Zulfadli Zulkifli needs better fitness to become one of badminton’s greats
Malaysian singles coach Tey Seu Bock believes that Zulfadli Zulkifli needs super fitness to become one of the badminton’s great.
The Junior World Champion Zulfadli has been tagged as the true successor of the Malaysian badminton maestro World Number one Lee Chong Wei but still he has a long way to go.
Zulfadli registered his presence in the badminton arena by claiming the crowns in Asian and World Juniors last year. He became the first Malaysian to win these honours for the country and now the 19-year-old shuttler is in transition year from junior to
senior category.
The national coach Seu Bock is aware of his potential but he believes that the World Number 130 Zulfadli needs to perk up his physical condition to make his mark at senior level.
Sea Bock said, “The senior stage demands high levels of fitness and power. Zulfadli has exceptional skills but he must start improving on his physical condition if he wants to achieve his true potential.”
Zulfadli has missed lot of tournaments in the past just because of not being super fit and he cannot afford this at the higher level as the champs like Lee Chong Wei, Lin Dan and Peter Gade, despite of their age, hold the premium level fitness.
Sea Bock gave an alert call to Zulfadli by depicting the top players’ efforts to cement their positions in the international badminton arena.
He said, “The men's singles is so demanding that shuttlers like Lee Chong Wei, Lin Dan and Chen Long have always made it a point to work hard to maintain their physical condition at the highest level.”
The Malaysian ace Lee Chong Wei is turning 30 this year and in next couple of years, he tends to bid farewell to the arena which fixed all the attentions to junior world champion Zulfadli Zulkifli as an eligible replacement.
The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) has decided to nourish this young talent for badminton future. BAM has invited Zulfadli to train in central training camp where Roesdi Ghani, who is Chong Wei’s fitness instructor also, is going to design a fitness
programme for him.
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