Persatuan Badminton Malaysia (BAM) belum berpuas hati dengan ketahanan mental pemain dan bakal mengambil dua pakar psikologi untuk mempersiapkan pasukan bagi menghadapi kempen Piala Thomas dan Uber 2018.
Dua pakar psikologi dimaksudkan yang akan menyertai BAM bermula bulan depan ialah Frederick Tan dan Datuk Lawrence Chan.
Frederick merupakan Pengarah Majlis Sukan Negeri (MSN) Pulau Pinang manakala Lawrence pernah menjadi pakar psikologi skuad kebangsaan, termasuk skuad juara Piala Thomas 1992.
Presiden BAM, Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria, mengharapkan kehadiran dua individu itu dapat membantu membangkitkan semula daya ketahanan mental pemain yang sedikit menjejaskan prestasi mereka.
"Dari segi psikologi, kami beranggapan bahawa Datuk Lawrance boleh berkongsi pengalaman tentang bagaimana beliau dan beberapa individu yang lain berjaya menghasilkan (skuad juara) Piala Thomas 1992," kata Norza selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat majlis keempat BAM di Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM), hari ini.
Beliau turut mengumumkan Setiausaha Kehormat BAM, Datuk Ng Chin Chai, sebagai pengurus pasukan Piala Thomas manakala skuad Piala Uber akan diuruskan oleh Zambri Bahari merangkap Setiausaha Kehormat Persatuan Badminton Perak.
Malaysia perlu berada dalam kedudukan empat terbaik dalam Kejohanan Berpasukan Asia di Alor Setar, Februari nanti andai ingin mengesahkan slot automatik ke pusingan akhir di Bangkok, Thailand, pada Mei.
"Secara dasarnya, kami memiliki pesaing yang lebih ramai untuk layak kerana ia membabitkan India, Taiwan dan Hong Kong. Pembangunan pemain mereka begitu pesat, sebab itulah kami perlu bersedia," kata Norza lagi.
Penulis Jemputan
Sat Dec 09 2017
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