KUALA LUMPUR – Mixed doubles shuttler Tan Kian Meng will be shouldering a heavy responsibility at the Sudirman Cup in Suzhou, China from May 14 to 21 as the independent player is determined to ensure excellent team camaraderie.
Being appointed as the captain of the Malaysian squad for the first time, Kian Meng acknowledged the daunting task of leading them at the mixed team tournament as it would require him to be the bridge between the independent and national players, Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM), and the coaching staff.
“I thank ABM for entrusting me to captain the team at the Sudirman Cup. I realise this appointment comes with a great set of responsibilities.
“One of them is to be the link between the players and the coach. As a senior player, I hope I can help the team excel in the Sudirman Cup,” he said when met today at the Sudirman Cup squad send-off at ABM here, today.
Meanwhile, Kian Meng also said that his team’s preparations have been going according to the plan laid out by the coaches, adding that the players are highly motivated ahead of the mixed team tournament.
“The players are in their best condition and high spirits.
“They have been working hard to improve their focus and performance while trying to avoid serious injuries before the match.
“In this team, there will be no such thing as independent or national players, but only Malaysians. We aim to give our best at the tournament,” he added.
The squad had recently returned from their three-day training camp conducted by ABM to build the team’s morale followed by the President’s Cup held on Sunday, which was a team simulation competition involving players representing the country at the upcoming Sudirman Cup.
Malaysia is drawn in Group C with India, Taiwan, and Australia and only the top two teams from the group will qualify for the knockout stage.
For the record, Malaysia has yet to win the Sudirman Cup title.
Their best achievements in the biennial tournament were bronze medals at the 2009 Guangzhou and 2021 Vantaa editions. – The Vibes, May 9, 2023
