Asiad blues again: Malaysia's 20-year wait for badminton gold goes on
Former national player Razif Sidek says Malaysia must learn from its Asian Games campaign, where a women's doubles bronze was the only badminton medal.
The badminton event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games is over, and Malaysia still has not won a gold. The drought now stretches to 20 years. The only medal was a women's doubles bronze for Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah, the country's first podium in that event since 2014.
Former international Datuk Razif Sidek said the campaign fell short of expectations. He pointed to the late switch that paired Aaron Chia with Tee Kai Wun as a key lesson. Because the new pair was unseeded, they met top-ranked Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae early and lost 19-21, 16-21. Razif believes a seeded Aaron and Soh Wooi Yik might have avoided that draw.
He urged the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to avoid changing partners right before major tournaments, because seeding can decide how far a pair goes.
Source: The Star.