Rashid Sidek: Mentality Is Holding Back Malaysia's Singles Players
After Leong Jun Hao's early exits in Denmark and France, badminton legend Rashid Sidek says Malaysian singles players lack the fearless mindset shown by Indonesia's Zaki Ubaidillah.
While Malaysia's doubles pairs shone at the French Open, the singles picture was far less encouraging. Leong Jun Hao, the country's only national singles representative at the events, lost in the first round of both the Denmark Open and the French Open within two weeks, underlining Malaysia's ongoing struggle to go deep at major singles tournaments.
The contrast with Indonesia was stark. Nineteen-year-old Moh Zaki Ubaidillah, ranked 28th in the world, beat compatriot Jonatan Christie and reigning world champion Alex Lanier on his way to the French Open final, where he lost in three games to France's Christo Popov, who is set to become the new world No. 1.
Former national star Datuk Rashid Sidek believes the gap comes down to mindset rather than resources. He said Malaysia is on par with, or even ahead of, Indonesia in talent and facilities, but something is missing once players move up from the junior ranks, and he pointed to Zaki's fearless approach as the example Malaysian singles players should follow.
Source: The Star