NST March 15: CONFIDENCE is soaring in the national badminton squad, and the spotlight, literally, will be on the shuttlers after BA of Malaysia (BAM) president Datuk Nadzmi Salleh said Malaysia was capable of winning up to five gold medals in the Commonwealth Games. But only if all the factors, including the most minute of details, come together for the national players at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre (MEC) even as head coach Yap Kim Hock complained about the strong lighting and brittle shuttlecocks that will be used for the competition. "Two is definite, four is what we expect, but yes, it can go up to five gold medals," said Nadzmi after the team's training session at the MEC yesterday. "But in order to do that, all the factors must come together. All the factors must be optimised, then it's possible. "In big competitions like this, even the smallest of details can make a difference." Officially, Malaysia's target in badminton is four gold medals through the men's singles and doubles, women's doubles and team event (only the mixed team event will be contested in Melbourne). However, there is hope that Wong Mew Choo will be able to rise to the challenge to bring the gold medal in the women's singles. Only the mixed doubles title seems to be out of reach as England's Nathan Robertson and Gail Emms are the strong favourites. Malaysia have never won more than three gold medals in the history of the Games. The team is chasing seven to 10 gold medals and the players' confidence should bring a big sigh of relief to the other Malaysian athletes. "Just like what soccer is to Brazil and Brazilians, Malaysia and Malaysians expect the same from badminton," added Nadzmi. "Expectations are high and we have to accept that. In fact, I have also told the players to accept it as well. "There is bound to be criticism if we fail, but that's all the more reason why we should win." While Nadzmi expressed his confidence, Kim Hock was concerned about the lighting, where 112 spotlights will be trained on each court, and the shuttlecocks that will be used for the competition. "It's very, very hot on the court as there are so many spotlights. In fact, it's so hot the feathers of the shuttlecock break easily," said Kim Hock. "But the conditions are going to be the same for everybody else so we’ll just have to adapt." A strategy that, hopefully, will bring back Malaysia's best ever showing in the sport in the history of the Commonwealth Games.
