Tat Meng sounds alarm over Malaysia's badminton future

New Straits Times

6 days ago

KUALA LUMPUR: Former national coach Wong Tat Meng has raised the alarm over Malaysia's badminton future following a dismal showing at the recent Asian Junior Championships in Solo, Indonesia.
A lot of people couldn't believe the results — not one Malaysian shuttler made it to the quarter-finals of the singles events there.
How could this be when Malaysia's senior players have been shinning on the World Tour?
Tat Meng, who guided Lee Zii Jia to the 2024 Olympics bronze and played a key role in South Korean women's singles Olympic champion An Se Young's formative years, said he was especially worried about Malaysia's glaring weakness in the singles.
He warned that Malaysian badminton future looks bleak if serious action is not taken.
"I was actually here in Solo watching the Asian Junior Championships, and I have to say, it was disappointing and quite sad to see that none of our Malaysian singles players — boys or girls — made it to the quarter-finals," posted Tat Meng on Instagram today.
"Even though I'm no longer based in Malaysia, I still care deeply — especially having been part of the national coaching setup in the past.
"It really makes me question what has gone wrong with our junior development system for the past years? I don't know...
"We have talent, no doubt, but something fundamental isn't translating into results at the international level.
"It's time for an honest review and a clear long-term direction — otherwise we risk an even more serious gap in our singles department moving forward."
Malaysia's Roslie Razeeq Daniel reached the third round, while Louis Lee, Ayu Fu Sheng, Lim Boon Le and Kong Wei Xiang lost in the first or second rounds of the 128-player boys' singles draw.
Ng Ler Qi, Oo Shan Xi and Lee Mun reached the third round of the girls' singles, while Lim Zhi Shin and Low Zi Yu lost in the second round.
National singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen is in charge of Ler Qi, Shan Xi and Zhi Shin, while doubles player Lee Mun was on an eight-week trial as a singles player prior to the Asian Juniors.
The others are under Datuk Tey Seu Bock, who is in charge of the junior singles squad.
Tat Meng, who is now the coaching director at a private academy in Sydney, was also responding to concerns raised by former national women's singles player Ng Mee Fen.
Mee Fen said the "current situation" is a major cause for concern, warning that Malaysian badminton could face serious cracks after the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
"Am I the only one who wonders what happened to our junior players' performance in the Asian Junior Championships in Solo? It's worrisome, especially in the singles department," Mee Fen had written on Instagram.
"Most of our current senior players can play for another Olympic cycle, but we have yet to identify the junior players who can replace the seniors in five years' time.
"Challenging times ahead for the juniors, and hopefully actions will be taken to improve the standard of the players before it's too late."
Malaysia fared slightly better in the doubles events in Solo: three pairs — girls' doubles Dania Sofea Zaidi-Low Zi Yu and mixed doubles Loh Zi Heng-Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan and Datu Anif Isaac Asrah-Dania Sofea — made it to the last eight.