Sabah coach blames lack of fitness for defeat

THE national women’s team confirmed their place in the quarterfinals of the Badminton Asia Team Championships (BATC) 2024 after easily eliminating the United Arab Emirates (UAE) 5-0 yesterday. Malaysia, the last edition’s bronze medalist, only needed a win in Group Y to advance to the knockout stage at the Setia City Convention Centre in Shah Alam, after Thailand beat UAE with the same score on Tuesday.

The real test for the national team, however, will be today’s match against third seeds Thailand to determine the group topper, with the semifinalist will earn automatic qualifications for the Uber Cup.

In yesterday’s fixture, former world junior champion Goh Jin Wei drew the first blood, beating Nurani Ratu Azzahra 21-13, 21-9 in 29 minutes.

In the next two singles matches, K. Letshanaa edged S. Madhumitha 21-11, 21-14, while Wong Ling Ching overcame S. Sreeyuktha 21-14, 21-12 to confirm victory with a 3-0 lead.

The Malaysian shuttlers continued their dominating form in the doubles, as national No. 1 Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah outclassed R. with a throw of 26.86m.

United Arab Emirates (UAE) secured gold and silver medals through Sultan Alhamsi (23.10m) and Abdulla Mesbahi (22.90m) respectively.

Nayonika-Madhumitha 21-4, 21-5 in just 21 minutes, while scratch pair Tan Zhing Yi-Teoh Mei Xing defeated Zainaba Reem SirajSreeyuktha 21-4, 21-14 to complete the perfect win.

“They’re playing their best for their own country, so we just wanted to focus on ourselves more,” Thinaah said after the match, adding she is delighted to play in the tournament after missing the last edition due to Covid-19

Pearly, who was on the same rhythm, said they wanted to focus on their game plan and communication to progress far in the tournament.

The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) set a minimum target of reaching semifinals for both the men’s and women’s teams in the BATC this time, to secure an automatic spot in the prestigious Thomas Cup and Uber Cup Finals in April.

On Tuesday, the Malaysian men’s team began their BATC campaign in style by trouncing Brunei 5-0 in Group B.

National singles ace Ng Tze Yong needed just 23 minutes to give Malaysia the first point when he downed Kan Kah Kit 21-7, 21-11.

He then joined Kelantan FC in the second transfer window of last season and managed to score seven goals in 16 appearances with the team.

SABAH FC head coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee has attributed his players’ lack of fitness as one of the reasons they lost 3-0 to Australian club Macarthur FC in the Asean Zone semifinals at the Campbelltown Sports Stadium in Sydney on Tuesday.

He said his players also made mistakes that led to Macarthur FC scoring a goal.

“We tried to (make a) comeback but it wasn’t easy. We lost concentration… Macarthur had better quality,” he told a press conference after the match in Sydney.

The recording of the press conference was made available to Bernama yesterday.

Kim Swee said that despite their exit, the competition proved very useful in improving Sabah’s performance, especially with the Super League starting soon.

“This match is useful as an experience to increase the confidence of the players and the team (in order) for us to move forward,” he said.

Sabah advanced to the Asean Zone semifinals after emerging as Group H champions with 12 points while Macarthur were Group F champions with 18 points.

Leong Jun Hao, fielded as the second singles player, then made it 2-0 with an easy 21-5, 21-6 win over Marhanif Ali before the third singles shuttler, Eogene Ewe, outplayed Mattew Minggat 21-8, 21-4 in just 23 minutes to make 3-0.

Debutants Choong Hon Jian-Muhammad Haikal Nazri also had no problem disposing of Marhanif Ali-Haziq Rose 21-5, 21-12 in the first doubles before Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzudin Mohd Rumsani completed the rout with a 219, 21-7 triumph over Mattew MinggatMohamad Iqbal Asyraf in second doubles.

Tze Yong, when met by reporters, admitted that the biennial meet was crucial for him to know where he stands regarding the back injury he sustained at the Malaysia Open last month.

“Happy (to be back on court). I think this is my first (full) match this year, so I think it’s good, although I still feel a little stiff… will discuss it with the coach. Right now, I am at the 60 to 70%t level.

“When I first got injured, I did feel down because I had trained for months… (that’s why here I prefer to) play safe,” he said. – Bernama