KUALA LUMPUR: As far as preparations are concerned, the Malaysian Thomas Cup squad are all set and ready for the challenge.
BAM Coaching Director, Rexy Mainaky, said the national players did not only spend time training together but also engaged in group activities during the one-week training camp to foster a stronger team bond.
And this could be the key to success for the squad who seek to beat Hong Kong in their Group D opener on Saturday.
Winning the match is crucial for Malaysia in their bid to qualify for the knockout stage. European giants Denmark and Algeria are in the same group.
"As I mentioned before, the team's mood is good, and if we look at it, everything is positive. All the players have undergone training together and even bonded over activities like having breakfast together.
"This is something very positive, and I hope it continues in Chengdu. I also don't want any negative thoughts when we arrive there," Rexy said at klia2 today.
Rexy wishes to turn every minor setback into a success story, as Malaysia look to end their more than three-decade long Thomas Cup drought.
"We want to forget all the challenges we faced here, including a recent one where a player left a passport on the bus. I hope all these can be translated into the team bringing home the Thomas Cup trophy."