Kuala lumpur: The move taken by the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) in banking on the elite squad at the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand from Dec 9-20 can restore the national team’s dignity after the harrowing experience at the 2023 edition in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. National badminton legend Datuk Rashid Sidek said BAM’s move in naming the likes of two world champions — Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik (men’s doubles) and Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei (mixed doubles) — would increase their chances of returning home from Thailand with the gold medal, after bringing back just two silvers and four bronzes from the previous edition.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Rashid highlighted that there is a high chance of securing three or four golds, which would significantly restore Malaysia’s reputation. Reflecting on the 2023 edition in Phnom Penh, where Malaysia suffered an unexpected defeat to the Philippines in the women’s team event, Rashid emphasized the importance of sending the strongest lineup to the Games to uphold national pride.
Rashid stressed that the SEA Games hold their own prestige and provide a platform for the national shuttlers to showcase their skills and elevate the Malaysian flag prominently. However, he cautioned that the competition will be fierce, especially if other countries like Indonesia and hosts Thailand field their strongest players.
As a three-time SEA Games men’s singles bronze medallist, Rashid underscored the significance of performing well at the Games. The athletes aim to secure as many gold medals as possible to boost Malaysia’s overall medal tally. Rashid also noted that success at the 2025 SEA Games would bolster the image of BAM president Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, as this would be the first edition under his leadership since being elected unopposed in May.
BAM has named a robust squad for the Games, including 2025 World Championships runners-up Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah (women’s doubles); Leong Jun Hao and Justin Hoh (men’s singles); and K. Letshanaa and Wong Ling Ching (women’s singles). The lineup is further strengthened by Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun (men’s doubles); Go Pei Kee-Teoh Mei Xing (women’s doubles); and Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin (mixed doubles), all of whom will participate in their respective team events.
Complementing the squad are Eogene Ewe and Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin in the men’s team event and Siti Zulaikha Muhammad Azmi and Eng Ler Qi in the women’s team event. Notably, Aaron-Wooi Yik previously clinched a gold medal at the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines, while Tang Jie had similar success with Peck Yen Wei in the 2021 edition in Vietnam.
The 2025 SEA Games will be hosted across three provinces in Thailand: Bangkok, Chonburi, and Songkhla.