With several obstacles out of the way, M'sia led by Jun Hao out to impress in China
Men at the helm: Leong Jun Hao and Justin Hoh (top) are stepping in for injured Lee Zii Jia.
PETALING JAYA: Will there be a new champion crowned this year as the Sudirman Cup gets underway this Sunday?
It will be tough for Malaysia though, as China, South Korea and Japan seem to be the overwhelming favourites.
The Badminton Association of Malaysia, however, believe they have named a strong line-up led by Leong Jun Hao, who have safely arrived in Xiamen, China, with the rest of the competing nations.
This team are a far cry from the one Malaysia fielded during the Asian Mixed Team Championship campaign in Qingdao last February, which also served as the Sudirman Cup qualifier.
Malaysia failed to get past the group stage in that tournament.
Fortunately, the national team still secured a place in this year's Sudirman Cup based on their world ranking, currently standing at No. 4.
In the lead-up to the tournament, the 10-day centralised training camp at the Academy Badminton Malaysia in Bukit Kiara went smoothly, with players working in harmony. The camp featured several professional players, including women's singles ace Goh Jin Wei, mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai Jemie, and men's doubles duo Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani.
Several internal issues were also resolved before the squad's departure to China, including the reconciliation between mixed doubles players Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei, further strengthening Malaysia's options for the competition.
The presence of newly appointed sports psychologist Lim Jin Xuan, on loan from the National Sports Institute (NSI), has also provided a timely boost, helping the players build the mental and emotional strength needed to face the challenges of the Sudirman Cup.
'I think so far, so good. I'm really looking forward to experiencing the main hall for the first time to see how the setup is there and how the arena will play out. I believe that's the very important next step,' said national singles coaching director, Kenneth Jonassen.
'Playing in a team event is slightly different. The intensity is higher, and momentum plays a key role when you're competing as a team. This also means that protecting your points is incredibly important.
'The focus in practice has been on creating the right intensity while ensuring each session is tailored to the individual needs of the players.'
Malaysia have never lifted the Sudirman Cup since the tournament's inception in 1989. So far, only three countries have had the honour of winning the prestigious mixed team title namely Indonesia, China and South Korea.
Malaysia's best performance in the tournament has been winning the bronze medal on three occasions which is in Guangzhou in 2009, followed by a 12-year gap before repeating the feat in Vantaa, Finland in 2021, and again in Suzhou in 2023.
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