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Mesti julang Piala Thomas



"KITA mesti julang Piala Thomas."
Itu harapan Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek kepada skuad badminton negara pada kejohanan berprestij itu yang akan dihoskan Malaysia pada Mei depan.
Kali terakhir Malaysia melakukannya ialah pada tahun 1992.
"Badminton merupakan salah satu sukan untuk menyinar di pentas antarabangsa dan tahun ini saya ingin melihat Malaysia bergelar juara Piala Thomas.
"Sudah lama kita tidak menggenggam piala paling berprestij ini dan dengan kehadiran beberapa pemain berstatus dunia yang kita miliki ketika ini, saya tidak lihat mengapa kita tidak boleh merangkul kejuaraan tersebut.


"Pemain-pemain perlu membuktikan keupayaan sebenar bagi meraih keyakinan seluruh rakyat Malaysia mengenai potensi skuad badminton negara yang diletakkan sebagai salah satu sukan dalam program Road to London adalah keputusan yang tepat," jelas Shabery.
Tambah beliau lagi, skuad badminton negara perlu memenangi seberapa banyak kejohanan yang disertai termasuk Piala Thomas dan Seluruh England.

Ahmad Shabery menikmati jamuan tengah hari bersama-sama pemain badminton kebangsaan, Datuk Lee Chong Wei (kiri) dan Mohd. Hafiz Hashim di Stadium Juara, Bukit Kiara semalam.

"Kita mahu melihat lebih banyak kejayaan yang dilakarkan sebelum bermulanya Sukan Olimpik nanti.
"Pada Piala Thomas kali ini kita bermain di tempat sendiri dan ini sudah pastinya memberikan suatu kelebihan buat pemain-pemain kita.
"Jika banyak kejayaan yang dilakarkan oleh skuad badminton ini nanti, saya yakin lebih banyak pihak yang akan memberikan sokongan terutama dari segi penajaan dan ini juga merupakan motivasi buat pemain-pemain semua," katanya.

Oleh HELMI TALKAH
sukan@kosmo.com.my

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