National singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen has urged his men’s singles players to take a hard look at themselves, echoing the mindset already shown by the women’s camp.
Jonassen said the women’s singles players had embraced self-reflection and accountability, and it has translated into clear progress on the international stage.
Since he took charge of the singles department in January 2025, he has seen encouraging improvements from players such as world No. 32 K. Letshanaa, who has climbed from outside the top 50, and world No. 33 Wong Ling Ching, who has risen from No. 95.
Both players have progressed from competing in International Series and Challenge events to making strong runs at Super 300 and Super 500 tournaments, including notable wins over top-10 opponents such as Canada’s Michelle Li and Thailand’s Pornpawee Chochuwong.
However, the contrast with the men’s singles setup was evident at the Malaysia Masters, where world No. 25 Leong Jun Hao and world No. 45 Justin both exited in the first round at the Unifi Arena in Bukit Jalil.
Jun Hao went down 21-19, 23-21 to China’s world No. 69 Hu Zhe An, while Justin lost 21-16, 21-14 to Indonesia’s Anthony Ginting.
Jonassen said the women’s players had earlier accepted that progress required long-term discipline and honest self-assessment rather than quick fixes.
“They don’t really look anywhere else other than at themselves when things go wrong,” he told reporters.
“And who do you see when you look in the mirror? Themselves.”
He added that open and sometimes difficult discussions within the women’s camp had helped drive their development, with players taking responsibility instead of shifting blame.
He stressed that while coaches can provide guidance, execution ultimately lies with the athletes themselves.
Jonassen said the women had also shown greater willingness to commit to a long-term process, even when immediate results were not guaranteed.
Turning to the men’s camp, he said he needs to see stronger internal change if they are to reach a similar level of progress.
He emphasised discipline, adaptability, and constant improvement as key factors at the elite level of the sport.
Jonassen also warned that modern badminton demands more than power and shot-making, highlighting the importance of consistency, patience, and the ability to apply pressure.
He noted that recent defeats were linked to difficulty handling pressure, tactical limitations in adapting to modern men’s singles play, and a drop in confidence following the Thomas Cup campaign.
He added that the men’s players must learn to trust their defensive game more and focus on sustained pressure rather than attempting to finish points too quickly.
In contrast, Letshanaa continued her positive run at the Malaysia Masters with a 21-13, 19-21, 21-15 win over Denmark’s Amalie Schulz to reach the second round.
Wong Ling Ching, however, bowed out after a hard-fought 12-21, 21-13, 25-23 defeat to Vietnam’s Nguyen Thuy Linh.
