NATIONAL chief coach Yap Kim Hock has urged the Olympics-bound shuttlers to approach the event with the belief that they are all title contenders.

Based on current form, Kim Hock said men's singles world No 2 Lee Chong Wei doubles World No 4 Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah and World No 5 Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong are the best bets for medals in Beijing.

However, Kim Hock wants the other players -- men's singles Wong Choong Hann, women's singles Wong Mew Choo and women's doubles Wong Pei Tty-Chin Eei Hui -- to also aim for medals although the odds are heavily stacked against them.

"The target is very high and all the players need to believe they are the title contenders. This is the mindset that will help them in Beijing," said Kim Hock.

"Based on form and consistency, Chong Wei has the best chance to win a medal while both doubles, after a slow start, have also been preparing well and they too can win medals.
"I'm not saying that they are good enough for gold as I don't want to put them under pressure.

"I'm very confident our medal drought will end in Beijing. It could be a medal or medals and it is up to the players to decide how successful they want to be."

Malaysia have not won a medal in the Olympics since Atlanta '96 when Kim Hock partnered Cheah Soon Kit to win a silver medal while Rashid Sidek earned a bronze.

Malaysia returned empty-handed from Sydney in 2000 where Choong Tan Fook-Lee Wan Wah lost in the bronze medal playoff. The same pair fell in the quarter-finals in Athens in 2004 which was also badminton's worst result at the Olympics.

A more consistent Chong Wei, who has won two Super Series titles this year, has given hope and the immensely talented but temperamental Kien Keat-Boon Heong are seen as Malaysia's best hope for medal, maybe even gold, in the doubles.

Tan Fook-Wan Wah, competing in their third Olympics, also want to bow out with a medal.

The Malaysian squad leave for Beijing on Aug 4. Badminton will be held on Aug 9-17.