WUG 2025: Badminton Squad To Keep Team Spirit Flying

From Ahmad Nazrin Syahmi Bin Mohamad Arif

MULHEIM AN DER RUHR (Germany), July 16 (Bernama) -- The national badminton squad is all geared up for its medal-hunting mission at the 2025 World University Games (WUG) in Rhine-Ruhr here.

Men's singles player Jacky Kok Jing Hong said the close relationship among the players that has been established since the previous central training camp is one of the main strengths of the team.

The University of Malaya (UM) student said that the harmonious atmosphere and high team spirit among the players would give them an advantage, especially in the mixed team event that will open at Westenergie Sporthalle, this Friday.

"All the teammates are ready to go and we are spending a lot of time together, everywhere. We have been building this camaraderie from the central training camp. I think this is something very good for future team events.

"If we can bring out the best in the game, anything can happen, especially since the competition point format is only 15 points. We just have to do our best and support each other,” he said when met by Bernama at an official training session here, today.

For the mixed team event, Malaysia were drawn in Group D with only Canada.

Meanwhile, badminton squad head coach Datuk Rashid Sidek said his men have no excuse for failing to beat Canada.

“We have to win against Canada to become group champions so that we can have an easy passage to the knockout round. No matter what, we have to play our best, don't underestimate us and play as usual," he said.

Apart from Rashid, former national men's doubles player Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif also acts as the national team coach with the aim of improving the medal tally from the last edition.

For the record, the badminton camp contributed two bronze medals, one each in the men's doubles and mixed team events in the last edition in Chengdu, China.

WUG 2025 is scheduled to take place from July 16 to 27.

-- BERNAMA