Shuttler Eogene faces wrath of fans following Asiad defeat
KUALA LUMPUR: As the Malaysian men's team went down 3-2 after a titanic tussle against traditional rivals Indonesia in the last eight on Tuesday, shuttler Eogene Ewe has earned brickbats from netizens over his meek surrender in the decisive third singles.
In a nail-biting Asian Games match, Malaysia's men's badminton team suffered a 3-2 defeat against Indonesia, with shuttler Eogene Ewe drawing criticism from fans for his performance in the crucial third singles. Leading 4-0 at the onset of the first game, Eogene faltered as Zaki Ubaidillah, ranked 28th, swept to a 21-11, 21-11 victory, securing Indonesia's spot in the semifinals.
Fans expressed disappointment, noting Eogene's lack of mental fortitude during high-pressure scenarios and his inability to match the prowess of the Indonesian opponent. Some argued that Eogene, a 21-year-old, lacked the mental strength required in team events, contrasting him with the 19-year-old Zaki. Others called for rising star Kong Wei Xiang, who had previously matched up well against Jonatan Christie, to have been given a chance in the crucial match.
The nation's singles players were labeled as not being on par with countries such as Vietnam, the United States, and Canada. Despite some improved performances from Malaysia's singles players, including Leong Jun Hao and Justin Hoh, the overall results underscored the struggles of the national shuttlers in recent years.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
