A regretful Teo Ee Yi wants to make amends by striking gold at the Philippines Sea Games on Nov 30-Dec 11.
Fired up by BA of Malaysia (BAM) president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria’s recent comments, men’s doubles shuttler Ee Yi wants to bury his past disappointments and move forward.
The 26-year-old, who partners Ong Yew Sing, is aiming for the stars, especially with the 2020 Tokyo Olympics fast approaching.
Earlier, Norza had made it clear that he does not want players to be merely passengers at the Olympics.
This came following the national squad’s poor performance at the World Championships in Basel, Switzerland last month.
“The players are upset because nobody goes to a tournament wanting to lose,” said Ee Yi.
“Yew Sin and I will just have to try harder to be better, there is no other option.”
At the world meet, the World No 24 were sent packing in the second round by compatriots, Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong.
Now, all they want to do is forget the past and focus on winning gold at the Sea Games, especially after coming close at the 2017 edition in Kuala Lumpur.
Yew Sin-Ee Yi were runners-up in 2017 following a 21-19, 20-22, 21-17 defeat to Thailand’s Kittinupong Kedren-Dechapol Puavaranukroh.
“I feel our president’s displeasure. We also do not want to be passengers at a tournament.
“We know we can do it. We came close once, we want to go for gold again,” added Ee Yi.
BAM and the National Sports Council have set a target of two gold medals for the national squad at the Sea Games.
Following the retirement of former World No 1 Lee Chong Wei and given the lack of depth and quality of the current squad, it seems a daunting task.
In 2017, Malaysia won one gold, five silver and two bronze.