Kuala Lumpur: National badminton legend Datuk Rashid Sidek has taken a swipe at a small group of national shuttlers for not walking the talk despite their proclamations of wanting to become world champions or be among the top 10 in world ranking.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Rashid described this group of shuttlers as "all talk but no action," and criticized them for their half-hearted efforts during training sessions. He questioned their goals and commitment when met after being recognized as a Sports Icon at the Universiti Malaya Sports Award Night.

Rashid remains optimistic about the national badminton squad's potential to compete fiercely in the 2026 Thomas Cup. He emphasized the importance of developing the right strategy, particularly given the strength of the current three men's doubles pairs who could contribute valuable points.

He expressed confidence in the squad's ability to mount a strong challenge in the Thomas Cup, noting that with three solid pairs and the potential contribution of Lee Zii Jia in men's singles, the team only needs one additional point from players like Justin Hoh or Leong Jun Hao. He believes that being strong in four out of the five match-ups should suffice for victory.

Reflecting on past successes, Rashid recalled the 1992 Thomas Cup squad, which relied solely on two singles players and two doubles pairs to secure the prestigious Cup.

Meanwhile, Rashid expressed his gratitude to Universiti Malaya for honoring him with the Sports Icon award, stating that it will motivate him to continue contributing to the development of badminton in the country. He reiterated his commitment to the sport, highlighting his current role as a coach and his willingness to share his experiences with players.