Jonassen: They are our best junior shuttlers — like it or not

New Straits Times

4 days ago

KUALA LUMPUR: "They are the best junior shuttlers in the country."
National coaching director Kenneth Jonassen has finally broken his silence following Malaysia's poor showing at the Asian Junior Championships in Solo, Indonesia, last week.
Despite the disappointment, Jonassen remains optimistic and ambitious, insisting the current crop of players can rise, with proper training and patience.
In Solo, all five Malaysian boys' singles shuttlers — Roslie Razeeq Daniel, Louis Lee, Ayu Fu Sheng, Lim Boon Le and Kong Wei Xiang — crashed out in the last 16. It was the same story in the girls' singles, with Ng Ler Qi, Lim Zhi Shin, Oo Shan Zi, Lee Mun and Low Zi Yu also falling at the same stage.
Malaysia fared slightly better in the doubles, with three pairs reaching the quarter-finals: girls' pair Dania Sofea Zaidi-Low Zi Yu and mixed doubles Loh Zi Heng-Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan and Datu Anif Isaac Asrah-Dania Sofea.
Jonassen, however, said Malaysia must stop chasing instant results.
"We're always looking for medals. But what do you do when these are the best players we've got?" he said at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) on Tuesday.
"We don't have the luxury of picking 10 more players of the same calibre. No country does. I may be disappointed with a few individual performances, but I didn't expect much more from our singles players in Solo."
Jonassen admitted he dreams big but insists his goals are realistic.
"My ambitions are high, but I know where we are and what needs fixing. It takes time. I have the patience, especially when I see the effort our players and coaches are putting in."
His remarks came a day after former national coach Wong Tat Meng warned that Malaysian badminton faces a bleak future unless urgent changes are made.
Jonassen believes the path forward hinges on three key elements: physical strength, tactical discipline, and a competitive mindset.
"These are the missing pieces," he said.
"Some already have the physical strength, but others must build it. Tactical discipline — sticking to a game plan — is crucial.
"But the most important trait is mental toughness. Being able to handle expectations, pressure, and still perform at your best when you're out there — that's what separates the good from the great."