KUALA LUMPUR: Former national badminton doubles ace Koo Kien Keat has urged the current batch of Malaysian players to repay the support and loyalty shown by their fans at the Petronas Malaysia Open (Jan 10-15).
No local player or pair has won at the Malaysia open since Lee Chong Wei clinched a record 12th title in 2018, a year before his retirement.
Kien Keat said Malaysian players can count themselves lucky as the current generation of fans always stand behind them regardless of how well they are performing.
The three-time Malaysia Open winner is hoping they can end the long wait for a local winner.
"I believe Malaysian shuttlers should feel motivated and inspired," said Kien Keat, who is best known for his partnership with Tan Boon Heong.
"They are enjoying tremendous support from their home fans who have stuck with them through thick and thin. They should be performing on the court with plenty of energy and less pressure.
"When I was playing, our supporters always put very high expectations on us. If we didn't live up to their expectations, we would get booed. But that's no longer the case now.
"My message to the players is to make the most of your home ground advantage to win.
"It has been a while since we had a Malaysian winner, hopefully one of them will prevail this time."
Kien Keat believes the increased prize money should also motivate the players to do well.
The tournament has been upgraded to Super 1000 status this year and the prize purse has followed suit, going up by almost 50 per cent to US$1.25mil (RM5.5mil) this season.
The singles and doubles champions are set to net US$87,500 (RM385,000) and US$92,500 (RM407,000) respectively.
Malaysia's best bet of winning will likely come through the men's singles and men's doubles events.
There are currently four Malaysian pairs in the top-20 - Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik (No 4), Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi (8), Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani (9) and Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun (19)
Goh V Shem-Lim Khim Wah were the last Malaysians to win the men's doubles event in 2014.