By V. Ashok

It was a nice feeling to step into the Axiata Arena again after a long time.
The euphoria inside the stadium on the final day of the badminton Malaysian Masters were just amazing – hearing the noises from the boisterous crowd who gave our players the tremendous support to fight till the end.

They were simply awesome to lift the spirit of our players to produce one of the finest performance in recent times at these tournament, though both our men and women doubles lost in the dramatic final, Sunday.

Kudos to Pearly Tan-M Thinaah and Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun who showed quality in their game and fought gallantly before bowing out at the last hurdle to the strong Korean pairs.

Their more experienced opponents did just enough to win crucial points for the deciding match. It would definitely be a learning curve for both our doubles pair to wake-up and be better prepared for future tournaments.

Pearly-Thinaah played seven hours and 14 minutes on their way to finishing as runners-up after losing to Baek Ha Na-Lee So Hee. They just did not have enough power to overcome the titanic battle and made few errors at the important moment in the third set.

Their coach, Hon Thien How could not believe the ‘marathon games’ his charges went through in these tournament.

He said Pearly and Thinaah gave their best and delivered an amazing performance which exceeded all expectation. It was like the duo played an average of one and half hour per match.

“The good factor is they manage to sustain a high intensity performance for the whole week,” he said after the final.

Thien How also added it was not a fitness problem for the duo as every player will get drained out in these type of energy-sapping matches.

“But what can be seen here is they lack strength and power. The Japanese and Koreans are well equipped with this element.”

It was also learned that our top women doubles pair have become a very attacking-minded duo, like how they displayed in the final. The style is to be said similar to the men’s doubles.

They are also sparring with the men. Why? Simple, the gap between them and the other women pair in this country is still far. Not so good news for the team but on a bigger picture, its a blessing in disguise for the duo training with men to maintain their standard.

Sky is the limit now for Pearly-Thinaah. Success on international stage is in their own hands, to follow their coach sports module and programme, winning more titles and stay above the rest.

Their next mission will be at the Singapore Open, next week followed by Indonesian Open (June 13-18).

A broad smile also can be seen on the faces of some officials from Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) after the final. It was the progress by our third men doubles pair, Wei Chong-Kai Wun.

Like our top women pair, they fought till they drop and showed a character they are ready for the bigger stage now.

What was more amazing to watch is their attacking prowess to take their opponent, Kang Min-hyuk-Seo Seung-jae point for point in the second set, though still considered inexperienced for this level of tournament.

With some time given, they should progress and matured into one of the best pair in the country together with another exciting duo, Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi who was seeded No.6 in the Malaysian Masters.

Now, we have two attacking pairs with high prospect and BAM should take note to give more focus on them too, though Yew Sin-Ee Yi are independent players.

At least, their creditable performance can now ease the burden on our top national pair, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik. It can take away the attention from them to win a tournament all the time.

Before these tournament, I expected national single ace, Lee Zii Jia or our reigning world champions, Aaron-Wooi Yik would progress far for a podium finish, at least. I made the wrong calculation based on their status at world stage.

On current form, Zii Jia was doing well at the Sudirman Cup in Suzhou, China, recently – winning all his matches and many thought he is now back to his normal game. After winning the first round, it gave us hope but the tired looking lad who hails from Alor Setar fizzled out in the very next round.

No one knows exactly what’s going on with him or when he will return to his best. The clock is ticking and the fans are not only eager but much worried whether he is going to be our genuine national hero after Lee Chong Wei.

To be frank, it is going to be very tough on current scenario. Let’s not put too much hope on Zii Jia to win titles, especially the elusive gold medal for Malaysia at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

His fortune now lies in the hand of his new in-coming coach, Wong Tat Meng. We can wait and see. We got till April, next year to witness his qualification to the Olympics. As for now, his world ranking is sliding too. Things to ponder.

Only Ng Tze Yong is the next best player in singles after Zii Jia but he is not ready yet for medal chase in the coming Olympics.

The encouraging note is, Zii Jia did say he is getting back his old form after the Sudirman Cup.

“I’m working really hard to get my confidence back. I was there at the top amongst the world’s best, and, I’ll be there again,” he was quoted before the start of the Malaysian Masters, last week.

Over the last decade, we have been harping more on the singles players like Chong Wei to deliver the goods in important tournaments. BAM can give a serious thought to shift focus and add power to our men and women doubles pairs. The current army looks like a good bet even for the gold.

Yes, we already did win the men doubles silver and bronze in the Olympics on few occasions with the recent podium finish at the Tokyo Olympics through Aaron -Wooi Yik who won the bronze. Its for a better show now.

With the promising top group we have, it is truly the time for a gold chase. That should be our target setting in a year time from now.

Beside Pearly-Thinaah, Yew Sin-Ee Yi or Wei Chong- Kai Wun to name a few, we also have some exciting mixed-doubles duo’s like the fast rising pair, Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei or Goh Soon Huat-Lai Shevon Jemie to deliver when it matters.

Remember in 2016 Olympics, our top pair, Chan Peng Soon- Goh Liu Ying won the silver. So, the future is much alive in mixed doubles to spring another big surprise at the Paris Games.

On that note, our Olympics gold quest should not be about Zii Jia only, but the burden must be shared equally by his other team-mates.

BAM has more options to think wisely as they already got few more diamond in their bag to rely on.

Majulah sukan untuk negara!

Pearly and Thinaah posing with their medals as runners-up after the final of women doubles Malaysian Masters at Axiata Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

Top Pix: A dejected Pearly and Thinaah walking past the Malaysian supporters after the women doubles final at Axiata Stadium in Bukit Jalil. – Both pix courtesy of Media247