Skip to main content

BAM Reminds National Squad On Rise Of Other Countries


SEPANG, May 26 (Bernama) -- The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) in expressing its satisfaction with the performance of the national badminton squad which emerged runners-up in the Thomas Cup championship in India last night, reminded the players not to be complacent in the international arena.

Its president, Tan Sri Tengku Mahaleel Tengku Ariff said Malaysia's achievement in the tournament was a great recognition for the country.

"We cannot be too contented and need to be wary of the rise of other countries in the international arena of badminton.

"Our competitors are not just Japan as other countries such as India and Thailand have also shown impressive performance," he told reporters after welcoming the return of the national squad from India at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) here today.

Meanwhile, national coach Rashid Sidek said the service of Malaysia's world number one player Datuk Lee Chong Wei would still be needed for the coming Thomas Cup.

"Chong Wei is still needed for the Thomas Cup...We need his presence to boost the squad with at least one point," said Rashid.

Commenting on the defeat of singles player Liew Daren in the final, Rashid Sidek said it could be due to pressure.

"Maybe the pressure was too great for him to win. Nonetheless, we are satisfied as he proved he really wanted to win.

"But his opponent was formidable and we saw he tried his best," he said.

While admitting the defeat in New Delhi was a big loss to the country, Chong Wei however said the national squad gave their opponents such as Japan, South Korea and Denmark a tough fight.

"BAM had targeted us to reach the semi-finals but we qualified for the final and the chance to win the Thomas Cup was there but it did not materialise," said Chong Wei.

The singles hero of the country said he would continue to play in the 2016 Thomas Cup.

Meanwhile, Liew admitted his disappointment in not fulfilling the country's hopes to capture the Thomas Cup.

"I am not satisfied with my performance last night as I played well only in the last two sets and could not focus in the first set. Nevertheless, all players put up their best performance," he said.

He however was pleased with the presence of so many fans at KLIA to welcome the national Thomas Cup squad with cheers and encouraging words.

Malaysia failed to lift the Thomas Cup after losing 2-3 to Japan in the final at the Siri Fort Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.

The nation's hopes were dashed after third singles player, Liew failed to beat Takuma Ueda and gave Japan their first Thomas Cup title.

-- BERNAMA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ex-coach's jail sentence cut to a year

PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal yesterday sentenced former athletics coach C. Ramanathan to 12 months' jail for molesting two junior athletes 19 years ago. A three-man bench led by Datuk Mohd Hishamudin Mohd Yunus unanimously dismissed Ramanathan's appeal against conviction, but varied the jail sentence of four years to a year, which was to run concurrently. Following yesterday's ruling, Ramanathan, 75, a former teacher, walked out a free man as he had served 10 months in Kajang Prison. Convicts get one-third remission for good behaviour while in prison. However, he will lose his pension. Hishamudin, who sat with Datuk Abdul Wahab Patail and Datuk Linton Albert, said the court found no merit to overturn the conviction. "However, in reducing the sentence, we considered Ramanathan's age and the long years the appeal has taken." Deputy public prosecutor Awang Armadajaya Awang Mahmud submitted that then High Court judge Tan Sri Abdull Hamid E...
2 comments
Read more

Govt Always Gives Emphasis To Sporting Culture, Says PM

KUALA TERENGGANU, May 29 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badaw i said the government always gives emphasis on cultivating a strong sporting culture in achieving excellence at the international level. As such, the Prime Minister said, it was important to scout for young talents in sports. "I observe that the Malaysia Games (Sukma) has become one of the important platforms to do so. "In this arena, the potentials and skills of the youngsters can be identified for development so that they can achieve greater success in sports," he said in his message in the souvenir book of the 12th Sukma from May 31 until June 9. Abdullah said he was aware that competition in sports was very keen and challenging but this did not mean that Malaysian athletes were incapable of competing at the international level. "The fact is that we have all the characteristics required to be excellent. We must inculcate a strong fighting spirit so that we don't easily surrender,...
1 comment
Read more

Indonesia Choose Komodo Dragon As SEA Games Mascot

KUALA LUMPUR, April 26 (Bernama) -- Host for the 26th SEA Games, Indonesia has chosen the Komodo dragon as mascot for the 2011 Games which will be held in Jakarta and Palembang from Nov 11 to 25. The Indonesia SEA Games Organizing Committee (Inasoc), was qouted by Jakarta Post as saying that a pair of Komodo dragons, a male (Modo) and a female (Modi), were chosen in recognition of the Republic's conservation efforts to protect the dwindling number of the rare lizard. Modo and Modi were unveiled last night at a function in Jakarta, to mark the 200-day countdown before the games open on Nov 11 in Palembang. The Komodo dragons, the largest lizard in the world, only live on the Indonesian islands of Komodo in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara. On Jan 15, Inasoc unveiled its logo, a Garuda eagle, to symbolize the power and grandeur of Indonesia. Indonesia dominated the Games between 1977, when it first competed, and 1997, failing to top the medal charts only twice in that p...
1 comment
Read more