KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia have named a strong provisional squad for the Sudirman Cup, led by world No. 2 Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, for the mixed team event in Xiamen, China, from April 27 to May 4.
With depth across all departments, Malaysia will be aiming to go the distance -- and possibly win the prestigious tournament for the first time.
Malaysia are in Group C with Japan, France and Australia.Japan are the favourites to top the group, with Malaysia and France expected to battle for the second spot.
World No. 3 mixed doubles pair Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Lai will spearhead Malaysia's challenge in their event, while women's singles shuttler Goh Jin Wei (No. 48) is also on the list.
Sze Fei-Izzuddin, Soon Huat-Shevon and Jin Wei are all independent players.
In the women's doubles, world No. 5 Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, who are still negotiating a contract renewal with the BA of Malaysia (BAM), have been included along with Go Pei Kee-Carmen Ting.
Former world champions Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik and world No. 7 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun make up the men's doubles line-up.
In the absence of world No. 9 Lee Zii Jia, who is recovering from an ankle injury, Malaysia will rely on Leong Jun Hao (No. 26) and Justin Hoh (No. 48) in the men's singles.
K. Letshanaa (No. 56) is the second option in the women's singles.
Interestingly, world No. 4 mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei, who recently split, are on the list together with Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin (No. 14).
"Tang Jie and Ee Wei are still part of the long list, although not as a pair for the Sudirman Cup," said national mixed doubles coach Nova Widianto. "They can still be utilised if we decide to field a scratch combination."
Each nation can register up to 20 players for the Sudirman Cup, with the deadline to finalise the squad set for April 14.
For the record, Malaysia have never reached the Sudirman Cup final since the tournament's inception in 1989. Their best achievement remains a semi-final finish -- the latest coming in the 2023 edition in Suzhou, China.
