KUALA LUMPUR: BA of Malaysia (BAM) president, Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria has come out to say that the national players good showing at the recently concluded Thailand Masters is the best new year’s gift for the country’s badminton fans and enthusiasts.
According to him, the national players showed exceptional fighting spirit as eight of them managed to advance to the semi-finals of the tournament.
"As BAM president I am very happy with the players fighting spirit as three of them managed to advance all the way to the final. I have said before that the national squad needs new spirit and I see it in players such as Leong Jun Hao, Soniia Cheah and Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean,” he said.
Norza explained that all the players managed to show commendable fighting spirit and determination right to the very end, just as how Lee Chong Wei always does.
"There are those among them who are still very young like women’s singles player S. Kisona who has what it takes to go all the way.
"It’s similar to Jun Hao who performed brilliantly to beat big name players while starting his challenge from the qualifying rounds. I tell you this is best new year’s gift for badminton fans and enthusiasts,” he said.
In the mixed doubles final of the Thailand Masters yesterday (Sunday), national pair Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying emerged as champions when they defeated home favourites, Dechapol Puavaranukroh-Puttita Supajirakul, 21-15, 14-21, 21-16.
Meanwhile in the men’s singles final, Jun Hao was no match for experienced Indonesian Tommy Sugiarto as he had to settle for the runner-up spot after losing, 16-21, 15-21.