Chun Seang quits - Malaysia to decide on 2 remaining SEA Games slots

[Loh]

The Star Online
Monday September 14, 2009

Choice for two remaining SEA Games slots down to four

PETALING JAYA: With Tan Chun Seang having quit the national badminton team, the fight for the two remaining singles slot in the team for the Laos SEA Games has been narrowed to four players.

The 23-year-old shuttler, the Sukma (Malaysia Games) gold medallist in 2006, submitted his resignation to the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) earlier this week.

Singles chief coach Rashid Sidek said that Chun Seang, who reached the quarter-finals of the Indian Open and the Malaysian Open Grand Prix Gold tournaments this year, would have been a front-runner for a place in the team.

“At this moment, Lee Chong Wei and Mohd Hafiz Hashim are the ones assured of places in the team for the Games in December,” he said.

“The other two singles spots will be decided among Chong Wei Feng, Mohd Arif Abdul Latif, Liew Daren and Kuan Beng Hong. I will leave the selection to their coach (Hendrawan).”

Although Chun Seang’s decision to quit may come as a surprise, Rashid said that there was nothing much they could do if one had made up his mind.

Chun Seang felt that he had to make the decision, especially when he has become more frustrated with his performances since he won back-to-back satellite Open titles in Vietnam and Singapore two years ago.

“I thought I could start moving up after that. But it did not come. I am not getting any younger and I felt it will be even more difficult now.”

Chun Seang added that he had yet to decide on his future plans.

Chun Seang’s decision to quit the team came soon after back-up squad coach Hendrawan announce that he would not get to play in the Vietnam Open next month. The Indonesian has also decided to keep Beng Hong at home, saying that the two players had not showed quality in training.


Chun Seang: “I thought I could start moving up after that (winning back-to-back titles). But it did not come.”

[george@chongwei]

i think liew darren and chong wei feng will make it

[eaglehelang]

Yup, we already discussing this in the elit back-up, back up thread