Razif: Loss to India a 'massive failure'

DATUK Razif Sidek, the captain of Malaysia's 1992-winning team, believes Malaysia had let slip a glorious chance to at least reach the final of the Thomas Cup in Bangkok following their disappointing quarter-final exit on Thursday.

Razif, a former men's doubles shuttler, was left baffled by the team's failure to take advantage of their strength in the doubles.

Razif simply could not understand why Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani had played in the first doubles instead of Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, who have an unbeaten record in four meetings against India's Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Chirag Shetty.

Sze Fei-Izzuddin suffered their sixth defeat in seven encounters against the India pair.

The outcome proved to be Malaysia's downfall in the tie as they were beaten 3-2 by India — their first defeat since 1979.

"I do not get it. Why pick Sze Fei-Izzudin for the first doubles?" said Razif, a bronze medallist at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

"There was no denying that they did well to win a point against Japan (which Malaysia won 3-2), but it was obvious that their head-to-head record with the top Indian pair did not favour them.

"With a five-to-one advantage, Satwiksairaj-Chirag had the psychological edge.

"Even when I was a player, I wasn't comfortable going up against Park Joo Bong (and Kim Moon Soo) because we were trailing 8-1 in head-to-head."

Razif also questioned the team's decision to form a scratch combination between Aaron and Teo Ee Yi for the match against India, deeming it unnecessary.

"They should have just maintained the original pairings. Aaron-Wooi Yik should have played first.

"The point from the second doubles match was never in doubt whether you put in Izzuddin-Sze Fei or Yew Sin-Ee Yi," he stressed.

"By making these changes, they shot themselves in their foot.

"I have said before that we need to get two points from the doubles as Zii Jia was already doing a great job in the opening singles.

"By avoiding Indonesia, I really thought we had a good chance to make the final.

"With the strength of our doubles and Zii Jia's form, we could have beaten Denmark too.

"Such a shame."

Razif added that losing to India was a massive failure.

"I don't think we have ever lost to India during our time. It's time for our national team to do some soul searching."

Related Articles