Lee Chong Wei Inspires Malaysia’s Uber Cup Squad with Rallying Call Ahead of Denmark Showdown

HORSENS (Denmark), April 23 — Malaysia’s Uber Cup squad received a timely boost when national badminton legend Lee Chong Wei rallied the team via a video call, urging captain M. Thinaah to rise to the challenge in the absence of her doubles partner Pearly Tan.

The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) shared the video message on Thursday, in which Lee Chong Wei expressed confidence in Thinaah’s ability to lead the women’s team ahead of the Uber Cup Finals 2026, which commenced on Friday and will run until May 3 at the Forum Horsens indoor sports arena.

Pearly Tan withdrew from the tournament last week due to a recurring back injury, with BAM announcing that Chong Jie Yu would replace her in the squad. This development shifted greater responsibility onto Thinaah, who is now expected to shoulder a more prominent role in guiding the team, particularly the younger players.

“You’re (Thinaah) the most senior and I know you’re very experienced. I hope you can take care of all players, including the young players,” Lee Chong Wei said in the video call. “Even though we don’t have Pearly, we have Thinaah here. I think you can lead the team and I am confident with you.”

Lee Chong Wi, who serves as BAM’s performance committee director, emphasized the importance of leadership and unity within the squad, especially during high-stakes team competitions like the Uber Cup. He highlighted Thinaah’s experience and seniority as key assets in maintaining team cohesion.

In separate remarks made earlier in the week, Lee Chong Wei defended the decision to hold a 10-day centralised training camp in Herning, Denmark, ahead of the finals, stating that the RM1.3 million investment was justified to ensure optimal preparation for both the Thomas and Uber Cup campaigns.

“This is one of the best preparations for a world team event. The cost is about RM1.3 million… it’s a lot, but it’s well spent,” he said. “We have a 53-member team in Herning right now – players, coaches and support staff. And for the first time, we also have eight personnel from the National Sports Institute (NSI).”

According to Lee Chong Wei, the camp has provided a conducive environment for bonding and preparation, with reports indicating positive progress among players. He noted that the chilly weather in Herning, averaging around 8°C, has aided acclimatisation to European conditions.

To manage costs, sparring players have been scheduled to return home before the finals begin, while the core squad remains in Denmark under the guidance of experienced coaches including Rexy Mainaky, Herry Iman Pierngadi, Kenneth Jonassen, Tey Seu Bock, and Rosman Razak.

Lee Chong Wei has opted to remain in Malaysia to monitor the team’s progress remotely, stating that he would only travel to Denmark if necessary, given the capable coaching staff already in place.

The Uber Cup Finals 2026 began on Friday in Horsens, with Malaysia’s women’s team aiming to overcome the absence of one of its key doubles players and rely on Thinaah’s leadership to navigate the early stages of the competition.