1992 Thomas Cup winning member Cheah Soon Kit reckoned Malaysia would need to capitalise on their second doubles when the national team face Indonesia in the Thomas Cup group stage next month.
The 13-time champions boast two of the best men’s doubles in Marcus Fernaldi-Kevin Sanjaya and Hendra Setiawan-Mohammad Ahsan, who sit atop the world rankings.
“Marcus and Kevin are at a different level as world number one pair and they are hot favourites to win all their matches. So we have to really capitalise on our second doubles to nick a point.
“If it is Hendra-Ahsan playing in the second doubles, they have plenty of experience. We will need to study our opponents well, and be mentally prepared to face them,” Cheah told Stadium Astro.
Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik are likely to play Marcus-Kevin in the first doubles, while Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi are slated to face Hendra-Ahsan in the second doubles.
The former national men’s doubles coach, now running a company called Matchpoint founded together with fellow former shuttlers Foo Kok Keong and Rashid Sidek, also said this year’s trophy could be anyone’s for the taking, following the spade of withdrawals.
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) confirmed that Thailand joined Taiwan and Australia in pulling out due to COVID-19, but the world body insisted both the Thomas & Uber Cup would proceed as planned in Aarhus, Denmark.
“I see it as an open affair with Japan, China, Indonesia, Denmark and Malaysia all in contention. In a team event like this, everyone needs to carry each other. Experience is a crucial factor, especially in the knockout stages,” the Ipoh-born added.
Cheah and his former team-mates were part of the Project 88-90, where the best shuttlers in the country were drafted in to prepare and win the Thomas Cup.
“Once we were recruited, we were told our target was to win the Thomas Cup and we trained hard to win it. Thankfully, that project bore fruits after a few years. Likewise for this team, preparing well is key,” he said.
The 52-year-old and partner Soo Beng Kiang got the entire nation buzzing in 1992 when they delivered the winning point against Ricky Subagja-Rexy Mainaky in the final.
The 13-time champions boast two of the best men’s doubles in Marcus Fernaldi-Kevin Sanjaya and Hendra Setiawan-Mohammad Ahsan, who sit atop the world rankings.
“Marcus and Kevin are at a different level as world number one pair and they are hot favourites to win all their matches. So we have to really capitalise on our second doubles to nick a point.
“If it is Hendra-Ahsan playing in the second doubles, they have plenty of experience. We will need to study our opponents well, and be mentally prepared to face them,” Cheah told Stadium Astro.
Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik are likely to play Marcus-Kevin in the first doubles, while Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi are slated to face Hendra-Ahsan in the second doubles.
The former national men’s doubles coach, now running a company called Matchpoint founded together with fellow former shuttlers Foo Kok Keong and Rashid Sidek, also said this year’s trophy could be anyone’s for the taking, following the spade of withdrawals.
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) confirmed that Thailand joined Taiwan and Australia in pulling out due to COVID-19, but the world body insisted both the Thomas & Uber Cup would proceed as planned in Aarhus, Denmark.
“I see it as an open affair with Japan, China, Indonesia, Denmark and Malaysia all in contention. In a team event like this, everyone needs to carry each other. Experience is a crucial factor, especially in the knockout stages,” the Ipoh-born added.
Cheah and his former team-mates were part of the Project 88-90, where the best shuttlers in the country were drafted in to prepare and win the Thomas Cup.
“Once we were recruited, we were told our target was to win the Thomas Cup and we trained hard to win it. Thankfully, that project bore fruits after a few years. Likewise for this team, preparing well is key,” he said.
The 52-year-old and partner Soo Beng Kiang got the entire nation buzzing in 1992 when they delivered the winning point against Ricky Subagja-Rexy Mainaky in the final.
