The Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) said fining or restricting competition participation for national shuttlers after their sub-par showing at the Malaysia Open would not be the answer.
Malaysia’s performance at the newly elevated Super 1000 event is the worst since 2015, as only two doubles pairs – Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei and Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi – made the quarter-finals before crashing out.
The early exits left a bitter taste for all the stakeholders and fans, especially those who thronged the Axiata Arena in droves to show their unified support for the shuttlers.
“We can’t be reactionary to their defeats, like fining them or restricting them from competing in international tournaments. That is not an option, because we will also lose out if that happens.
“The players are also human, they have their ups and downs. If they fail to fulfil all their targets, then we will review their performance again,” said ABM chief executive officer Michelle Chai.
Malaysian fans always had a reason to smile at the Malaysia Open as Lee Chong Wei always delivered on home soil, winning the title a record 12 times.
In fact, the last time a Malaysian representative failed to progress beyond the last eight of the Malaysia Open was in 2015, when Lee was absent as he served a suspension for a doping ban.
“The current generation is quite different from Lee. He was absolutely single-minded in what he wanted to achieve, and never lost focus,” Chai added, adding the ABM was disappointed in the shuttlers' performance at the Malaysia Open.
Chai highlighted world champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and French Open winners Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, who crashed out in the second and first round respectively.
“We are disappointed that they didn’t show their true potential. Aaron-Wooi Yik did not play like world champions. They had done well to win the world championship. Now it’s about sustaining that performance.
“Our duty is to look after the shuttlers’ welfare and I think we have done that. But we will continue to work with them, from their nutritional needs to a different mental training approach,” she added.
Most of the top shuttlers, including Chia-Soh, Tan-Thinaah and Lee Zii Jia who also crashed out in the first round, will head to the India Open next week.
Lee takes on Shesar Hiren Rhustavito, Chia-Soh are up against team-mates Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun and Tan-Thinaah face Ashwini Bhat-Shikha Gautam.
