KUALA LUMPUR: The BA of Malaysia (BAM) were expecting decent results from their shuttlers at the All England in Birmingham.
However, some shuttlers fell like tenpins in the early rounds and this has left BAM with a headache.
BAM president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria is unhappy with the results as he was expecting better performances compared to last year’s edition.
In 2017, Lee Chong Wei won his fourth men’s singles title, while Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying reached the final of the mixed doubles.
As for this year’s edition, Malaysia’s interest ended in the quarter-finals.
Chong Wei, 36, was ousted by Lin Dan of China while men’s doubles Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong failed to get the better of Danish veterans Mathias Boe and Carsten Mogensen.
Peng Soon-Liu Ying also failed to perform well, losing in the second round to China’s Zhang Nan-Li Yinhui.
“Chong Wei is in a special category and pressure cannot be put on him anymore to deliver in tournaments,” said Norza when contacted in Birmingham on Sunday.
“Other shuttlers should show more urgency and do better, but they are inconsistent. Chong Wei has done a lot for the country, but we need options in terms of quality players to emulate his achievements.
“However, these players have been showing only weaknesses in tournaments.
“In the past, many did not speak about their weaknesses as Chong Wei was performing and winning tournaments. But this is not the case now, and the other shuttlers should start earning good results.
“Some players are having problems winning matches even when they are in the lead.
“For example, Peng Soon-Liu Ying were 21-18, 19-16 up against Zhang Nan-Li Yinhui but they could not hold on to their lead as the China pair won the match.
“In the women’s singles, Soniia Cheah won the first game and led 13-2 in the second against Indonesia’s Fitriani Fitriani but she also lost the match. The other shuttlers also showed signs of the same problem.
Norza said: “BAM will conduct a thorough assessment on the players’ shortcomings and from there, help them to produce results.
“Some players are not taking matters seriously despite efforts by the association.
“We expect them to do their best in international tournament. They should realise that they are not being sent overseas (for tournaments) for a vacation,” Norza quipped.
He also feels that the mediocre results at the All England may slightly affect the players in some aspects when they play in next month’s Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
“They must rise in the Gold Coast or we face the prospect of not meeting our three-gold medal target. It will be challenging this time as India and England have been making inroads in the sport.
“We have noticed that players from India are England have been consistent in tournaments and this worries us,” said Norza, adding that he will meet the national coaches on Tuesday to discuss about ways to overcome the rot in the national team.