The Yonex Badminton Brunei Open Ike Shio Cup will be the platform where the national shuttlers should grab this opportunity and perform well.
Team captain Jaspar Yu Woon Chai, the lanky 21-year old said that everyone in the squad is already looking forward to it as this is considered a big tournament in the country.
Organised jointly by the Brunei National Badminton Association and Nippon Badminton Association with support from Embassy of Japan, this event will be the first time in many years that a lucrative total cash prize of $10,300 will be up for grabs.
The tournament will be held from Jan 24-29 at the Indoor Stadium. While the national squad ended their 2009 campaign with a bronze medal in the Borneo Games, they will be sure to aim for a good start in 2010.
"Our preparations for this tournament have been average as we currently do not have our head coach with us," said Jaspar yesterday at the training ground in Menglait Sports Complex.
"Ever since the Borneo Games have concluded, we haven't been training under coach Wu."
National head coach Wu Xue Kai who had led his team to a targeted bronze medal in the men's and women's team events in the Borneo Games 2009 has not been coaching the national side soon after the Borneo Games ended.
"Coach Wu is a great coach and a great person. His presence alone motivates all of us to train harder. Everyone of us misses him and hopes to see him back to coaching us," said Jaspar on behalf of his teammates.
Although preparations have been vague without their inspiring head coach's guidance, the national side is still targeting success in some of the categories.
The pairing of Fairie Syah -Daniel Alus will be their best bet to secure a place in the final in the U-17 Doubles event bearing any upsets.
Meanwhile, the men's singles elite trio Jaspar Yu, Ak Halim and Mohd Ihsan Zanudin will be out to give their best shots. Jaspar reckons that at least a quarterfinal target will be realistic with the current situation they are in without coach Wu.
Backup shuttler Liaw Choon Sian will also be challenging in the men singles category.
In the men's double department, the pairings of Jaspar Yu-Ak Halim, Syazwan Faiz-Syahmil Fajrin, Fairie Syah-Liaw Choon Sian will be out challenging and hope to go far while in the mixed doubles department, the pairing of Mohd Ihsan Zanudin-Farina Afida Jalil will also be giving their best shots.
"I hope all of us will do well in the upcoming tournament. Though we're currently without coach Wu, we must demonstrate unity."
"Ultimately, we hope for his (coach Wu) return." Jaspar concluded.
mcm banar..
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