PETALING JAYA: The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) sure know how to lift their players and coaches’ morale during these uncertain times.
The BAM have decided to organise what is expected to be a competitive yet fun-filled mixed team championships that leaves no one behind including the juniors.
To spice up the three-day meet at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM), BAM have named four teams after popular movies – Avengers, Terminators, Transformers and Dominators.
Each team will comprise 31 players, but only 17 will be fielded for each tie featuring three men’s singles, two women’s singles, one men’s doubles, one women’s doubles, one mixed doubles and two three-on-three matches.World No. 10 Lee Zii Jia is the captain for Terminators while Aaron Chia, Soh Wooi Yik and Tan Kian Meng will skipper Dominators, Avengers and Transformers respectively.
“My team will try to go for victory!” declared Zii Jia.
“But at the same time, I hope everyone will not feel so tense up and try to enjoy at the same time. I’m looking forward to getting to know the juniors a little closer and build a good relationship with them.”
On BAM’s move to add in the three-on-three matches to the Sudirman Cup format contest, Zii Jia thinks it’s a good move.
“The format has more than just a fun element in it. For me, it will train my reaction and focus on the court as the speed of the three-on-three match is three-time faster than usual.”
Meanwhile, Aaron is thrilled at how the team would stack up for each match as the strength of the players are being equally distributed, especially in doubles.
“None of the teams have regular pairings, it’s going to be fun because no one can predict the line-up, ” he said.
“Dominators is the least famous movie compared to the other three but we’re going to make our presence felt!”
Kian Meng is eager to put his leadership skills to the test.
“I have never become a captain before, so I hope to learn a thing or two about playing a leading role, ” he quipped.
“Hopefully I’m able to spearhead my team to glory in my first try.”
Source: The Star Online