Adam Lau Yu Ming
KUCHING: The Sarawak Badminton Association (SBA) are looking forward to end the medal drought in the Sukma badminton competition to be held in Sibu from July 20-30.
They are pinning their hopes on twins Adam Lau Yu Ming and Alfred Lau Yu Leong to deliver a medal in the men’s singles.
It will be Adam’s and Alfred’s final Sukma outing as they are 21 years old this year.
“We are targeting two medals and hoping that the Lau brothers can do well in the men’s singles and doubles and it will be very tough in the team events,” said SBA president Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abdul Aziz Hussain.
His confidence in the Lau brothers comes from the fact that they have been playing in the Purple League and gaining much experience and exposure from there.
“Of course, we have some up and coming players like Owen Ting and Wilson Lau who made it to the semi-finals of the MSSM Badminton Championships this year and they might be able to spring a surprise or two,” he added.
“We are competing in Sarawak this year and we will try our best to utilise our homeground advantage.
“At the same time, we are planning to send our shuttlers for exposure outside the state before Sukma XVIII,” Aziz said from the sidelines of the National Junior Circuit Sabah/Sarawak Zone Badminton Championship that ended at SBA badminton hall last Sunday.
Aziz said while most of the shuttlers in the men’s team have been retained, many new faces have been included in the state squads especially in the women’s team.
Other members of the men’s team are Clement Chieng Jia Yew, Jeremy Kho Shyang, Jonathan Kho Kai, Kam Sing Siong, Owen Ting Shih Wee and Wilson Lau Ngie Ding.
The women’s team comprises Felicia Fong Xin Hui, Flora Fong Xin Jie, Kam Wei Li, Kourtney Kho Ker Yin, Kristy Tay Yong, Shawn Lee Shen En, Viviene Kua Yun Jen and Yong Ping Ping.
On the preparation of the state teams, Aziz said the shuttlers were training at their respective centres and will be gathered in Sibu for centralised training soon which will enable them to adapt to the playing conditions at the new venue.
Aziz was also happy with the performance of the state shuttlers in the National Junior Circuit Sabah/Sarawak Zone Badminton Championship where Sarawak captured nine out of 16 categories competed.
“The staging of this championship was very timely as many of the state Sukma shuttlers are competing to gain more exposure.
“We won nine titles when compared to seven last year in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah and this is an improvement of their standard,” he said.
Aziz added that SBA will also be organising the Pre-Sukma competition with the Sibu Division Badminton Association in May to try out the courts at the new indoor stadium as well as giving the Sukma shuttlers more exposure.
The Sukma shuttlers will also be sent for a exposure training stint in Pontianak, Indonesia.