KUALA LUMPUR – Being a professional player takes more than just a good coach but a reliable team altogether, said former badminton international Datuk Rashid Sidek.
Commenting about world No. 4 men’s singles player Lee Zii Jia, Rashid said an independent player such as Zii Jia needs more than just a coach to help with his performance.
Instead, one should also have a good team consisting of a manager to help make strategic decisions, a sparring partner, and physical training, among others.
“He (Zii Jia) needs to have a good team and a good plan to identify any weaknesses and how to improve from there.
“Aside from a coach, a sparring partner, and physiotherapy are equally important.
“Most importantly, he needs constant support from everyone around him to help him maintain his performance,” said Rashid.
Zii Jia, who recently slipped two spots from No. 2, has caused a stir in the badminton community for dropping his coach, Indra Wijaya, in November.
His decision did not benefit his reputation following his early round exits since the start of the season.
The 24-year-old was eliminated in the first round of the Malaysia Open by Japan’s Kodai Naraoka and was again crushed out in the India Open in the second round by China’s Li Shi Feng, followed by another early exit in the Indonesia Masters’ second round to China’s Angus Long.
Rashid, former world No. 1 in 1997, said that being an independent player has its ups and downs.
As such, he said it is important to look past the performance and focus on consistency and complete dedication to the game.
“We cannot just look at his performance. As a professional player, the rise and fall throughout the career are normal.
“If it were me, I would need a good coach and a reliable team to help me with my physical training and mental preparation so that I could fully focus on my game.
“Being a top player is never easy. It requires hard work, complete dedication as well as proper tournament planning.
“We cannot just simply participate in any tournaments, because we also need to be strategic on how to win each game,” added Rashid, who is currently running his academy, Rashid Sidek Badminton Club.
Rashid was met after officiating Charity at Heart, which was organised by Milo and Pavilion Bukit Jalil, here today.
A total of 10,000 Milo packets were made available at the mall for sale at a special price of RM8, where all proceeds will be donated to charity. – The Vibes, February 4, 2023
