KUALA LUMPUR: Men's doubles Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi have vowed to fight until the end — in the hope of making the squad for the Thomas Cup in Bangkok in May.
The national No 2 pair realise that their chances of playing in the team event have become a bit harder following the BA of Malaysia's (BAM) decision to bring in three more shuttlers - Lim Khim Wah, Arif Latif and Nur Azriyn Ayub - to beef up the men's doubles.
According to BAM president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria, the three independent shuttlers will also get to fight for places in the Thomas Cup.
Ee Yi said today: “Yes, we realise that the second men's doubles spot is open to everyone now, and that makes it more difficult for us, because it's everyone's dream to play in the Thomas Cup.
"The final decision will be up to our coaches and BAM, but we will not stop fighting.
"Looking at our recent results, it may seem like nothing, but I think Yew Sin and I have been trying hard.
"At the recent All England, we defeated Malaysia Masters champions (Fajar Alfian-Muhamad Rian Ardianto of Indonesia), and dragged the World No 1 pair (Marcus Fernaldi Gideon-Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo of Indonesia) to the deciding game. I think we are improving, we just need that extra boost."
Since clinching the 2016 Bitburger Open title, Yew Sin-Ee Yi's partnership has suffered a minor setback, after the duo were split temporarily to partner senior teammates Goh V Shem and Tan Wee Kiong.
Yew Sin-Ee Yi and V Shem-Wee Kiong were reunited earlier this year, but there has yet to be any significant result.
They won't be making the trip to Gold Coast, Australia for the Commonwealth Games next month. Ee Yi added: "For now our focus is completely on training. I think it's good, because we get to work on our weakness.
"There is the Badminton Asia Championships at the end of April, but our coach (Cheah Soon Kit), has yet to confirm anything. We don't want to think too much about it as well."
For the Thomas Cup, Malaysia are in Group D, with Denmark, Russia and Algeria. So far, the only men's doubles pair confirmed for the team event are V Shem-Wee Kiong.