LETTERS: The Thomas Cup tournament in Chengdu, China, has been a treat for all, despite our national team not proceeding to the final.
The thrills and spills displayed on court is all that it takes for badminton enthusiasts the world over to love the game, which always takes off with three simple words: "Love all, play."
Malaysian players did not disappoint their fans as they gave a creditable performance in the semi finals, only to lose to the might of China 1-3.
Malaysians can be proud because they did not go down without a fight.
There is also nothing to be ashamed of in their defeat to China. They tried their best, and succumbed only after four hours of tense and absorbing badminton.
In the preliminary rounds, our players showed high determination and played their hearts out, only to lose to the Danes in the final singles match, for an overall score of 2-3.
In the quarter-finals, Malaysia faced Japan, and came out victors 3-1. A remarkable achievement considering that they were the underdogs. Fighting spirit again played a big part.
The important thing is to give your best while playing. They can leave Chengdu with their heads
held high for their outstanding team spirit displayed throughout the tournament.
The Malaysian fans of all races back home were rooting for them. They epitomised the true spirit of all Malaysians.
Overall, we can be proud of our players' performance in the recent Thomas Cup.
THIAGARAJAN MATHIAPARANAM
Klang, Selangor
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times