PETALING JAYA: Malaysia have an easier path to the quarter-finals of the Sudirman Cup from April 27-May 4 in Xiamen, China after group rivals France surprisingly decided to name a weakened team for the competition.
Men’s singles shuttler Leong Jun Hao and his teammates are set to take on France in the first Group C match on April 28 based on the schedule released by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) yesterday.
The French team were initially seen as strong challengers in the group which also contains Japan and Australia but have instead elected to omit top stars such as world No. 10 Alex Lanier, world No. 19 Toma Junior Popov, Christo Popov (No. 28) in the men’s singles and mixed doubles pair Thom Gicquel-Delphine Delrue (No. 7).
The Popov brothers can also play in the men’s doubles together and their versatility could have been an asset in a team event.
Instead, France have only named 10 players out of the maximum 20 allowed.
Those chosen are Arnaud Merkle, Mael Cattoen, Gregoire Deschamp, Lucas Renoir, Enogat Roy, Margot Lambert, Leonice Huet, Elsa Jacob, Camille Pognante and Anna Tatranova.
World No. 53 Merkle (men’s singles) is the most prominent player selected in the team.
Malaysia, who have a reasonably strong team, will now start as strong favourites against the French.
The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) have named Jun Hao, Justin Hoh (men’s singles), Goh Jin Wei, K. Letshanaa (women’s singles), Goh Sze Fei, Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, Aaron Chia, Soh Wooi Yik, Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun (men’s doubles), Pearly Tan, M. Thinaah, Go Pei Kee, Carmen Ting (women’s doubles), Goh Soon Huat, Shevon Lai Jemie, Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin, Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei (mixed doubles) in the team.
Malaysia also should beat Australia in their second match on April 29 before the showdown with Japan on May 1 which will likely decide the group winner and second placed team.
Malaysia now have a golden opportunity to finish in the top two in the group and make it into the last eight.
