They were on “fire’ in the recently concluded World Championships in Nanjing, China but it does not mean they will be on “fire” in the Asian Games in Indonesia which begin on August 18.
 
They were on “fire” in Nanjing because they went in as underdogs with nothing to lose.
 
However, in the Asian Games, it is a totally different story as Malaysia chase a medal target which is now two from the previous three after Datuk Lee Chong Wei came down with serious respiratory health problems.
 
No replacements were allowed for the world meet. However, it is different in the Asiad as countries are allowed to submit a long list of possibles before the final list is confirmed at the team managers meeting.
 
Now the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) is toying with the idea of making changes to the initial team to the Asian Games.
 
Do not kill the “fire’ in youngsters like Soong Joo Ven and Cheam June Wei. Joo Ven was picked over the indisciplined Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin while June Wei was named as Chong Wei’s replacement.
 
If Goh Jin Wei benefited from her exposure playing in the Uber Cup Finals in Bangkok, Thailand in May let the Asian Games be the exposure for Joo Ven and June Wei as they got the nod from singles head coach Datuk Misbun Sidek.
 
There is nothing to say they will perform and bring back a medal from the Asian Games and there is nothing to say it may be otherwise. Just like Daren Liew any of those like Lee Zii Jia, Leong Jun Hao and company are capable of winning a medal.
 
BAM president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria and the coaching and training committee under Datuk Ng Chin Chai will need to take a hard look at the pros and cons before naming the final team.
 
Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik made the quarter-finals in Nanjing as they had “nothing to lose” as last-minute replacements following a spate of withdrawals. This itself had them “fired up” in the world meet.
 
Ong Yew Sin-Teo ee Yi were unfortunate to face compatriots Goh v Shem-Tan Wee Kiong in the second round.
 
The shuttle is in your court BAM! – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
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