KUALA LUMPUR – The selection process for Malaysia’s men’s doubles pairs in the upcoming Thomas Cup, slated for April 27 in Chengdu, China, promises to be pivotal, given their role as linchpins for Malaysia’s prospects in the tournament.
Currently, Malaysia’s men’s singles line-up is in flux, with star players Lee Zii Jia and Ng Tze Yong still uncertain to compete, potentially leading to the national squad fielding a secondary lineup for the men’s singles event.
Former world number 1 player Roslin Hashim underscores the importance of assembling Malaysia’s strongest men’s team to secure crucial points in the Thomas Cup.
“Based on my rough estimation, I think we need two formidable men’s doubles pairs to secure points and ideally, a singles player capable of contributing to our victory,” says Roslin.
“While there’s hope for Tze Yong’s return, we must also assess the strengths of rival nations’ second men’s singles players. It’s imperative that the players selected for the Thomas Cup are reliable point contributors,” he added.
Unlike the men’s singles, Malaysia boasts several options for the men’s doubles event.
2023 world champions, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, are expected to lead the charge.
However, stiff competition looms among pairs like Teo Ee Yi-Ong Yew Sin and other promising talents like Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzudin Rumsani, Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, and the emerging duo Wan Arif Junaidi-Yap Roy King, fresh off their runner up finish at the Spain Masters.
Earlier, Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM) coaching director, Rexy Mainaky, revealed ongoing discussions regarding player allocations for Chengdu, with options ranging from five individual players and five team players to a combination of four individual players and six team players. – April 4, 2024