Axiata Cup semi-finals: Malaysia Leopards likely to play without big names
The Malaysia Leopards will definitely face a bit of trouble as big names like Zulfadli Zulkifli, Loh Wei Sheng and the doubles pair Ow Yao Han-Chooi Kah Ming may not be available for the semi-finals, starting from March 30, 2012.
The back-up squad of Malaysia, the Leopards, surged into top four teams by claiming second position in Group J and will be up against Indonesia Rajawali in the semi-finals.
It will be a huge task for them in absence of top junior singles shuttlers. The national singles coach Hendrawan is in trouble as he has only two youngsters with him to field in the semi-final.
He said, “Honestly there is not much time to prepare for the semi-finals and there is not much I can do because I only have two players here with me.”
The coach was referring to Misbun Ramdan Misbun and Iskandar Zulkarnian Zainuddin as the Junior World champion Zulfadli is busy in Vietnam International Challenge while the other young singles shuttler, Loh Wei Sheng is competing in the Finnish Open.
In this woeful situation, the coach Hendrawan is hoping that his reserve player Iskandar Zulkarnian will use his experience and confidence he earned from group matches of Axiata Cup.
He said, “Zulfadli will only be back by Sunday while I’m not sure when Wei Sheng will be back. Fortunately I gave Iskandar a chance to play a match last Sunday in order to experience the big match feeling.”
Meanwhile, it is double trouble for the doubles head coach Tan Kim Her also and he is in a fix as the duo Ow Yao Han-Chooi Kah Ming may skip the semi-final round. He has called the duo Nelson Heg-Teo Ee Yi back from Finnish Open as a replacement.
The Men’s doubles expert Yao Han’s father passed away few days ago so he may not be able to perform with his partner. The coach Kim Her does not want to force his shuttler and he said that Yao Han will only contest if he is mentally prepared.
He said, “I have not discussed it with him yet and we are all very sad for Yao Han. But if he is mentally ready and has his family’s blessings then he will play.”
The semi-finals of Axiata Cup will be played on home and away basis. The first leg is going to be staged from March 30 while the second leg will start from April 1, 2012 in Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta.
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