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The Star
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
A touch of class '92
PETALING JAYA: It has been 33 years since Malaysia lifted the prestigious Thomas Cup in 1992 after edging out arch-rivals Indonesia 3-2 in a thrilling final at Stadium Negara in Kuala Lumpur. Now, more than three decades later, that historic triumph will be immortalised on the silver screen in a sports epic titled 'Sentuhan Wira'. The film is the brainchild of two national legends – Datuk Cheah Soon Kit and Datuk Rashid Sidek – who are also serving as advisors. And hopefully, the movie will inspire the current generation of players, which includes Lee Zii Jia, Leong Jun Hao, Justin Hoh, Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, to bring back the Cup when the Finals will be staged in Denmark next year. Heroes' touch: Datuk Rashid Sidek (right) and Datuk Cheah Soon Kit giving the thumbs-up to the new movie. 'If we want to win back the Thomas Cup, now is the time. The team looks more stable compared to the past few years,' said Rashid. 'I can see we have two strong singles players in Zii Jia and Jun Hao, and the men's doubles pairs are showing more consistency. 'If everyone can maintain their form, we have a real chance of reclaiming the Thomas Cup. 'A team event like this isn't just about who's the strongest, it's about who's the most united. If we're truly prepared both physically and mentally, I believe we can rewrite history.' As for the upcoming movie, both Rashid and Soon Kit are directly involved in script development, technical research, and ensuring the authenticity and emotional depth of the 1992 victory are captured accurately. Produced by Victory Pictures, the project was officially launched in Kuala Lumpur yesterday and will be directed by Lenny Ooi. Meanwhile, filming for the movie is expected to begin around November. Rashid, a key member of the victorious team, is relieved that the story is finally being brought to life, calling it a long-overdue tribute to one of the country's greatest sporting moments. 'There are many behind-the-scenes stories that the public may not know, and we believe these can serve as inspiration,' said Rashid. 'This is more than just a badminton film. It's a story of struggle, belief and national pride. We hope the younger generation will feel the same spirit and continue carrying it forward.' An open nationwide casting call will be held soon to discover fresh local talent for supporting roles, while the main characters will be portrayed by established actors. The 1992 squad featured Rashid, Foo Kok Keong and Kwan Yoke Meng in the singles, with Razif Sidek-Jalani Sidek and Soon Kit-Soo Beng Kiang in the doubles. Their success was also credited to the late Tan Sri Elyas Omar, then Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president, whose foresight brought in the late Datuk Punch Gunalan as team manager and enlisted top Chinese coaches Han Jian, Yang Yang and Chen Chengjie.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Malaysia eyes 2026 Thomas Cup victory after 34-year drought
NATIONAL badminton legend Datuk Rashid Sidek is confident Malaysia can break its 34-year Thomas Cup drought in the 2026 edition in Horsens, Denmark. He highlighted the team's strength, particularly in men's doubles, where Malaysia dominates with world-class pairs Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik. Rashid stressed the need for improvement in singles, citing Lee Zii Jia and Leong Jun Hao as key players. 'If we have two strong doubles and two competitive singles players, the team will be stable enough to win the Thomas Cup,' he said during the launch of the badminton film Sentuhan Wira. The film, directed by Lenny Ooi, revisits Malaysia's historic 1992 Thomas Cup victory over Indonesia. Rashid, a key player in that squad, hopes the movie will inspire current shuttlers. Produced by Victory Pictures, the project involved Rashid and Datuk Cheah Soon Kit as advisors to ensure historical accuracy. Malaysia has won the Thomas Cup five times, with the last triumph in 1992. Rashid also commented on Iskandar Zulkarnain's new role as national women's singles coach, acknowledging the challenge ahead. Iskandar previously coached Ireland's Nhat Nguyen to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The Star
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Rashid says Thomas Cup success story will come alive via "Sentuhan Wira" movie
Great time: (File photo) The 1992 Thomas Cup winners (from left) Kwan Yoke Meng, Rashid Sidek, Wong Ewe Mun, Cheah Soon Kit, Tun Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, Razif Sidek, Foo Kok Keong, Soo Beng Kiang and Rahman Sidek gathered during a hi-tea reunion at Pulse Grande Hotel in Putrajaya. PETALING JAYA: It has been 33 years since Malaysia lifted the prestigious Thomas Cup in 1992 after edging out arch-rivals Indonesia 3-2 in a thrilling final at Stadium Negara in Kuala Lumpur. Now, more than three decades later, that historic triumph will be immortalised on the silver screen in a sports epic titled *Sentuhan Wira*. The film is the brainchild of two national legends – Datuk Cheah Soon Kit and Datuk Rashid Sidek – who are also serving as advisors. Both were directly involved in script development, technical research, and ensuring the authenticity and emotional depth of the 1992 victory are captured accurately. Produced by Victory Pictures, the project was officially launched in Kuala Lumpur yesterday and will be directed by Lenny Ooi. Meanwhile, filming for the movie is expected to begin around November. Rashid, a key member of the victorious team, is relieved that the story is finally being brought to life, calling it a long-overdue tribute to one of the country's greatest sporting moments. 'There are many behind-the-scenes stories that the public may not know, and we believe these can serve as inspiration,' said Rashid. 'This is more than just a badminton film. It's a story of struggle, belief and national pride. We hope the younger generation will feel the same spirit and continue carrying it forward.' An open nationwide casting call will be held soon to discover fresh local talent for supporting roles, while the main characters will be portrayed by established actors. The 1992 squad featured Rashid Sidek, Foo Kok Keong and Kwan Yoke Meng in the singles, with Razif Sidek-Jalani Sidek and Cheah Soon Kit-Soo Beng Kiang in the doubles. Their success was also credited to the late Tan Sri Elyas Omar, then Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president, whose foresight brought in Datuk Punch Gunalan as team manager and enlisted top Chinese coaches Han Jian, Yang Yang and Chen Chengjie.
