Medal Contributor: Aziz (third left) together with the Sarawak Sukma XV badminton team all set for the big day in Pahang. Also seen are Abdul Hadi (left) and head coach Dwi Ariyanto (second left).
KUCHING: The Sarawak badminton squad has targeted to bag at least a medal in the coming Sukma XV in Kuantan, Pahang from July 7-16.
The team’s assistant coach Dominic Lim said they are putting their hope in the doubles, especially on the pair of Lai Zing Neng and Roni Tan.
“It looks like our doubles are giving us higher chances of getting a medal at Sukma in Pahang.
“Although Lai and Tan are only 19 and 20 years old, the duo has enough experience to excel at the Games,” revealed Lim.
“Although our singles line-up lacked the necessary experience and competitive match exposure, they can spring some surprises too. Basically, they are still very young and still new to Sukma,” he added.
Lim said that Lai is the most experience player in the team as he has represented the state before and this is his second appearance in Sukma.
Apart from that, Lai is also a badminton coach based in Singapore.
To enhance their performance in the sports, Sarawak Badminton Association SBA recently hired a 20-year-old assistant coach Rukita from Indonesia.
SBA secretary Abdul Hadi revealed that the move is part of their strategy to win more medals for the state in the future.
“This is the ultimate moment for all of you to shine. You have been training so hard, now it is the time to prove your capabilities,” he said during the flag-handing over ceremony by SBA president Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abdul Aziz Husain to the Pahang bound squad held at the sports village in Unimas yesterday.
Abdul Hadi also advised the team not to look down at their capabilities and to stay focus on their mission to win medals in Sukma.
The state badminton squad is currently having their final preparation at Unimas before heading to Kuantan on July 5.