KUALA LUMPUR – National badminton legend Datuk James Selvaraj expressed frustration toward Malaysia’s Sudirman Cup players for not sticking with strategy after they were dumped out of the tournament by South Korea in Suzhou, China earlier today.
“The way the draw was made we needed to win the first (match) in the mixed doubles,” said the 72-year-old.
In the first match, Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei won the first set against world number five pair Seo Seung-jae-Chae Yu-jung, but then collapsed to lose 21-11, 13-21, 7-21.
“They should have won. In the first game, they played very well, they were doing a good job of attacking the shuttle,” said Selvaraj.
“Then they changed their strategy, you cannot do that. If you have a winning strategy, you cannot simply change like that.
“If your attacking play is working you must keep at it, that is why they lost the second game,” added the 1976 Thomas Cup silver medallist.
In the third set, James said, the Koreans were doing a better job of reading the game and knew exactly what to do.
“They played faster and went on the attack. They focused their offence on Ee Wei and forced her into mistakes.
“Then Zii Jia played his normal game and did what was expected of him.
“His opponent (Jeon Hyeok-jin) could not contend with Zii Jia’s cross-court smashes,” he said.
That win levelled the tie at 1-1 but then came the women’s singles match featuring world number two An Se-young against K. Letshanaa.
“Even if Goh Jin Wei was playing, it wouldn’t have made a difference. Se-young is number two in the world and the defeat was expected.
“Overall Letshanaa played very well, better than expected,” he said.
With the tie in the balance, it was up to Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik to level things up again.
But the world number two pair were shocked by scratch pair Kim Won-ho-Na Sung-seung in straight sets, 21-12, 21-11.
“Aaron and Wooi Yik did not play well, the Koreans were attacking all the way playing flat in the frontcourt and refused to lift the shuttle.
“Rexy (Mainaky, doubles coach) was telling them to play flat, they did well in the second set playing like that, but then they changed their game. They did not listen to their coach.
“The Koreans then changed their game in the second set, they played even faster and flatter. It was difficult for our pair to lift the shuttle and when they lifted the Koreans pounced on it,” said James.
Aaron and Wooi Yik’s defeat gave South Korea a 3-1 win and they await the winner of the China-Japan tie at 5pm this afternoon.
James said that Malaysia’s players must do a better job of listening to their coaches as they are there to help them during the match.
“The coaches are there to help them. When you are outside the court you can see the game better.
“Sometimes you are nervous and can’t see the shuttle, sometimes you don’t even know what you are doing.
“That is where the coaches come in, they will try to help you so you must follow their instructions.
“I can see both Rosman (Razak) and Rexy trying to tell them (Aaron and Wooi Yik) what to do but they were not following instructions,” he said.
James added that it is all about how Malaysia’s players strategise their game and have a plan before they enter the court.
They must also know how to play the opponent when they change their game.
“If they start attacking you must know how to defend it.
“Your mental game must also be strong, if it is not strong you cannot do anything,” he said.
Malaysia’s semi-final run equals their best showing at the biennial mixed team tournament, having finished at the same stage in 2009 and 2021 respectively. – The Vibes, May 20, 2023
