KUALA LUMPUR – National mixed doubles shuttler Choong Hon Jian shoulders a heavy responsibility for the Malaysian badminton team at the 2023 SEA Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The 22-year-old player, who is also a SEA Games debutant, has been appointed team captain by Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM), with women’s doubles shuttler Low Yeen Yuan as his deputy.
“I am excited and happy to be named team captain. I will carry the responsibility as best as I can.
“It would be ideal if I could bring home a medal,” he said when met after the badminton squad SEA Games send-off at ABM in Bukit Kiara here, today.
At the 2021 SEA Games edition, Malaysia returned home with one gold medal in the mixed doubles, two silvers in the mixed doubles and team, as well as one bronze in the women’s doubles event.
This year, ABM aims to defend their mixed doubles gold medal through Hon Jian-Cheng Su Yin and Yap Roy King-Tap Ling.
Meanwhile, ABM chief executive officer Michelle Chai said Indonesia is clearly the biggest challenge for the Malaysian contingent.
Indonesia has listed men’s doubles shuttlers Muhammad Shohibul Fikri-Bagas Maulana, who were the 2022 All England champion, and 2022 Asian champions Pramudya Kusumawardana-Yeremia Rambitan.
“Indonesia is clearly our biggest challenge.
“To help our players have better focus on their training ahead of the games, we have separated the team training camp for players going for the Sudirman Cup and SEA Games,” she said.
The SEA Games squad will depart for Phnom Penh on Saturday.
Yesterday, Badminton Association of Malaysia president Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria urged young shuttlers to use the opportunity to compete at the SEA Games and rise to the occasion to challenge their more established seniors.
He said this would be in line with their objective to strengthen the development of young athletes from the grassroots level and ensure Malaysia’s continuity in producing quality shuttlers. – The Vibes, May 2, 2023
