie against Thailand went down to the wire after Lee Chong Wei, who was not feeling well, and the young pair of Mak Hee Chun-Tan Wee Kiong lost their matches.
Mohd Hafiz Hashim won his match but, even then, he had to go the distance to beat 20-year-old Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk.
Yesterday, Tanongsak scored a win over Shon Wan-ho to contribute the only point in Thailand's 1-3 defeat by South Korea in the semi-finals.
Thailand's exploits are clear indications that they are producing young winners while Malaysia continue to pin their hopes on aging shuttlers.
The coaches are aware of the yawning gap between Chong Wei and the rest of the players in the national team but something drastic needs to be done to replenish the pool of talent that is fast drying up.
Coach Misbun Sidek has no immediate answer for the sad situation.
"Like it or not, this is the group of players we have. There is no one better than the current back-up shuttlers (Daren, Chan Kwong Beng and Tan Chun Seang)," said Misbun yesterday. "But yes, we will have to look into this situation."
Daren has pleaded for more time to prove himself after flopping in his first outing on the big stage.
"He (the Thai) handled the pressure better than me. I was tensed and made a lot of mistakes. I have failed but I hope to learn from this and come back stronger," said Daren, who will head for the Hong Kong Open next.
With a stronger cast in the Hong Kong Open, Daren is unlikely to survive the early rounds.
But whether he, like many others, remains with the BAM for another five years, will depend on what the national body want for the future – mediocrity or meritocracy.
Those who can no longer perform and those whose progress have stagnated have to make way for those with potential.
In the Guangzhou Asian Games on Saturday, Malaysia suffered a crushing 2-3 defeat by Thailand in the quarter-finals. It was Malaysia's first loss to the Thais in 30 years.
The vulnerability of Malaysia's singles players was again evident for all to see when 23-year-old Liew Daren failed to rise to the occasion, going down Thai junior S. Avihingsanon in straight games.
In fact, it was the second time Daren has lost to the 20-year-old Thai after the Malaysian International Challenge last year.
The tie against Thailand went down to the wire after Lee Chong Wei, who was not feeling well, and the young pair of Mak Hee Chun-Tan Wee Kiong lost their matches.
Mohd Hafiz Hashim won his match but, even then, he had to go the distance to beat 20-year-old Tanongsak Saensomboonsuk.
Yesterday, Tanongsak scored a win over Shon Wan-ho to contribute the only point in Thailand's 1-3 defeat by South Korea in the semi-finals.
Thailand's exploits are clear indications that they are producing young winners while Malaysia continue to pin their hopes on aging shuttlers.
The coaches are aware of the yawning gap between Chong Wei and the rest of the players in the national team but something drastic needs to be done to replenish the pool of talent that is fast drying up.
Coach Misbun Sidek has no immediate answer for the sad situation.
"Like it or not, this is the group of players we have. There is no one better than the current back-up shuttlers (Daren, Chan Kwong Beng and Tan Chun Seang)," said Misbun yesterday. "But yes, we will have to look into this situation."
Daren has pleaded for more time to prove himself after flopping in his first outing on the big stage.
"He (the Thai) handled the pressure better than me. I was tensed and made a lot of mistakes. I have failed but I hope to learn from this and come back stronger," said Daren, who will head for the Hong Kong Open next.
With a stronger cast in the Hong Kong Open, Daren is unlikely to survive the early rounds.
But whether he, like many others, remains with the BAM for another five years, will depend on what the national body want for the future – mediocrity or meritocracy.
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 3:39 PM.
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