KUALA LUMPUR: Men’s singles Justin Hoh is determined to help Malaysia return with a medal from his maiden Sudirman Cup appearance — whether or not he gets on court.
The mixed team tournament begins on Sunday in Xiamen, China, with Malaysia drawn in Group C alongside France, Australia and Japan.
Japan pose the biggest challenge, while both France and Australia have opted to field second-string line-ups for the prestigious biennial event.
World No 46 Justin is expected to play a supporting role behind world No. 26 Leong Jun Hao in the men’s singles, but that has not dampened his enthusiasm.
“This is my first Sudirman Cup, and I’m excited to be part of the team,” said Justin at the Xiamen Olympic Sports Centre on Saturday.
“I want to win a medal at this tournament, but ultimately it’s about teamwork. We must work together to reach that goal.
“In a team event, not everyone will get the chance to play. Even if I don’t step on court, I’ll be cheering for my teammates and hoping for the best.”
Justin earned his place in the 20-member squad following injuries to world No 9 Lee Zii Jia and Ng Tze Yong.
Malaysia will open their campaign against France on Monday, followed by a clash with Australia on Tuesday. The battle for top spot in the group is likely to be decided in their final tie against Japan on Thursday.
Malaysia are expected to progress to the quarter-finals alongside Japan and will be aiming to match their semi-final finishes from the previous two editions — Suzhou, China, in 2023, and Vantaa, Finland, in 2021.
They have yet to win the Sudirman Cup since the tournament’s inception in 1989.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd