Thursday, 06 August 2009
K.M. Boopathy
LYDIA Cheah got her ticket to the World Championships because Julia Wong was floored by a serious knee injury and national singles chief coach Rashid Sidek wants the former to make full use of the opportunity to turn her career around.
Lydia, seen as one of the most skillful players in the women's singles squad, is often undone by her laid-back attitude and has not achieved her true potential since becoming the runner-up in the 2006 Asian Junior Championships.
She even beat China's current All England champion and one of the title contenders in the World Championships in Hyderabad, Wang Yihan.
Rashid, who has been frustrated by the 20-year-old under-performing despite her immense talent, said the experience she will gain in Hyderabad may turn things around.
Senior shuttler Wong Mew Choo, if her injury-prone career is anything to go by, may not be in condition to make an impact, so the onus will be on Lydia but she must negotiate a tough draw.
"The tournament can be a launch-pad to better things for Lydia. She is just 20 but already gets a chance to play in the World Championships so she must make full use of the opportunity," said Rashid.
Courtesy of New Straits Times
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