Badminton

Rashid: No clear favourites in Thomas Cup

Rashid Sidek believes that the Thomas Cup today is "more open" with no sure winners.

Rashid, a member of the 1992 winning squad, believes that Malaysia, like the other favourites, stand an equal chance of clinching the crown next month in Bangkok.

Malaysia, who lost to eventual winners Indonesia in the quarter-finals of the previous edition, are in Group D alongside 2014 champions Japan, England and New Zealand.

"The Thomas Cup is no longer like how it used to be. There are no sure winners.

"We can no longer say a certain singles player or doubles pair will surely deliver a point for the team.

"Back then, when players like Lee Chong Wei or Lin Dan (China) took to court, you knew they would surely deliver a winning point.

"In this year's edition, Japan are the group favourites, but we don't know if Kento Momota will surely deliver a point, or if our doubles will win their match.

"It all boils down to players' form on the day. It's open like that," Rashid said.

The 53-year-old, a former singles head coach with BAM, pointed out that it was important for the national body to study the field carefully before finalising their squad this month.

For now, world No 7 Lee Zii Jia and world No 45 Ng Tze Yong are sure of a place in the squad, but there are still places up for grabs as BAM are expected to name six singles players.

Independent player Liew Daren is staking a strong claim for a spot in the Thomas Cup team, along with BAM's Leong Jun Hao and Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin.

"It's hard to say who BAM will name in the squad apart from Zii Jia and Tze Yong.

"Daren is the next highest ranked singles player in the country (after Zii Jia), but is he sure to deliver a point if he be the second singles?

"What if our first doubles don't win a point? The option is also there to name younger players, and have them ready for the upcoming tournament two years from now.

"Other independent players like Soong Joo Ven or Cheam June Wei don't have much to show for either, so the selection must be done carefully," added Rashid.

The last time Malaysia came close to ending their wait for the Thomas Cup was in 2014, when they lost 3-2 to Japan in the final in New Delhi.

In the final then, Daren, who played third singles, lost 21-12, 18-21, 21-17 to Takuma Ueda.

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