Malaysia to seize home ground advantage in Sudirman Cup

World's best shuttlers have converged in the capital to bring glory to their country in the Sudirman Cup at the Putra Stadium, Bukit Jalil here starting tomorrow.

Seeded third, Malaysia are expected to have an easy path to the quarter-finals for they have been drawn in Group C with Germany and Taiwan.

Malaysia are banking their hope on world's number one Datuk Lee Chong Wei to give a morale booster to his team-mates with the first win.

However, team manager Teoh Teng Chor, hoped the players would be consistent throughout the tournament and would not rely too much on Chong Wei, apart from capitalising on the home ground advantage.

"To me, our opportunity to advance further in the tournament is bright if we become Group C winner," said Teoh who is also Badminton Association of Malaysia vice-president.

For the record, China, who won eight of the last nine Sudirman Cup outings, emerged champions when they played at home in Beijing in 2005, Guangzhou (2009) and Qingdao (2011).

South Korea won the cup three times while Indonesia once, ironically at the inaugural tournament.

As the host, Malaysia hope the home ground advantage will work in their favour to lift the Sudirman Cup for the first time.

The world mixed team championship was introduced by the Badminton Association of Indonesia in 1989 in honour of their legendary badminton ace Dick Sudirman.