Kuala Lumpur: The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) has set a target for the men’s doubles pair to reach the top 16 within a year under its new restructuring programme.
BAM technical director Morten Frost Hansen said that the restructuring programme would focus on the plan for participation in tournaments and also the partnership itself.
Frost said through the restructuring plan, the lower ranked pairs will be exposed to more international series, international challenge, grand prix as well as grand prix gold tournaments to determine the qualification for entry and seeding for BWF-sanctioned tournaments.
“This is to ensure that they get enough points to move them up the ranking before we start moving into the bigger tournaments because otherwise they have to go through qualification every single time.
“Obviously, we will play in the smaller tournaments now in order to build up the ranking. Within a year we would like to see the top three pairs in the top 16 list. It is a great challenge not only for players but also the coaches,” he told reporters at the BAM office in Bukit Kiara, here today.
Currently, Malaysia’s top men’s pair are Goh V Shem/Tan Wee Kiong who are ranked world number 33 in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) ranking list.
Other men’s doubles pairs are Chooi Kah Ming/Ow Yao Han, Teo Kok Siang/Mak Hee Chun and Tan Wee Gieen/Teo Ee Yi.
Meanwhile, Frost was impressed with the encouraging performance by the women’s doubles and mixed doubles pairs at the 2015 China Masters.
Vivian Hoo/Woon Khe Wei and mixed doubles Chan Peng Soon/Goh Li Ying gave Chinese pairs a run for their money before surrendering in the semi final on Saturday.
Vivian Hoo/Khe Wei lost to Tang Jinhua/Zhong Qianxin 21-23, 9-21, Peng Soon/Li Ying dragged their opponent into a deciding game before bowing out 21-17, 17-21, 21-17 to top seeded Liu Cheng/Bao Yixin.
“That was an extremely encouraging performance from the doubles. I am very pleased because it was beyond my expectation,” he added.
— BERNAMA
