Men’s doubles shuttler Yap Roy King believes Malaysia’s youthful line-up should be given the freedom to compete without excessive pressure at the Asia Team Championships, with several players set to make their tournament debuts.
Although Malaysia hold a clear advantage on paper, the men’s team are not taking their Group D encounter against Myanmar lightly. A win today would seal their place in the quarter-finals after Indonesia swept Myanmar 5-0 in the opening group match.
Beyond qualification, the tie also serves as an important platform for the coaching team to test combinations ahead of tomorrow’s key clash against Indonesia, which is likely to decide the group winners.
As one of the highest-ranked players in the squad, Roy King, who partners Wan Arif Wan Junaidi, said easing expectations would help the younger players settle.
“Pressure will always be there because everyone wants to win,” said Roy King.
“But with a young team and many new faces, we shouldn’t put too much pressure on them. Let them enjoy the first two matches and see how things go.”
Arif echoed his partner’s sentiments, stressing the importance of unity and communication in a team competition.
“The key is communication because this is a team event, not an individual one. Team spirit matters the most,” said Arif.
“When we are not playing, we must give full support to our teammates on court. That encouragement can really lift their performance.”
Malaysia’s women’s team will also be in action today in Group W against tournament favourites China. Regardless of the outcome, Malaysia have already secured a quarter-final spot in the women’s event, with only two teams competing in the group.
