"Bukan yang terbaik, namun tidak terlalu mengecewakan."
Demikian kesimpulan mengenai persembahan skuad badminton Malaysia di sebalik percaturan membariskan pemain muda dan tiada pengalaman untuk mengibarkan cabaran dalam Kejohanan Piala Sudirman 2019 di Nanning, China.
Malaysia yang menampilkan ramai pemain yang meningkat naik diletakkan di ranking kesembilan hingga 12.
Aksi pertama Kumpulan 1D menyaksikan Malaysia tunduk mudah 0-5 kepada tuan rumah, China, sebelum bangkit dalam pertemuan kedua dengan membenam India 3-2 untuk mengesahkan tempat dalam suku akhir.
Bagaimanapun, jurang terlalu jauh menjadi pemisah buat barisan pemain negara untuk menyaingi pemain handalan Jepun apabila tumpas 0-3, sekali gus mengulangi pencapaian di Gold Coast, Australia, dua tahun lalu.
Dalam kempen kali ini, komitmen pemain Malaysia harus dipuji tatkala Malaysia turun tanpa lima tonggak yang membintangi Sukan Olimpik Rio 2016.
"Saya sudah mula dapat menyesuaikan dengan persekitaran kejohanan berpasukan selepas Piala Thomas, Kejohanan Berpasukan Asia, termasuk Piala Sudirman.
"Apa yang penting adalah kekuatan mental saya," kata pemain perseorangan lelaki negara, Lee Zii Jia.
Tambah pemain beregu lelaki negara, Ong Yew Sin: "Bahagian beregu lelaki menampilkan prestasi yang bagus sepanjang kempen Piala Sudirman.
"Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik bermain bagus ketika menentang China manakala gandingan Aaron-Teo Ee Yi mampu meraih kemenangan ke atas India.
"Ia satu perkembangan yang baik," katanya lagi.
Penulis Jemputan
Sat May 25 2019
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