| Fadhil Yunus |
BRUNEI Darussalam coach Mohamad Fadzli bin Haji Masri expressed his hopes that the local shuttlers could benefit from the exposure and experience of competing against world ranked players during the Brunei-Japan Badminton Exchange held to commemorate the 70th Birthday Celebration of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam at the Indoor Stadium last night.
The coach explained that lack of experience and nervousness of competing attributed to their downfall but is hopeful that the exposure of playing against quality players could help gain experience and increase their mental strength.
“The mental aspect of the individual when playing in a competitive tournament compared with training is not the same,” the coach said in an interview with the media after the conclusion of day one of the programme.
“So they will become nervous and they could not play properly,” he said.
Mohamad Fadzli admitted that the women’ doubles of Siti Nurhayati Jefri and Siti Marinah Mohd Salleh were not their usual selves after they were comprehensively beaten 21-5 21-8 by Japanese pair Miyuki Kato and Miki Kashihara.
Sho Sasaki in action during the singles match. – PHOTOS: FADHIL YUNUS
Men’s Doubles match between Brunei and Japan. – KHAIRIL HASSAN
Brunei and Japan badminton players.
The coach added that the Bruneian female duo only got to assert their influence in the second set.
However, the losses have given the players a wake-up call to identify their weaknesses mainly in improving their stamina.
The Brunei male pairing of Masrur Fuad Haji Asmat and Md Shahirul Md Jenin came up with a strong competitive spirit after pushing the Japanese pair of Yu Igarashi and Kenya Mitsuhashi all the way before succumbing 25-23 in the first set before the latter completed a straight-set win.
The coach said that wind assisted the Bruneian duo on their side of the court during the first set.
Meanwhile in the first game, Brunei’s Olympian Jaspar Yu Woon Chai was defeated in straight sets by Japanese world number 24 Sho Sasaki.
The practice matches resume today with Syazani Aiman facing a yet-to-be determined Japanese player and the coach said that the players involved especially Noornekma Rainah Haji Roshin and Amalina Aliah Haji Gapor will seek pointers how to play against them.
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