Rashid wants new recruits to spur second stringers

KUALA LUMPUR : Singles shuttlers Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin and Mohd Syawal Ismail have showed determination in training since their promotion to the national team last week.

And national singles chief coach Rashid Sidek is hoping that their presence would keep the other second stringers – Tan Chun Seang, Chong Wei Feng, Liew Daren and Mohd Arif Abdul Latif – on their toes.

All the four players had over the last four years not made any breakthrough or gave any indication that they would be able to move up the ranks. Their stagnancy in performances on the international stage had been attributed to a lack of fire and poor attitude in training.

Rashid hoped that Iskandar and Syawal would provide the catalyst to strengthen the back-up squad this year.

“It will be a tall order to expect miracles from Iskandar and Syawal but I hope that they will be able to pile on the pressure on the other back-up shuttlers,” he said.

“It would be a shame on them if Iskandar and Syawal can do better in their first year in the national team. If the newcomers do better, it will be time’s up for these back-up players in the national team.”

Rashid conceded that his first year as the national singles chief coach would be remembered for the failure to lift he standard of the back-up shuttlers.

“We even brought in Hendrawan (Indonesia’s former world champion) but he has also found difficulties in motivating these players. The coach arrives at the training hall earlier than the players. I hope to see a change in attitude this year,” he said.

Rashid is desperately seeking for one or two back-up players to make up the team for the Thomas Cup Finals, which will be held at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil from May 9-16.

And he hoped that they will prove their worth in the back-to-back Opens in South Korea (Jan 12-17) and Malaysia (Jan 19-24).

For the singles in the Thomas Cup team, the sure bets for places are world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei and Mohd Hafiz Hashim.