Lee calls on singles to step up for new Thomas Cup mission
Badminton legend Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei believes the formation of the 'Road to Thomas Cup' project, proposed by BAM president Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz to end Malaysia's 34-year wait for the prestigious title, is a move that will bear positive results.
In the past, BAM had also conducted several centralised training camps ahead of major tournaments, but such preparations were usually held only one or two months before the competition.
The project, unveiled last Saturday as part of the long-term 'Tangkis 2030' blueprint, is seen as a proactive step that allows both players and coaches ample time to prepare.
The national team now have about eight months to gear up, with the Thomas and Uber Cup scheduled to take place from April 24 to May 3 next year in Horsens, Denmark.
Chong Wei believes having a target to meet will keep everyone on their toes.
'It's just like when we work and are given a target, I see it as something positive. It's the same with BAM now. When the president sets a target, the coaches and players know the direction they are heading and understand their responsibilities,' said Chong Wei.
'This is good for BAM because we already know the Thomas Cup will be held in May. If we only start centralised training a month before the tournament, it will be too late.
'That's why I see Tengku Zafrul's announcement of the project as a positive step, as preparations can now begin early.
'I don't think it's just me, but all Malaysians hope we can win back the Thomas Cup,' said Chong Wei when contacted.
The former world No. 1 even sees the spate of injuries in the men's singles camp as a blessing in disguise, as it could provide a tactical advantage for the national team in the tournament.
'From my initial discussions with Tengku Zafrul, the outlook for the 2026 squad looks promising. We have three doubles pairs who are quite balanced in strength, and in the singles we can count on Leong Jun Hao, Lee Zii Jia and Justin Hoh.
'My hope is that if Ng Tze Yong can recover in time before the Thomas Cup, we will have more tactical options in singles. But at the moment, we also don't know about Zii Jia's condition and whether he has fully recovered.
'If he is fully fit, we can field him as first, second or even third singles, depending on his ranking at that time.
'I feel that if Tze Yong or Zii Jia are able to recover and return to their best form, it will give us a strong tactical edge in the men's singles,' he added.
At last year's Thomas Cup in Chengdu, China, the national team had to settle for the bronze medal.
Malaysia's last triumph in the prestigious tournament came in 1992, when the event was staged in Kuala Lumpur.
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