Rashid Sidek, optimistic that Malaysian players would shock the world at BATC 2022

Malaysia – Datuk Rashid Sidek, a national badminton icon, conveyed his optimism that the national badminton line-up would be able to play well at the Badminton Asia Team Championships (BATC) 2022, which will be held in Shah Alam from February 15 to 20.

In the event, which gives automatic slots in the 2022 Thomas Cup and Uber Cup Finals to be hosted in Bangkok, Thailand in May, he also wants to see the players show they can handle the pressure of playing at home and exhibit tremendous team spirit.

“I sincerely believe they (Malaysian players) will surprise us and do well at the BATC 2022.”

“However, other teams like as Japan and Taiwan should not be overlooked,” he added.

When asked about last year’s All England champion Lee Zii Jia, who was involved in an amicably resolved dispute with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), Rashid said that it doesn’t matter whether the players are professional or under BAM, what matters is that they still represent the country and win for the team.

For the BATC 2022, Zii Jia has been selected as the national first singles.

Apart from Zii Jia, five other national singles shuttlers, namely Ng Tze Yong, Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin, Leong Jun Hao, Lim Chong King, and Jacky Kok Jing Hong, will compete in the biennial championship.

Furthermore, bronze medalists Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun are likely to lead compatriots Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani and Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun in the men’s doubles.

For singles, Eoon Qi Xuan, S Kisona, Tan Zhing Yi, Siti Nurshuhaini Azman, Myisha Mohd Khairul, and Pearly Tan-M Thinaah, Teoh Mei Xing-Anna Cheong, Valeree Siow-Low Yeen Yuan, and Go Pei Kee make up the women’s team.

Besides Malaysia, the BATC 2022, which will be hosted at the Setia City Convention Centre in Shah Alam, will feature nine other teams competing for automatic spots in the 2022 Thomas Cup and Uber Cup Finals in Bangkok, Thailand in May: Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, India, Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, and Singapore.