With Malaysia still waiting to end its long drought for an Asian Games badminton gold medal, former Olympic silver medallist Datuk Cheah Soon Kit believes Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzuddin Rumsani have what it takes to challenge for the top prize at the upcoming Aichi-Nagoya Games.
The world No. 6 men's doubles pair have set their sights on gold, a target Soon Kit believes is essential for an independent partnership aiming to compete at the highest level.
Speaking on a recent podcast, Soon Kit praised the duo's current form and expressed hope that they could deliver a medal, preferably gold, at the tournament, which takes place from September 20 to 29.
"I see that currently, Sze Fei and Izzuddin are playing quite well," he said. "The Asian Games is a very important event, happening only once every four years. I truly hope they can focus and bring back a medal, hopefully the gold medal."
Soon Kit also has a personal connection with Izzuddin, having identified the player during a local tournament in Johor and helped bring him into the national team setup despite him not initially being part of the squad. His familiarity with the shuttler adds significance to his confidence in the pair's potential.
Source: FMT
A silver medallist at the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games and the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, Soon Kit also played a key role in Malaysia's 1992 Thomas Cup triumph. His experience at major international tournaments has shaped his belief in the importance of setting ambitious targets.
However, he expressed surprise at the decision to split Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik for the Asian Games. The pair won the 2022 World Championships and recently secured another silver medal, but BAM has opted to pair Aaron with Tee Kai Wun instead.
"I was quite surprised when they announced the team without Wooi Yik, especially after their achievement of winning the world championships [in 2022] and a recent silver," Soon Kit said.
The selection decision has drawn attention given the established partnership's experience and previous success at major tournaments.
Meanwhile, Soon Kit believes Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah remain capable of challenging for a women's doubles medal, provided Pearly has recovered fully from her back injury and the pair can rebuild their confidence.
"If Pearly has recovered from her injury, they have a very good chance to win a medal," he said. "They need to regain their confidence and truly believe they are among the top pairs in the world."
With strong Chinese partnerships posing a significant challenge, Soon Kit believes the inconsistency of some international rivals could create opportunities for Pearly and Thinaah.
As Malaysia prepares for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, Sze Fei-Izzuddin's gold medal ambition, the men's doubles selection and the women's doubles medal hopes will all be closely watched. For Soon Kit, the key is for the players to approach the tournament with confidence, focus and the belief that they can compete for the highest honours.
