After a promising start to the year, independent men’s doubles player Teo Ee Yi believes the best is yet to come from him and partner Ong Yew Sin as the pair prepare for two big assignments in the coming weeks.
Teo-Ong returned to the Academy Badminton Malaysia to link up with the national team after being included for the Thomas & Uber Cup squads.
With players competing at the SEA Games in Hanoi next month also present to train together, Teo said having the large contingent would foster unity and fuel motivation to excel.
“It’s good that we have this centralised training camp. We are learning a lot since arriving here, and I think it’s beneficial for us to train together as a team.
“Our Thomas Cup squad this time are made up of young players. Having said that, I think we are strong enough and are capable of upsetting the likes of Japan ,” he said.
The world number 11 have been one of the most improved men’s doubles pairing in the last few months.
They ended last year by bagging a bronze medal at the season finale World Championships, and made three quarter-finals and one semis at the India Open this year.
While they were still not consistent enough to reach the latter stages of tournaments, the effort and determination from Teo-Ong cannot be faulted.
Besides working on their game, Teo also had to adjust with sharing Ong for mixed doubles duty with Goh Liu Ying.
At the upcoming Badminton Asia Championships, Teo-Ong are seeded sixth and face Hong Kong pair Chang Tak Ching-Yeung Ming Nok in the first round.
If they do well to reach the last eight, a potential showdown against Japan’s second seeds Takuro Hoki-Yugo Kobayashi awaits.
Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Man Wei Chong-Kai Wun Tee are the other men’s doubles players in the mix.
Goh-Izzuddin play Philippines' Solomon Padiz-Julius Villabrille, Chia-Soh take on China’s He Ji Ting-Zhou Hao Dong while Man-Kai are up against Thai duo Weeraphat Phakjarung-Wongsathron Thongkham.
The centralised camp had started last week with all the shuttlers looking in good spirits.
