Malaysia bakal mengharungi ranjau berliku dalam Kejohanan Badminton Piala Sudirman, Mei ini, apabila undian menyaksikan skuad negara diletakkan dalam kumpulan maut bersama China dan India.
Malaysia berkemungkinan tempang tanpa kelibat jaguh perseorangan negara, Datuk Lee Chong Wei, yang masih belum dapat mengesahkan penyertaan dalam kejohanan itu kerana masalah kecergasan.
Tambah perit, undian yang dilakukan Isnin lalu pula meletakkan Malaysia dalam Kumpulan 1D bersama juara 10 kali, China, serta pasukan yang meningkat naik, India.
Mesyuarat untuk pemilihan pemain masih belum dilaksanakan, namun dalam situasi sebegini skuad perseorangan lelaki dilihat berada dalam situasi sukar memandangkan lawan mempunyai pemain dalam kelompok 10 terbaik, antaranya China yang bersandarkan kepada Shi Yuqi dan Chen Long serta India yang bergantung kepada K. Srikanth.
Dua tahun lalu di Gold Coast, Australia, perjalanan skuad Malaysia terhenti di peringkat suku akhir dengan kekalahan kepada Jepun.
"Malaysia akan membariskan pemain-pemain baru dalam saingan Piala Sudirman," kata ketua jurulatih perseorangan negara, Datuk Misbun Sidek. "Ini adalah peluang untuk mereka menampilkan persembahan terbaik.
"Selain Lee Zii Jia, terdapat beberapa pemain seperti Soong Joo Ven dan Cheam June Wei yang mampu diturunkan bagi memperoleh pengalaman yang tidak boleh dilepaskan."
Penulis Jemputan
Wed Mar 20 2019
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