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Susilo out, as badminton turns to young ones for SEA Games

SINGAPORE — The national badminton team’s SEA Games campaign has been dealt a blow by the pull-out of veteran shuttler Ronald Susilo. The former world No 6 has been ruled out of the June 5 to 16 Games after suffering a muscle tear in his hip two months ago.

Ronald Susilo. TODAY file photo

Ronald Susilo. TODAY file photo

SINGAPORE — The national badminton team’s SEA Games campaign has been dealt a blow by the pull-out of veteran shuttler Ronald Susilo. The former world No 6 has been ruled out of the June 5 to 16 Games after suffering a muscle tear in his hip two months ago.

Susilo, 35, had announced his return to the sport last May in a bid to compete in the SEA Games. But there will be no fairytale comeback for the shuttler, who said yesterday: “It was an opportunity to play in front of Singaporeans on such a big occasion.

“I’ve been training with the team and played as well as the younger players and this had to happen. I guess this is it for me.”

Susilo’s withdrawal is a setback for the Singapore Badminton Association (SBA) and the national team, which has been hit by the recent retirements of Gu Juan, Fu Mingtian, Yao Lei, Ashton Chen, and Terry Yeo.

The SBA announced its 20-strong squad for the Games today (April 16), with more than half to play in their first multi-sports event for the first time as SBA look to improve on the solitary bronze medal the team took home from Myanmar two years ago.

Making their debut are six from the 10-woman team and five men, and their ages range from 16 to 22 years old.

With South-east Asia boasting several top ranking players, badminton is the only world-class Olympic sport at the SEA Games and it is unlikely new players will make an impact on Singapore’s hunt for medals.

But in a statement released today, SBA president Lee Yi Shyan said they have given “our shuttlers the best grooming, and hope, where possible, to create good results for the SEA Games”.

He added: “Our young players will find the Games to be great exposure, especially as they want to advance to major tournaments, while the more experienced players can continue to hone their skills. As they play on home ground, we encourage Singaporeans to give them the support that is so crucial to players on court.”

SBA director of team administration Chew Keet Hou said the inclusion of a large pool of young new players was necessary due to the retirements of their senior shuttlers. “We have been grooming the young players since 2011 and it is timely they move from the intermediate squad,” he said. “We don’t expect medals from them but the SEA Games will be good exposure for them to up their game.”

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