After Malaysia’s disappointing performance at the Thomas Cup, national singles coach Kenneth Jonassen has come under heavy pressure, taking responsibility for the players’ poor form.

As the former World No. 2 faced growing criticism, BAM Performance Committee chairman Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei backed Jonassen, saying that he is still new and needs more time.

"We have to give Jonassen time. He has only been with us for just over a year. Before he came, it's not like we already had a top-10 player," he said.

"You cannot just come in and immediately produce a world champion," he added.

He also pointed to other countries’ squads as examples, noting that many nations are currently struggling to develop elite players and that success does not happen overnight.

"This process takes time. We cannot expect immediate results. I've been in BAM for 19 years, and we must give coaches time to deliver," he said. 

"We have to give Jonassen time. He has only been with us for just over a year. Before he came, it's not like we already had a top-10 player," he added.

The new coach was appointed in January 2025, and his contract runs until 2028. A former player from Denmark, Jonassen competed consistently in many tournaments during the late 1990s and 2000s, and even won a gold medal at the 2008 European Badminton Championships.

Malaysia’s poor performance at the 2026 Thomas Cup

At the 2026 Thomas Cup, Malaysia exited in the quarterfinals after a 3-0 loss to eventual champions China.

The first quarterfinal game featured world No. 25 Leong Jun Hao against Shi Yuqi. Leong pushed the match to three games but eventually lost 21-10, 16-21, 21-9 in a contest that lasted about 67 minutes.

The second singles match saw world No. 44 Justin Hoh face Li Shifeng. However, he struggled to keep up and lost in straight games, 14-21, 13-21, in a 44-minute match.

Malaysia’s major issue was its lack of depth in the lineup, with the first singles player losing all his matches and Justin Hoh struggling to get past stronger opponents.

As Malaysia continues rebuilding for the future, Lee Chong Wei stressed that player development is a gradual process and that patience is essential. He added that this defeat is part of the team’s growth.

"We failed in this campaign and we have to accept it. Everyone wants to be champions, but this is part of the process," he noted.

"I accept all criticism, but we must continue working. This is about national pride and it is my responsibility to help Malaysian badminton," he added.

Chong Wei also urged fans to continue supporting the squad in upcoming events to keep their morale high, while promising better performances in the future.

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Written by

Aadhya Nalla

Edited by

Sahil Prashar