Malaysia may have narrowly missed securing a spot in the inaugural Air Badminton World Cup this year, but former national shuttler Ho Yen Mei believes the country still has plenty of untapped potential in this exciting and fast-growing sport.
The first-ever Air Badminton World Cup will be staged in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE) from December 11 to 14. Unfortunately, Malaysia failed to qualify during the Asia Pacific Air Badminton Championships held in Port Dickson, which concluded on Sunday.
Narrow Miss at Asia Pacific Championships
In the team relay event, Malaysia finished fourth — just one place shy of the top three spots that secured automatic qualification. Hong Kong, China, and Indonesia claimed those coveted slots, with Hong Kong emerging as champions.
Despite the setback, Yen Mei, who played a pivotal role in the Malaysian squad, insists that the country’s journey in air badminton is only just beginning.
“Malaysia has great potential in this sport. It’s not drastically different from regular badminton — the main differences are the special shuttlecock and the fact that matches are played on sand,” she explained.
The Need for Better Preparation
The 29-year-old, who last represented Malaysia in the Asian Mixed Team Championships in 2019 before leaving the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) in 2020, highlighted the importance of proper planning and physical conditioning.
“Physically, we have some catching up to do. Other countries, like Hong Kong, came very well-prepared, and that’s why they became champions. Fortunately, I’ve been able to maintain my fitness and stamina because air badminton is a physically demanding sport,” she said.
Of the eight players representing Malaysia at the Port Dickson tournament, Yen Mei was the only one with extensive international exposure. The rest were players from the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Association (KLBA).
Mixed Results in Port Dickson
Malaysia managed to reach the semi-finals of the team relay but fell 47–60 to Indonesia. In the men’s triples, they were defeated 3–1 by South Korea, while the women’s triples campaign ended in the group stage.
Even so, Yen Mei remains optimistic.
“This isn’t a disappointment — it’s a stepping stone. It’s the first step towards Malaysia treating air badminton as a serious discipline. If we work hard and prepare better, we can achieve strong results in the future,” she said.
Air Badminton: A Growing Global Sport
Introduced by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) in 2019, air badminton is played outdoors, often on sand courts, and uses a specially designed shuttlecock to suit open-air conditions. Malaysia has already shown interest in promoting the sport, having hosted the World Beach Games Asian Qualifiers in 2023 in Putrajaya.
Looking ahead, Yen Mei expressed her personal commitment to the game:
“If I’m given another chance, I would definitely play again. It’s incredibly fun, and with the right preparation, Malaysia can truly make its mark on the world stage.”
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