Kuala Lumpur: World No. 41 men’s singles player Daren Liew has been selected for Malaysia’s Thomas Cup squad, alongside World World No. 10 Lee Zii Jia, World No. 74 Cheam June Wei, and World No. 157 Leong Jun Hao in the men’s singles department.
Oddly enough, World No. 134 Ng Tze Yong who won the BAM VICTOR Invitational Championships three weeks ago, was omitted from the team.
In the men’s doubles department, the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) has confirmed that Goh V Shem/Tan Wee Kiong have turned down their offer to represent Malaysia in the men’s team event due to family commitments. Goh just welcomed his first child, a baby girl on August 30, while Tan is expecting his second child sometime next month.
“It’s a difficult decision, we wanted to play for the country. But due to the Covid-19 situation, Wee Kiong and I have talked over this and we’ve decided to stay with our families,” said Goh to New Straits Times.
Without the World No. 14 Goh/Tan, Malaysia will be banking on World No. 9 Aaron Chia/Soh Wooi Yik, World No. 15 Teo Ee Yi/Ong Yew Sin, and World No. 28 Goh Sze Fei/Nur Izzuddin Rumsani in men’s doubles for the Thomas Cup Finals that will be held in Aarhus, Denmark, from Oct 3 to Oct 11.
As for Malaysia’s Uber Cup squad, Soniia Cheah, S. Kisona, Goh Jin Wei, and Eoon Qi Xuan will be playing in the women’s singles, while Chow Mei Kuan/Lee Meng Yean, Vivian Hoo/Yap Cheng Wen, and Pearly Tan/M. Thinaah have been selected for the women’s doubles.
Here are the rosters for Malaysia’s Thomas and Uber Cup teams:
Thomas Cup Squad:
Men’s Singles
Lee Zii Jia, Liew Daren, Cheam June Wei, Leong Jun Hao
Men’s Doubles
Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi, Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin
Uber Cup Squad:
Women’s Singles
Soniia Cheah, S. Kisona, Goh Jin Wei, Eoon Qi Xuan
Women’s Doubles
Chow Mei Kuan-Lee Meng Yean, Vivian Hoo-Yap Cheng Wen, Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah
