Array
(
    [_edit_lock] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1745586949:15
        )

    [tdc_dirty_content] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [tdc_icon_fonts] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:0:{}
        )

    [post_views_count] => Array
        (
            [0] => 99
        )

    [_thumbnail_id] => Array
        (
            [0] => 254932
        )

    [_edit_last] => Array
        (
            [0] => 15
        )

    [onesignal_meta_box_present] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [onesignal_send_notification] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [onesignal_modify_title_and_content] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [onesignal_notification_custom_heading] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [onesignal_notification_custom_content] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_post_language] => Array
        (
            [0] => English
        )

    [_molongui_author] => Array
        (
            [0] => guest-216311
        )

    [_molongui_main_author] => Array
        (
            [0] => guest-216311
        )

    [td_post_theme_settings] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:1:{s:11:"td_subtitle";s:89:"Singles coaching director urges Malaysia’s young squad to seize the spotlight in Xiamen";}
        )

    [_yoast_wpseo_primary_category] => Array
        (
            [0] => 601
        )

    [_yoast_wpseo_focuskw] => Array
        (
            [0] => Sudirman Cup
        )

    [_yoast_wpseo_linkdex] => Array
        (
            [0] => 50
        )

    [_yoast_wpseo_content_score] => Array
        (
            [0] => 30
        )

    [_yoast_wpseo_estimated-reading-time-minutes] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2
        )

    [post_views_count_7_day_arr] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:7:{i:0;a:2:{s:4:"date";i:0;s:5:"count";i:0;}i:1;a:2:{s:4:"date";i:0;s:5:"count";i:0;}i:2;a:2:{s:4:"date";i:0;s:5:"count";i:0;}i:3;a:3:{s:4:"date";s:10:"1749135043";s:5:"count";i:1;s:14:"per_hour_count";a:1:{i:14;i:1;}}i:4;a:3:{s:4:"date";s:10:"1749196449";s:5:"count";i:1;s:14:"per_hour_count";a:1:{i:7;i:1;}}i:5;a:2:{s:4:"date";i:0;s:5:"count";i:0;}i:6;a:2:{s:4:"date";i:0;s:5:"count";i:0;}}
        )

    [post_view_7days_last_day] => Array
        (
            [0] => 4
        )

    [post_views_count_7_day_last_date] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1749196449
        )

    [post_views_count_7_day_total] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2
        )

    [post_views_last_24_hours] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2
        )

    [post_views_last_48_hours] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2
        )

)
Malaysia’s Sudirman squad ready to punch above their weight: Jonassen | Scoop
Kenneth Jonassen says Malaysia’s young guns are ready to punch above their weight in Xiamen as they chase a rare spot in the Sudirman Cup quarter-finals. — screengrab from BAMTV, April 25, 2025
Sports

Malaysia’s Sudirman squad ready to punch above their weight: Jonassen

Singles coaching director urges Malaysia’s young squad to seize the spotlight in Xiamen

Main Author Image
Fabian Peter
Updated
9:15 PM MYT

 

KUALA LUMPUR — Although the absence of prominent players such as 2024 Paris Olympics bronze medallist Lee Zii Jia and Ng Tze Yong may have dampened Malaysia’s Sudirman Cup efforts, national singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen prefers to focus on what he can influence rather than what he cannot.

Instead, the Danish coach is fully relying on his current team, aiming to achieve a specific objective: to reach the quarter-finals of the mixed team championships starting this Sunday in Xiamen, China.

World number nine Zii Jia will be unavailable for at least a couple more months as he recovers from an ankle injury he suffered at the World Tour Finals in December. 

Meanwhile, Tze Yong is taking a cautious approach after fully returning to competitive badminton after dealing with a recurring lower back problem that kept him off the court for over a year.

“We can’t really use too much energy to dwell on this as it is out of our hands and already in the past,” he said. 

“What this championship has in store for us, we will also have to wait and see. All I can say is that the team is in good spirits.”

Given that Malaysia has never progressed past the semi-finals of the tournament, it’s reasonable to first focus on getting through the group stages. 

Although the challenge appears more difficult without their two best men’s singles players, the team is optimistic that their youthful energy and teamwork will help them succeed.

In Group C, Malaysia faces tough competition from heavyweights like Japan, a tricky French side, and Australia. Although Japan is anticipated to win the group, Malaysia aims to claim the second qualifying position.

With the absence of the duo, Malaysia’s chances in singles now rely on former Asian junior champion Leong Jun Hao, 21-year-old Justin Hoh, and the women’s singles pair Goh Jin Wei and K. Letshanaa.

At the same time, Jonassen is happy that Jun Hao has been appointed as a joint captain of the team, sharing the role with women’s doubles star Pearly Tan.

“It will be a good experience for any player,” he said of Jun Hao’s appointment. — April 25, 2025

Topics

 

◉ Popular

Pegawai kadet UPNM mengaku tidak bersalah tekap seterika pada pelatih junior

Pertuduhan dibuat mengikut Seksyen 324 Kanun Keseksaan yang membawa hukuman penjara maksimum 10 tahun atau dengan denda atau sebat atau mana-mana dua daripada hukuman itu, jika sabit kesalahan

National Unity Ministry requests for higher allocation in Budget 2024

Minister of National Unity Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang said the ministry has requested a higher allocation in the 2024 Budget, which will be tabled in October.  

Peminat di Indonesia mahu jadikan Belum Mulai sohor di media sosial

Sejak dilancarkan pada 28 Jun, lagu dendangan Insomniacks dan Nabila Taqiyyah itu telah berjaya mencapai 382,000 jumlah tontonan di saluran YouTube

◉ Related

Copyright © 2023. All rights reserved.