Pro shuttlers back Chong Wei
Lee Chong Wei. - NSTP file pic
Independent shuttlers Cheam June Wei and Soong Joo Ven have expressed delight over former world No 1 Lee Chong Wei's call for an open selection approach to picking players for major team competitions, such as the Thomas Cup.
The two, who felt hard done by their exclusion from the just-concluded Thomas Cup, believed a merit-based selection process should be adopted by the BA of Malaysia (BAM) to ensure that every player was given an equal chance to represent the country.
Questions were raised over the selection process for the Thomas Cup following Malaysia's failure in Bangkok, which many blamed the team's lack of depth in men's singles.
Malaysia exited the quarter-finals for the third edition running after losing 3-2 to eventual champions India, which had conducted an open trial to pick shuttlers for the assignment.
Cheam June Wei
World No. 57 Joo Ven and 72nd-ranked June Wei were not shortlisted to attend a training camp for the Thomas Cup.
Instead, lower-ranked men's singles shuttlers Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin (No. 100), Leong Jun Hao (No. 124), Ong Ken Yon (No. 290) and Shaqeem Eiman Shahyar (No. 434) received a call-up.
BAM later picked Aidil and Jun Hao to make up the five-member men's singles list, also consisting of the country's top three players — Lee Zii Jia, Liew Daren and Ng Tze Yong.
Joo Ven is hopeful the national body will consider Chong Wei's proposition.
"I think it (the selection) should not be done only for the Thomas Cup but also other major events," said Joo Ven, who is playing in the Thailand Open, which gets underway today.
"For us, who are outside the national team, all we ask for is fairness.
"If BAM feels it is unnecessary to conduct a trial, then I hope it will pick players according to the current rankings and latest results.
"I was upset when it excluded me from the Asia Championships recently. Because of that, I was denied a chance to improve my world ranking."
June Wei, who played a pivotal role in helping Malaysia finish runners-up to Indonesia at the 2020 Asia Team Championships, said he also supported Chong Wei's idea.
"Let's hope BAM will look into it," said June Wei.
Soong Joo Ven
"BAM did open it up to the professionals two years ago (but the Aarhus edition was eventually postponed to 2021). I was the No. 2 in the national team at that time and still had to undergo the selection.
"But this time, they (BAM) just named the squad.
"To instil more competitiveness in the players, it is probably best to conduct trials for major events. The best players get in, it is simple as that.
"Our national players sit in a comfort zone knowing that they get prioritised for selection.
"BAM should start being open-minded and allow independent players to train with national players.
"We can see that the national men's singles department lacks good sparring options. In Indonesia, their independent players can still perform as they train regularly with the national team.
"It has created a win-win situation as Indonesia are making an impact in tournaments."
Independent shuttlers Cheam June Wei and Soong Joo Ven have expressed delight over former world No 1 Lee Chong Wei's call for an open selection approach to picking players for major team competitions, such as the Thomas Cup.
The two, who felt hard done by their exclusion from the just-concluded Thomas Cup, believed a merit-based selection process should be adopted by the BA of Malaysia (BAM) to ensure that every player was given an equal chance to represent the country.
Questions were raised over the selection process for the Thomas Cup following Malaysia's failure in Bangkok, which many blamed the team's lack of depth in men's singles.
Malaysia exited the quarter-finals for the third edition running after losing 3-2 to eventual champions India, which had conducted an open trial to pick shuttlers for the assignment.
Cheam June WeiWorld No. 57 Joo Ven and 72nd-ranked June Wei were not shortlisted to attend a training camp for the Thomas Cup.
Instead, lower-ranked men's singles shuttlers Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin (No. 100), Leong Jun Hao (No. 124), Ong Ken Yon (No. 290) and Shaqeem Eiman Shahyar (No. 434) received a call-up.
BAM later picked Aidil and Jun Hao to make up the five-member men's singles list, also consisting of the country's top three players — Lee Zii Jia, Liew Daren and Ng Tze Yong.
Joo Ven is hopeful the national body will consider Chong Wei's proposition.
"I think it (the selection) should not be done only for the Thomas Cup but also other major events," said Joo Ven, who is playing in the Thailand Open, which gets underway today.
"For us, who are outside the national team, all we ask for is fairness.
"If BAM feels it is unnecessary to conduct a trial, then I hope it will pick players according to the current rankings and latest results.
"I was upset when it excluded me from the Asia Championships recently. Because of that, I was denied a chance to improve my world ranking."
June Wei, who played a pivotal role in helping Malaysia finish runners-up to Indonesia at the 2020 Asia Team Championships, said he also supported Chong Wei's idea.
"Let's hope BAM will look into it," said June Wei.
Soong Joo Ven"BAM did open it up to the professionals two years ago (but the Aarhus edition was eventually postponed to 2021). I was the No. 2 in the national team at that time and still had to undergo the selection.
"But this time, they (BAM) just named the squad.
"To instil more competitiveness in the players, it is probably best to conduct trials for major events. The best players get in, it is simple as that.
"Our national players sit in a comfort zone knowing that they get prioritised for selection.
"BAM should start being open-minded and allow independent players to train with national players.
"We can see that the national men's singles department lacks good sparring options. In Indonesia, their independent players can still perform as they train regularly with the national team.
"It has created a win-win situation as Indonesia are making an impact in tournaments."
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