KOTA KINABALU, May 4 (Bernama) — President of the Sabah Badminton Association (SBA) Senator Datuk Maijol Mahap has been appointed team manager of the Malaysian badminton team for the Sudirman Cup in Guangzhou from May 10-17.
Maijol would be assisted by Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) general manager Kenny Goh.
"I’m hopeful of a good result. Malaysia are drawn against Denmark, South Korea and Hong Kong and we have our best players available. We should at least reach the semifinal… that’s our target. Anything beyond that is a bonus," he told Bernama, here today.
He said Sudirman Cup remains a prestigious championship as it is the world mixed team championship and Malaysia are ranked number four in the tournament.
"But rankings really doesn’t mean much. It’s the performance on that day that really matters and I believe we have a chance to win this time around," he said.
Maijol said Malaysia would bank on men’s singles world number one Datuk Lee Chong Wei and men’s doubles world number three, Koo Kien Keat/Tan Boon Heong and world number one women’s doubles Wong Pei Tty/Chin Eei Hui to deliver the goods.
Other members of the team are Kuang Beng Hong, Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari, Wong Mew Choo, Julia Wong Pei Xian, Ng Hui Lin, and three coaches – Datuk Misbun Sidek, his younger brother Rashid Sidek and Rexy Mainaky, he said.
Maijol said eight countries would participate in the tournament – Denmark, Indonesia, China, Malaysia, South Korea, England, Hong Kong and Japan (according to ranking).
