Poor Showing At Sudirman Cup Costs Vivian-Khe Wei Place In World Meet

Poor Showing At Sudirman Cup Costs Vivian-Khe Wei Place In World Meet - Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria is not pleased with the uninspiring show of Woon Khe Wei-Vivian Hoo and Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong at the Sudirman Cup.

As a result, national No. 1 women’s doubles pair Khe Wei-Vivian have been dropped from the national squad for the World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, from Aug 21-27.

As for men’s doubles pair V Shem-Wee Kiong, the Olympic silver medallists have been given the ultimatum to buck up. If they fail to step up in Glasgow, their partnership will be reviewed.

Both pairs lost their matches in Malaysia’s 3-1 loss to Japan in the quarter-finals of the world mixed team championships in Gold Coast, Australia, on Friday.

Vivian-Khe Wei were humiliated 7-21, 14-21 by Olympic champions Misaki Matsutomo-Ayaka Takahashi while V Shem-Wee Kiong went down 17-21, 21-16, 11-21 to Takeshi Kamura-Keigo Sonoda.

Norza said that he had run out of patience with Khe Wei-Vivian and V Shem-Wee Kiong.

“Vivian-Khe Wei hardly gave a fight to the Japanese pair. Even if we lose, we should lose with dignity,” said Norza, who was with the team in Australia.

“We’ve removed Vivian-Khe Wei from the squad for the world meet. They’ll be given a final chance to prove themselves at the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games (Aug 19-30).

“I had expected more from V Shem and Wee Kiong. They’ll go to the world meet but we’ll review their performance after that,” he said,

Malaysia’s team for the world meet will now consist of Lee Chong Wei and Zulfadli Zulkiffli (men’s singles), Yap Rui Chen (women’s singles), V Shem-Wee Kiong and Low Juan Shen-Chooi Kah Ming (men’s doubles) and Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing (mixed doubles). Women’s doubles pair Lim Yin Loo-Yap Cheng Wen have also been dropped.

On Malaysia’s performance at the Sudirman Cup, Norza admitted that they lacked depth in the squad.

“It’s my first major tournament as the BAM president. I’ve to admit that we are just not good enough,” said Norza, who won the BAM presidency uncontested last month.

“We’re still banking on senior players like Chong Wei and V Shem-Wee Kiong. Teams like Japan, South Korea and China are way ahead of us.

“Our women’s singles and doubles shuttlers are not there yet ... just look at how fit the Japanese women players are.

“Of all our players, women’s doubles pair Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean deserved praise. They showed fighting spirit. The mixed doubles players are also doing fine.”

Norza also took the coaches to task.

“We failed in our tactical approach. The coaches were not bold enough to change the line-up,” said Norza, adding that he would make some changes to create a robust training structure in the national team.